Romeo and Juliet - Act I - Act II

Who tries to discourage the battle?

Benvolio

How are Benvolio and Tybalt different?

Benvolio (root of name means "good") - peaceful/keeps the peace - calm Tybalt - temper - angry all the time - "fiery"

Why does Friar Lawrence agree to marry Romeo and Juliet?

He believes that the marriage/love of Romeo and Juliet will turn their feuding households from hatred to love.

What does Juliet discover about Romeo and vice versa?

She discovers that Romeo is a Montague. He discovers that Juliet is a Capulet.

Montague and Lady Montague are concerned about Romeo because

he is depressed

Describe Mercutio!

(root of name: mercurial) changeable, temperamental, emotional He is also a HUGE show off, attention-hogger, realist, dirty-mind, sexual

Metaphor

A comparison between two things Doesn't use "like" or "as" Often uses "is" Makes an equation Ex. Your eyes are pools of sadness

Simile

A comparison between two things Uses "like" and "as" Ex. She is like a graceful swan when she dances across the stage

What does "star-crossed lovers" mean?

A pair of lovers whose relationship is thwarted by outside forced, and is doomed to a tragic fate.

Who do Sampson and Gregory (Capulets) first encounter in the city square?

Abram and Balthasar, of the Montagues

Personification

Giving human-like qualities to a non-human object. Ex. The wind whispered in my ears

What does the nurse warn Romeo against?

Falsely leading Juliet on.

What literary device is Friar Lawrence using in his opening speech about plants of both medical healing and poison?

Foreshadowing

What does Mercutio think about Tybalt's challenge with Romeo?

He think that Romeo is at a disadvantage because Tybalt is more skilled and masterful in the ways of swordfighting.

The Wedding Plan

Juliet goes to confession. She will meet Friar Lawrence and Romeo there. She will be shriv'd. They will get married.

What does Paris say to counter Lord Capulet's worries?

Juliet may be young, but girls younger than her are already happy mothers.

What advice does Friar Lawrence give Romeo about love?

Love moderately and not too violently or else your love will have bad consequences and it will all crash down in a powerful manner.

Describe Juliet's relationship with her nurse.

Juliet's relationship is with her nurse is more maternal than her relationship with her mother. The nurse is the one who raised Juliet from the minute she was born. The nurse loves Juliet and Juliet is more familiar with her nurse.

Describe Juliet's relationship with her mother.

Juliet's relationship with her mother is formal and distant. She sees Lady Capulet as her mother and only that. She isn't very close with her mother because Lady Capulet isn't the one who raised Juliet.

What are Lady Capulet's views on love/marriage?

Lady Capulet isn't as concerned about Juliet's age or maturity. She wants to push the idea of love onto Juliet, and she doesn't mind her daughter rushing into marriage (with Paris).

What is Lord Capulet's view on love and what is his initial objection to Paris courting his daughter?

Lord Capulet believes that love/marriage is acceptable when the lady has matured and is accustomed to adulthood. (His objection to Paris' offer is due to the fact that Juliet is only 13) He also believes that a man should only marry, if he has the parents' consent AND the lady actually likes him.

How does the word dignity in line 1 of the prologue suggest both houses are alike?

Same social status, wealth, power

What are Mercutio's views on love and dreams?

Mercutio is a realist. Just like dreams, he believes love is a fantasy/delusion and that it is foolish. The emotional aspects of love bore him, and he only concerns himself with the "physical aspects of love.

What was the purpose of Mercutio's Queen Mab speech?

Mercutio told Romeo those fantisies in order to snap him out of the delusions and sadness of love, and to get him to go to the ball.

The Wedding Night Plan

One of Romeo's men will meet the Nurse behind the abbey wall. He will give her a rope ladder. Romeo will later use it to climb over the Capulet walls to meet Juliet.2

Who is Queen Mab?

Queen Mab is the midwife of the fairies. She brings dreams to sleeping persons.

Why is Romeo depressed?

Rome is in love with Rosaline, but Rosaline doesn't care because she is going to become a nun (chaste)

What reference to the deities Diana and Cupid does Romeo compare his situation with Rosaline to?

Romeo believe that he has been hit by the god of love's (Cupid) arrow, therefore causing him to fall in love with Rosaline. However,

What does Romeo compare Juliet to and why?

Romeo compares Juliet to a holy shrine and a saint. He is trying to convey the point that she is pure and her beauty is fair and untouched.

Why does Lord Capulet object to Tybalt's conflict against Romeo?

Romeo is a dignified, virtuous, and good mannered young man. He has a good reputation around Verona. Lord Capulet respects his qualities and doesn't want any harm to come to Romeo in his house. He also doesn't want to be punished by the prince again for "disturbing the peace."

What is Juliet waiting for, and why is she worried at the start of scene 5?

She is waiting for news from the Nurse about Romeo and the wedding. She is worried that the Nurse might've not been able to meet Romeo.

What does the Nurse think of Romeo?

She thinks that Romeo isn't the most courteous of men, yet he is still good enough.

What does Juliet wish about the Nurse?

She wishes that the Nurse was young and full of young, romantic love so that she would be fast in delivering news.

What excuses does the Nurse give for not telling Juliet the news right away?

She's out of breath, tired, and has a headache.

What do all the descriptions that Romeo uses to portray Juliet's beauty reveal?

They reveal the artificiality of his "love" for Rosaline and the genuine feelings that Juliet inspires.

*Figurative Language*

Tips: Look over "Figurative Language" notes (Act II, Sc. 1-2)

*END ACT II*

Tips: Look over your.... "Figurative Language" notes

*END ACT I*

Tips: Look over your.... "Prologue" notes "Juliet, Nurse, and Mom Relationships" notes "Queen Mab Speech" notes "Shakespearean Sonnet" notes

Why does Shakespeare have Romeo and Juliet speak in sonnet form when they first meet?

To show that they are well-matched and on the same level of intellect.

Who initiates a fight with Benvolio?

Tybalt

Benvolio and Mercutio are discussing Tybalt because

Tybalt has challenged Romeo to a duel

Why is Tybalt upset when he discovers Romeo's presence at the feast, and what does he want to do to Romeo?

Tybalt is upset because Romeo is a Montague (enemy of the Capulets), and is basically crashing a Capulet-ONLY party. He wants to pick a fight with Romeo and kill him.

Where does the play take place?

Verona, Italy

What are the opposites/contrasts seen in the prologue?

ancient vs. new lovers vs. foes life vs. death love vs. rage

Prince Escalus declares that the next time the families disturb the peace, they will pay...

with their lives (they will die)