Romeo and Juliet ALL QUESTIONS
How does Shakespeare start the play so that he gains the attention of the "groundlings?"
Shakespeare begins the play with a witty conversation between two of the Capulet servants, and this attracts the attention of the reader.
Describe the imagery Shakespeare uses in describing Juliet's "death."
Shakespeare uses irony to describe Juliet's untimely death.
Who speaks the Prologue?
The Chorus speaks the prologue.
What is the nurse's relationship with Juliet?
The Nurse acts like a mother figure to Juliet and helps around a lot.
Describe the Friar's plan for Juliet.
Friar's plan is to make a potion that will make Juliet fall asleep for 42 hours, this potion will also make her seem as if she is dead.
What is happening in this brief scene? (Scene IV)
They discovered that Juliet was dead on her bed and that the wedding would be canceled and instead a funeral would take place.
Highlight lines 90-91. What threat does Tybalt make as he agrees to withdraw?
As Tybalt agrees to withdraw at the moment, he swear that he will get his revenge back at Romeo later on.
What news does Balthasar bring? How does this disrupt the Friar's plan?
Balthasar tells Romeo that Juliet is dead which causes Romeo to rush to Verona and see his widow wife, this disrupts Friar Laurence's plans however because this causes Romeo to be in the tomb when he shouldn't be.
Why does Shakespeare tell us how the story is going to end?
In Shakespeare's writing, it is not about the ending of the story, the most important part of it is the journey that the characters take to get there.
Comment on this speech in terms of the Elizabethan attitude toward the stars and astrology.
People in the Elizabethan Era believed that the stars controlled the fate of all humans.
How does Capulet change the wedding plans? What implications does this have?
Capulet changes the wedding, and makes the wedding another day earlier and makes it happen on Wednesday instead of Thursday.
In this scene Lord Capulet talks to Paris about marrying his daughter Juliet. What two reasons does he give for not wanting Juliet to marry at this time (lines 8-14)?
Capulet doesn't want Paris to marry her at this time because Juliet is still young and was not yet fourteen which was the legal age to marry in those times. He wanted him to wait two more summers until they were to be wed.
Why does Juliet object to Romeo's swearing on the moon (lines 109-111)?
Because the moon is a very inconstant thing to swear on, due to it's changing every month.
Highlight lines 102-103. Mercutio repeats the following line (106) three times and then adds the next line. Explain what he means.
"A plague O' both your houses! They have made worm's meat of me." Mercutio means that he hopes that both houses die and go to hell because they caused the death of him.
Juliet is very impatient to hear news from Romeo (lines 1-17). What images does she use in her soliloquy to express this?
"And therefore hath the wind-swift Cupid wings" "Now is the sun upon the high high-most hill" "Of this days journey, and from the nine to twelve is three hours long, yet she has not come."
Dramatic Irony is when the audience knows something the characters do not. What is ironic about Juliet's line 134?
"Come hither, Nurse. What is yond gentleman?" This is ironic because this gentlemen that she speaks of, is a Montague.
Highlight lines 176-177. What reasoning does Lady Capulet use in begging the Prince for vengeance for Tybalt's death?
"He is a kinsman to the Montague. Affection makes him false. He speaks not true" Lady Capulet pleads the Prince to punish Romeo for Tybalt's death because the Capulets and Montague have a family feud that has been going on for a very long time and she feels that Tybalt must be avenged.
Highlight lines 65-69. Explain the meaning of the lines and the dramatic irony of the situation.
"I do protest. I never injured thee, But love thee better than thou canst devise Till thou shalt know the reason of my love.And so, good Capulet, which name I tender As dearly as mine own, be satisfied." The lines mean that Romeo feels that the Capulet are family because he recently got married without telling anybody. The irony however, is that the Montagues and the Capulets are long time enemies that are fighting.
Highlight lines 180-183. What is Lord Montagues' reasoning in his attempt to persuade the Prince not to kill Romeo for killing Tybalt?
"Not Romeo, Prince, he was Mercutio's friend. His fault concludes but what the law should end The life of Tybalt." Lord Montague tries to persuade the Prince to not kill Romeo for killing Tybalt because Romeo is innocent, and was simply trying to prevent the fight between Tybalt and Mercutio.
Highlight line 12. What is Romeo's reaction when he learns that he has been banished?
"Not body's death, but body's banishment." Romeo completely freaks out about being banished from Verona because he recently for married to Juliet and was banished within hours of being married, therefore not being able to see his Juliet, "a fate worse than death."
Highlight line 132. What does Romeo mean?
"O, I am a fortunes fool!" A fortunes fool refers to a victim of fate.
Highlight line 73. When Juliet receives news of Tybalt's death, what is her first reaction?
"Oh God, did Romeo's hand shed Tybalt's blood." When Juliet first received the news, she thought that a devil within Romeo caused the death of Tybalt.
Highlight Juliet's lines 90-92. When the nurse agrees with Juliet, Juliet has a different reaction to Romeo's killing of Tybalt. Explain.
"These griefs, these woes, these sorrows make me old, Shame come to Romeo." When the Nurse agreed with Juliet, Juliet didn't care much for the death of Tybalt, but instead cared more for the banishment of Romeo.
Highlight lines 190-194. What is Lord Capulet's response to Juliet's refusal to marry Paris?
"To answer 'I'll not wed' I cannot love, I am too young, I prayed you pardon me!' But, and you will not wed, I'll pardon you. Graze where you will you shall not house with me!" Lord Capulet's reaction to Juliet's refusal is that he becomes outraged and threatens to kick Juliet out of the house if she does not marry Paris.
Romeo tries to stop Mercutio and Tybalt from fighting by reasoning with them (lines 82-85). Paraphrase what he says.
"Tybalt, Mercutio! The Prince warned us about drawing out weapons in public! We are not to cause chaos in the streets of Verona anymore! Hold on, Tybalt! Mercutio!"
In what poetic form is this Prologue?
A sonnet.
Highlight lines 86-89. Explain Benvolio's analogy.
Benvolio wants Romeo to go to the party with an unattained eye to compare the other beauties of Verona with the one that Romeo loves, Rosaline. He wants to show Romeo that there are more beautiful people than Rosaline and he is determined to do.
In lines 92-105 Romeo and Juliet speak to each other. Their lines form a sonnet. Paraphrase the lines of the sonnet.
During the sonnet Romeo compares Juliet to a saint, and tries to kiss Juliet. When Romeo tries to kiss Juliet, Juliet offers her palm to him and they're palms touch. Romeo, however creatively persuades Juliet into kissing him and they touch lips.
Why does Friar Lawrence think that Juliet will accept his plan?
Friar Laurence thinks that Juliet will accept his plan because Juliet is very desperate and definitely does not want to be wed to Paris.
Explain Friar Laurence's plan (lines 146-154).
Friar Laurence's plan is for Romeo to go to Juliet's bedroom and elope and then go into hiding at Mantua and Laurence would send his worker to send word to Romeo.
What is Friar Laurence's reaction to hearing of Romeo's new love (lines 65-80)
Friar Laurence's reaction was a surprised reaction because Romeo moved on from being in love with Rosaline to falling deeply in love with Juliet and making plans to be wed so soon. "Young men's love then lies not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes."
What does Romeo mean when he says lines 119-120?
He means to take back what he said before and be sorrow for the death of Mercutio.
After Juliet asks some pertinent questions (lines 58-84), she realizes that Romeo has overheard her intimate thoughts about him. How does her attitude change in lines 85-105? What is she worried about?
Her attitude towards what she said before changes because she now knows that Romeo heard her expressing her love to him and she is now worried that things are going at too fast of a pace for her.
Why do you think Tybalt approaches Mercutio and Benvolio and wants a "word" with one of them (line 36)?
I think that Tybalt approaches Mercutio and Benvolio and wants a word with one of them because he is on hunting down Romeo.
Highlight lines 89-92. What reason does Friar Laurence give for agreeing to marry Romeo and Juliet?
In one respect I'll thy assistant be; For this alliance may so happy prove, To turn your households' rancour to pure love. Friar Laurence agrees to wed these two new lovers because he feels that if they were wed that the feud between the two families would end.
Highlight lines 90-91. What is the tone of the Prince's speech? In these lines he makes a new decree. What is it, and why is it important?
In the Prince's speech, it is revealed that he is a very powerful and stern person. He wants to keep the peace in the streets of Verona, so the Prince creates a new decree that if either of the families, Capulet or Montague cause another commotion in the streets that they will pay for this with their lives.
Highlight line 24. Paraphrase. Why is this a brazen thing to say?
Is it even so? Then I defy you, stars!" "So that's how it's going to be? Then I defy you, destiny!" This statement is very brazen because you can not actually defy destiny.
Why is this comparison to stars another example of foreshadowing?
It foreshadows that their destinies will soon be intertwined together.
When Lady Capulet asks Juliet how she feels about being married, what is Juliet's answer (line 67), and what does it reveal about her character?
It is revealed that Juliet has no interest in being married and it shows that she considers being married an honour, but still does not want to be wed
Highlight lines 58-59. Our first introduction to Benvolio comes when he says these words. What do they reveal about his character?
It reveals that Benvolio is a peaceful man that wants to keep the peace in Verona and does not want to fight.
When we first see Romeo he shows all the signs of a Petrarchan Lover—someone who is in love with the idea of being in love. How does Romeo act (lines 125-136)?
It shows that Romeo has been upset about a woman lately and has spent the past few days in his room being miserable, "With tears augmenting the fresh morning stew."
Highlight lines 5 and 6. Explain the importance of these two lines.
It tells the audience about the ancient rivalry between the two families and what outcome of the story.
How does the scene end?
Juliet and the Nurse think up a plan to go find Romeo and request that he come to Juliet's room at night.
After the Nurse leaves and Juliet is alone, what does Juliet decide to do (lines 240-243)?
Juliet decides to go to the Friar Laurence's cell to make a confession and be absolved.
Juliet speaks of her fears in lines 116-119. Explain.
Juliet fears that as soon as Romeo and her get married, something bad would happen to them (meaning their relationship will end)
How does Paris explain the sudden haste of the marriage plans?
Paris is very excited to be wed to Juliet on Wednesday because Lord Capulet said he had to wait years just a few days ago, but things have changed dramatically.
Lady Capulet misunderstands Juliet's sadness, and Juliet does not want her to know what has happened between Romeo and Juliet. What does Juliet say about Tybalt and Romeo to keep the truth from her mother (lines 67-102)?
Juliet lies to her mother dying saying that she is very sad about the death of Tybalt and uses her superior intellect to satisfy her mothers needs but at the same time deceit her.
In lines 37-68 the nurse confuses Juliet as she tells Juliet of the fight. What misconception does Juliet make?
Juliet makes a misconception and believes that Romeo was killed by Tybalt and then later on believes that both Tybalt and Romeo were killed in a brawl. Juliet makes this misconception because the Nurse telling Juliet things in broken pieces.
How does Juliet show her maturity and independence in this scene?
Juliet shows her maturity and independence by thinking ahead into the future and seeing what the consequences were if she took the potion.
What does Juliet say that makes her father happy?
Juliet tells her father that she is his and she will listen to everything that he tells her to do.
If Friar Lawrence cannot help her, what does Juliet threaten to do?
Juliet threatens to kill herself with her knife if he does not help.
If the potion does not work, what will Juliet do?
Juliet would freak out in the tomb and stab herself with the knife if she does not see Romeo when she awakes.
Highlight lines 43-44. Paraphrase lines 38-49. What is Juliet's attitude toward the feud that has separated the two families?
Juliet's attitude towards the feud is that she does not care for what a person's last name is, but for what they are instead. They're name is of our enemy You are yourself, not a Montague, What's a Montague? It's not a hand or foot Not arm, face or any other part It belongs to a man. Please have another surname. What's in a beautiful name? Any name could sound as sweet. So Romeo, you would not be called Romeo. Stay your perfect-self Without that last name, you are simply Romeo. Take me.
What is her mother's reaction to Juliet's response (line 124 and lines 139-140)?
Juliet's response to her Mother's reaction is that she does not care for what she wants, and refuses to marry Paris and would much rather take her own life than to have to marry Paris.
Tybalt recognizes Romeo's voice and tries to start a fight. What two reasons does Lord Capulet give for stopping him (lines 65-69)?
Lord Capulet says that Romeo "is a gentlemen, and to say the truth that Verona brags of him to be a virtuous and well-governed youth." Also, Lord Capulet does not want Tybalt to make a huge commotion at the party that he hosted at his house.
Highlight line 16-19. On what condition will Lord Capulet agree to Juliet's marriage with Paris?
Lord Capulet will only get Paris and Juliet be wed is Paris is able to woo her and get Juliet to want to marry him.
What is ironic about the conversation between Juliet and Paris?
Paris says that he loves Juliet with a passion, but Juliet loves Romeo, not Paris.
Highlight lines 33-36. Juliet is still unaware that Romeo is nearby. Paraphrase these lines.
Oh Romeo, oh Romeo, why are you Romeo? Rebel against my father and change your name Or, if you will not, swear your love to me I shall no longer be a Capulet.
Paraphrase lines 142-148.
Only to be generous and give it to you once more. I Wish I had the for something that I have My generosity to you is limitless as the Sea, and my love is as deep The more love I Give you, the more I have. Both loves are infinite. I hear some noise within. Dear love, farewell.
Friar Laurence tells Romeo to count his blessings. What are they (line 135-140)?
The blessings that Friar Laurence told Romeo to be fortunate for are: he wasn't sentenced to death, his love, Juliet was still alive.
From the beginning of the play, Romeo acts impulsively. In what way is he still impulsive in this scene (lines 102-108)?
Romeo acts impulsively in this scene because he is overreacted about being exiled, and in the scene he even tries to stab himself with a knife because he is so upset about being banished.
Why does Romeo agree to go to the party (lines 102-103)?
Romeo agrees to go to the party because he wants to "rejoice in spendour of mine own."
Why does he compare Juliet's eyes to the stars?
Romeo compares Juliet's eyes to the stars because her beauteous eyes glisten in the moonlight like stars.
Juliet is on the balcony outside her bedroom but cannot hear the words that Romeo says to himself as he looks at her from the hiding place below. Answer the following questions about lines 2-25: a. Romeo repeats the light and dark images he introduced when he saw Juliet for the first time. Why does Romeo compare Juliet to the sun?
Romeo compares to Juliet to the sun because Juliet is the new found love that Romeo has found and she is the best thing in his life right now.
After Mercutio dies, why does Romeo decide to kill Tybalt instead of accepting Mercutio's death as an unfortunate accident?
Romeo decides to kill Tybalt as well because when he first tried to make peace with him, Tybalt insulted Romeo and his Montague name and slayed Mercutio.
Highlight lines 106-111. Why does Romeo feel uneasy about going to the party? What dream-like premonition has he had?
Romeo feels uneasy about going to the party because the previous night he had has a premonition about bad things happening at the party and he feels that some consequences will happen if he does go.
What premonition does Romeo have at the beginning of this scene (lines 1-11)?
Romeo has a premonition about Juliet kissing Romeo's lifeless lips and bringing him back to life.
What coincidence takes place in this scene? Explain what theme is being developed.
The coincidence taking place in this scene is that both Romeo and Juliet will be attending the party at the Capulet house and the theme being developed here is fate.
Highlight lines 64-65. Our first impression of Tybalt occurs in these lines. What do we learn about his character?
We learn that Tybalt is a short-tempered person that is full of hate for the Montagues.
We learn from Romeo's soliloquy (a speech delivered while the speaker is alone, calculated to inform the audience of what is passing in the character's mind)that he is struck by love at first sight when he sees Juliet at the party. Paraphrase Romeo's speech (lines 43-53). To what does he compare Juliet?
Romeo has fallen out of love with Rosaline and fell deeply in love with Juliet. Romeo compares her to a beautiful snowy dove among a group of ugly black crows and sees her as a magnificent jewel and goddess. He also compares her hand to a saints and feels that if they touch hands his hands will be purified. He also says during his monologue that he has never seem true beauty until that night.
After Tybalt insults Romeo, Romeo responds with lines 59-62. Explain his lines. What is the "reason" Romeo has for ignoring the insult?
Romeo refuses to return the verbal abuse that he was receiving from Tybalt because he does not want to start a fight, because they he knew that they were already warned by the prince not to fight and he was his cousin and he knew that something bad was going to happen.
What message does Romeo urge the nurse to give to Juliet (lines 163-166)?
Romeo requests that the nurse tell Juliet that they are to be wed at Friar Laurence's cell later tonight.
What does Romeo tell Friar Laurence, and what does he want from the Friar (lines 43-64)?
Romeo tells Friar Laurence that he have moved on from Rosaline, and has now moved on to loving Juliet and wish to be wed on that day in his cell.
Why does Romeo's answer to Tybalt's insults upset Mercutio? What does he think Romeo is doing (line 70)?
Romeo upset Mercutio by saying that he considers that the surname Capulet is important to him as his own Montague name. He thinks that Romeo is becoming soft and making friends with the enemies.
6. When describing his feelings to Benvolio, Romeo uses Oxymorons—pairs of contradictory words in lines 170-177 and 184-188. Why does he speak in contradictions and paradoxes?
Romeo uses oxymorons in his conversation with Benvolio, because he is trying to illustrate the pain that he is feeling and that the woman he loves is the complete opposite of what is and that he will never get her.
Why does he want the sun to kill the envious moon?
Romeo wants the sun, Juliet to kill the envious moon, Rosaline because Romeo wants to get over her and fall completely in love with Juliet.
What decision does Romeo make in lines 112-113, and what is the thematic importance of this decision?
Romeo's mind tells him that he shouldn't go to the masquerade but his heart tells him that it is the right thing to do by going to the ball. By making the decision to go the ball, he crosses destinies with Juliet, and consequentially they fall in love. Then later falls out of love with Rosaline.
What are some of the fears Juliet has about the potion?
That she would not awaken and that it is poison, and that Romeo would not be there when she awakens in the tomb.
What event are the Capulets preparing for now?
The Capulets are planning a funeral for Juliet, instead of a wedding that was to take place.
Why is Friar Lawrence reluctant to marry Paris to Juliet?
The Friar does this to satisfy her parents to prevent them from getting more frustrated and satisfying their needs.
What does Friar Lawrence say to comfort the Capulet family?
The Friar says that he will accompany the family in taking Juliet's corpse to the tomb where she will be placed.
The nurse knows Juliet is impatient, but she keeps putting her off. Why does the nurse do this?
The Nurse does not tell Juliet what Romeo had told her to tell her because she has had a very long day and was very tired because of the harassment that Mercutio was giving her.
How would you describe the nurse's personality?
The Nurse is a very comical person in the play and brings relief to the readers, she is also a very witty person and makes many sexual references.
What does the Nurse advise Juliet to do (lines 212-225)? What is her reasoning?
The Nurse thinks that Juliet should marry Paris instead of Romeo, because she thinks that Romeo is more dangerous and inconsistent than Paris.
Highlight lines 62-63. What is the nurse's one wish for Juliet and why?
The Nurse's only wish for Juliet is that God treats her well and that she lives long enough to see Juliet be wed.
What is the Prince's decree, and what are the reasons he gives for making it (lines 182-185)?
The Prince's decree was to exile Romeo from Verona because all because of him, two people had to die that day and he was the only one surviving whom was part of that three man brawl.
Why is the moon envious?
The moon is envious because it is compared to Rosaline's face.
Why does the Nurse agree to help Juliet marry Romeo?
The nurse agrees to assist in the marriage of Romeo and Juliet because the nurse is like a mother to Juliet and she wants what is best for her.
This scene shows us more of the nurse's character as she trades quips and puns with Mercutio. What malapropisms (an inappropriateness of speech resulting from the use of one word for another which resembles it) does the nurse use (line 115)?
The nurse says, "...I desire some confidence with you." but what she really means is "conference".
Even when he is dying, Mercutio continues to joke and to make puns. Explain the pun he makes in lines 92-99.
The pun he is making is that he will be *grave* man tomorrow. A grave man is a sad man, but it could also mean a dead man which is a very clever play on words because he is dying.
What is the purpose of the Prologue?
The purpose of the prologue is to introduce the audience to what is going to happen later on in the story.
The nurse and Lady Capulet are both excited and pleased by Paris' proposal but for different reasons. The nurse says Paris is "a man of wax" and at the end of the scene encourages Juliet to "Go, girl, seek happy nights to happy days." What does the nurse see in Paris, and what does it reveal about her attitude toward love and marriage?
The statement that the Nurse made shows that the Nurse is more interested in the looks of men more than their personality and inner beauty.
What themes are established in the Prologue?
The theme of hope, love and despair are established.
How does this speech about his love for Juliet compare to his speeches about being in love with Rosaline?
This compares that the love that he felt for Rosaline meant nothing to his now that he has bet Juliet. It shows that he no longer cares for Rosaline now and has fallen deeply in love with Juliet.
From the servant who cannot read we learn that Rosaline, with whom Romeo believes he is in love, will be at the Capulet party. Why does this excite Benvolio? What is his plan (lines 84-89)?
This new discovered excites Benvolio because he knows that many gorgeous woman will be there among Rosaline, and he wants Romeo to go there with an "unattained eye" and compare the beautiful women with Rosaline and get over her.
What does this reveal about Lord Capulet's love for his daughter?
This reveals that Lord Capulet love his daughter very much and wants what is best for Juliet and did not want to arrange a marriage for her. This also reveals that Lord Capulet is a very sympathetic person that cares for the outcome of his daughter's future.
Mercutio tries to provoke Tybalt to fight (lines 37-38). Why doesn't Tybalt want to fight him (line 53)?
Tybalt does not want to fight Mercutio because Tybalt is not interested in fighting Mercutio but instead wants to duel it out with Romeo.
What is Juliet's response when she is told the news that she is to marry Paris (lines 116-123)? How has she changed since Act 1?
When Juliet had heard that she has to marry Paris, she became much more sad and depressed. Unlike the beginning of Act 1 where she just didn't care as much.
7. We then learn that Romeo is suffering from Unrequited Love—He loves someone who does not love him back. What suggestion does Benvolio make to Romeo to help him get over is unrequited love for Rosaline (lines 221-223)?
When we learn about that Romeo is suffering from unrequited love Benvolio, instead of helping him get Rosaline, he suggests that Romeo should search for other woman and try to forget about Rosaline.
Friar Laurence is introduced in a lengthy soliloquy in which he philosophies about nature and about mankind. Paraphrase his speech (lines 7-30).
he grey-eyed morning smiles reflect on the frowning night Darkness is getting out of the suns path like a drunk man. Before the bright sun comes out and burns everything away, I have to pull all the plants and fill my basket. The Earth is nature's mother and also nature's tomb. There are many plants that come into this world What's killing nature is the children. Different types of children. Earth provides children with many things that help them. There are many powerful things that lie in Herbs, plants, and stones have true qualities Nothing is so evil that the earth can live The earth can also give greatness There is nothing that can turn bad unless It is used in an incorrectly put manner Virtue turns to vice if it's misused. Vice sometimes becomes virtue
