Romeo and Juliet Plot Questions
(Act 3) Why does Romeo say, "More validity, / more honorable state, more courtship lives / In carrion flies than Romeo"
He's jealous of the flies because they will get to see Juliet and he won't because he's been banished.
(Act 5) What does Romeo mean when he tells Juliet lines 109-112? What does he doe next? "With worms that are thy chambermaids. O, here Will I set up my everlasting rest And shake the yoke of inauspicious stars From this world-wearied flesh. Eyes, look your last!"
He's telling her that he's going to, and then does, kill himself by drinking the poison to be with her
(Act 5) What does Paris believe to be the cause of Juliet's suicide?
Her grief for her cousin, Tybalt
(Act 3) What causes the death of Mercutio?
Romeo had tried to step between Mercutio and Tybalt to stop their fighting and Tybalt went under Romeo's arm and stabbed Mercutio.
(Act 3) How, specifically, does Romeo respond to Tybalt insults? Why does he respond this way?
Romeo is trying to stay calm because he doesn't want more conflict between the families since he and Juliet are now married.
(Act 3) What important decision does Capulet make in this scene? How does this decision contradict his behavior earlier in the play?
-He decides Juliet should marry Paris in a few days -Before he wanted them to wait two years because he thought she was too young for marriage
(Prologue-Act 1) Who is Peter and what task is he given? Why is it particularly difficult for him?
-He is a Capulet servant who is supposed to read the guest list and invite them -He can't read
(Act 5) What news does Juliet receive from Friar when she wakes up? Why does Friar leave her behind in the tomb?
-He tells her that both Paris and Romeo are dead, but he'll take her to become a nun. -people are coming and doesn't want to get in trouble
(Prologue-Act 1) How does Tybalt respond when he recognizes Romeo? How does Lord Capulet respond to Tybalt?
-He wants to kill him and asks for his sword -Lord Capulet insists on no fighting because he is a guest and they're not supposed to fight in public
(Act 5) What important information was Friar John supposed to deliver to Romeo in Mantua at the request of Friar Laurence? Why was he unable to deliver the letter?
-He was supposed to inform Romeo of the plan and that he must go to Juliet, who isn't dead -There's a plague and he can't deliver it
(Act 4) Juliet has three main fears concerning drinking the potion. What are they?
-It won't work and she'll wake up like normal -It kills her -Romeo doesn't get there in time and she just lies there alone
(Act 5) Why is the Apothecary hesitant to sell the poison to Romeo? Why does he finally give in and sell the poison?
-It's illegal -he's poor and needs the money
(Act 3) After killing Tybalt, Romeo exclaims, "O, I am fortune's fool!" (line 135). What does he mean by this? Who does he blame for the death of Tybalt? Do you agree or disagree?
-It's not his fault, it's 'just his luck' -he's blaming fate and Tybalt because he felt as though he had not choice but to fight.
(Act 2) Do you believe Romeo or Juliet is more practical in this scene? Why?
-Juliet -She tells Romeo that he's being too rash and not thinking right. They need to take time and think about things
Who is seeking Juliet's hand in marriage at the beginning of Scene 2? How does Capulet respond?
-Paris -He says he must wait two years because she's too young for marriage. He is supposed to woo her at the Capulet's ball. Capulet is in favor of the relationship and tells Juliet she will like Paris
(Act 2) What request does Romeo make of Friar? Why does the Friar agree to his request?
-Romeo requests that Friar marries him and Juliet. -He thinks the union might end the family feud
(Act 2) What message must the Nurse give to Juliet? What favor will the Nurse do to Romeo?
-She has to tell Juliet to go meet Romeo and the Friar -She has to fetch a latter so they can be together that night
(Act 5) Why does Juliet kiss Romeo after seeing the poison vile? What does she do next, and why?
-She hopes there will be enough poison on his lips to kill her in the same way -she takes his dagger and kills herself because the poison didn't work
(Act 2) Why is Juliet agitated? In what way is the Nurse teasing her?
-The Nurse isn't telling her what Romeo said. -The Nurse is complaining and saying how she's old and tired and telling Juliet to wait, and it frustrates her that she won't just tell her what he said.
(Act 5) What are Lords Capulet and Montague going to do in honor of their children?
-They both make peace with each other, ending the feud -They plan to make a statue of the other's child in their honor
(Prologue-Act 1) Why does Prince Escalus scold the two families? What will happen if they fight again?
-They were fighting in public -They all will die
(Prologue-Act 1) Why did Sampson bite his thumb at Abram and Balthasar, and why are Abram and Balthasar so offended?
-They're Montagues and he's a Capulet -biting your thumb at someone is a very rude, offensive gesture
(Act 3) The Nurse stumbles on her words when she is explaining the recent happening to Juliet. When she exclaims "... he's dead, he's dead, he's dead," who is she referring to? Who does Juliet think she is referring to?
-Tybalt -Romeo
(Act 4) Why does Juliet request to be left alone the night before her wedding? (What reason does she give, and what's the real reason?)
-to be alone on her wedding night -to take the sleeping potion
(Prologue-Act 1) Which "two household, both alike in dignity" (Prologue, line 1) are being discussed?
Capulets and Montagues
(Act 4) Why is Friar Laurence reluctant to marry Juliet and Paris?
He already married Juliet to Romeo
(Act 4) What imagery does Shakespeare use to describe Juliet's untimely "death" through Lord Capulet's dialogue?
He compares it to a flower that was killed prematurely with frost
(Act 4) What problem might this cause for the Friar's plan?
He has to still get word of the plan to Romeo, or it might not go as planned
(Act 4) What change does Capulet make concerning Paris and Juliet's wedding plans, and why?
He moves the wedding to the next day because he wants them to be married and doesn't see the point in waiting
(Act 5) What does Romeo mean when he says, "I defy you stars!"?
He plans to kill himself to be with Juliet and to defy fate
(Act 5) What news from Balthasar causes Romeo to react in such a depressed and angry manner?
He tells Romeo that Juliet is dead
(Act 4) What plan does Friar come up with to help Juliet?
Juliet will take the potion that will make her sleep for 42 hours but it looks as if she is dead. Then Romeo will go to her when she wakes and they can run away together
(Act 3) What plan does Lady Capulet have concerning Romeo?
Lady Capulet wants to kill Romeo because she thinks he deserves it, and being banished isn't punishment enough.
(Act 2) What does Friar mean in lines 67-68? "So soon forsaken? Young men's love then lies Not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes"
Most love is lust, not true love
(Act 4) What causes the argument between Peter and the musicians? (What does Peter want the musicians to do?)
Peter wants them to play happy music but the musicians are like, no it's a funeral, that's not happy.
(Prologue-Act 1) How do lines 106-113 of Act 1, Scene 4 act as a strong element of foreshadowing? "I fear, too early; for my mind misgives Some sonsequences, yet hanging in the stars, Shall bitterly begin his fearful date With the night's revels and expire the term Of a despised life, closed in my breast, By some vile forfeit of untimely death. But he that hath the steerage of my course Direct my sail! On, lusty gentlemen!"
Romeo knows that something will happen tonight that will change his life and will lead to his untimely death
(Act 3) Why does Juliet tell Romeo, "It was the nightingale, and not the lark, / That pierced the fearful hollow of thine ear"? (What does she mean?)
She says it was the nightingale, who is of the night, not the lark, who is of the morning, because it is now day time which means Romeo must leave her but she doesn't want him to go.
(Act 2) What do (Juliet's) lines 33-36 (Scene 2) mean? "O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name; Or, if though wilt not, be but sworn my love, And I'll no longer be a Capulet."
She's saying that they both need to be willing to give up their families for each other
(Act 3) What tension regarding her own allegiance is Juliet experiencing in lines 104-109? "Which you, mistaking, offer up to joy. My husband lives, that Tybalt would have slain; And Tybalt's dead, that would have slain my husband. All this is comfort; wherefore weep I then? Some word there was, worser than Tybalt's death, That murdered me. I would forget it fain;"
She's struggling between the joy of knowing Romeo is alive and the sorrow that her cousin is dead.
(Act 3) Why does Mercutio say, "A plague a both your houses"? (lines 90, 98, 105)
The feud is escalating more and more and now it's over taking them.
(Act 2) Why does Juliet ask Romeo to not swear by the moon (why does this make her nervous)?
The moon changes and she doesn't want his love for her to change
(Prologue-Act 1) How do Romeo and Juliet's first words to each other prove that they are two halves of one whole? (Hint: pay attention to the form of their dialogue)
Their rhyme scheme is a sonnet where they are taking turns talking about the same things (hands, pilgrims, and kisses)
(Act 2) What two things do Benvolio and Mercutio not know in this scene?
They don't know that Romeo is listening to their conversation from a distance and they don't know Romeo and Juliet are in love. He no longer cares for Rosaline
(Prologue-Act 1) What unfortunate discovery do Romeo and Juliet make after discovering their love for each other?
They find out they're supposed to hate each other because of their families
(Act 2) What arrangements do Romeo and Juliet make at the end of the evening?
They plan to meet at the next day at Friar Lawrence's
(Act 2) What assumptions can you make about Romeo's relationship with Friar Laurence?
They're very close and have a father-son relationship
(Act 5) Why does Friar Laurence request a crowbar?
To open the tomb to get Juliet
(Prologue-Act 1) What is Lady Capulet's perspective on marriage, as she explains in Act 3? (Why should a lady marry?)
To raise yourself in social and financial status and a handsome husband is a plus.
