Act I

Act I, scene 1

1. Tone is the overall feeling or effect, created by a writer’s use of words. (ex. serious, humorous, satiric, solemn, objective) 

What tone does Shakespeare use in his Prologue to Act I? Choose words, phrases or sentences that clearly indicate this atmosphere?

2. Characterization:  The method a writer uses to reveal the personality of a character in a literary work. Characters are revealed in four ways:

·         through what the characters reveal about their thoughts through long speeches to the audience    

called soliloquies (a moment when a character is alone and speaks his or her thoughts aloud).

·         through what the characters say to other characters in dialogue

·         through what other characters say about them

·         through what they do, their actions

Describe each of the following characters.

3.      What do you think Shakespeare’s purpose was in the beginning of the play with the quarrel among the servants rather than the clash between Benvolio and Tybalt?

4. Literary Foil: a character who serves as contrast or challenge to another

Contrast Benvolio and Tybalt

How do Lady Capulet and Lady Montague’s attitudes differ from their husbands’?

5.      What threats does Prince Escalus make against his “Rebellious subjects, enemies of peace”?

6.      What is Romeo’s mood in the first scene and what caused it?

7.      Oxymoron: a combination of contradictory terms. 

Identify several of the contradictory terms Romeo uses when describing love. Why do you think he does this?

8.      How, according to Benvolio, might Romeo alter his mood?

Act I, scene 2

1.      Who is Paris and what proposal does he make in his talk with Capulet?

2.      What is Capulet’s reaction to that proposal?

3.      What was Shakespeare’s purpose in having the Capulets plan a party?

4.      Quote the argument Benvolio uses to persuade Romeo to attend the party.

5.      What reason does Romeo give for deciding to go to the party at the end of this scene?

Act I, scene 3:

1.      What subject does Lady Capulet want to discuss with Juliet?

2.      Their conversation is postponed for a considerable time. What adjectives and phrases would you use to describe Juliet’s nurse?

Nurse:

3.      What is Juliet’s attitude toward marrying Paris?

4.      How do Lord and Lady Capulet differ in their approach to Juliet concerning Paris?

5.      Metaphor: A metaphor makes a direct comparison between two different terms without the use of the words like or as. A metaphor connects the idea or image in your writing to something new and unexpected and creates a powerful picture for your readers. 

Extended metaphor: The metaphor serves as the unifying element throughout a series of sentences.

List the words Lady Capulet uses to compare Paris to a book.

6.      What is Juliet’s response to her mother’s request concerning Paris?

Act 1, scene 4

1.      Although Mercutio and Romeo are close friends, they differ in their attitudes toward life. In what way is Mercutio a dramatic foil for Romeo?

Pun: A pun is a play on words that have more than one meaning. For example, in the opening scene of the play, the servants use moved to mean provoked or stirred up and to mean to change location. Back can mean to support someone, as in a cause, or it can be part of a human or animal near the spine.

Explain the pun in Mercutio’s line, “That dreamers often lie.”

2.      What is the purpose of Mercutio’s long Queen Mab speech?

3.      How does Romeo’s speech at the end of scene 4 echo back to the Prologue?

Act 1, scene 5

1.      What is the general atmosphere as this scene opens?

 2.      How does Romeo describe Juliet when he first sees her?

 3.      Why is Tybalt outraged at Romeo’s presence at the party?

 4.      Describe Romeo and Juliet’s actions with each other as they first meet.

 5.      Quote lines spoken by both Romeo and Juliet that describe their feelings once they discover the other’s identity.

 Based on what we know from Act I, what words and phrases would you use to describe:

 Juliet Capulet:

Romeo Montague:

Act II, scene 1

1.      Describe the format Shakespeare uses in his Prologue.  Describe the length, the rhyme scheme, and rhythm he uses.

2.      Why does Romeo want to hide from Benvolio and Mercutio?

3.      As Romeo gives his opening speech in Act II, scene 1, he refers to himself as “dull earth” and says he must find his “center out.”  What does he mean?

 Act II, scene 2

3.      What images of light does Romeo use in describing Juliet in scene ii?

4.      When Juliet says the line “O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?” she is not aware that Romeo is present.  Paraphrase and explain what she is asking in this question.

5.      What fears does Juliet have for Romeo once she discovers his presence?

Act II, scene 2 continued

6.      What does Juliet’s speech (lines 90-111) (89-110) reveal about her feelings?

7.      When Romeo begins to swear the truth of his love to Juliet by the moon she stops him and says, “swear not by the moon.”  Why does she object to him using this image?

8.      What promise does Juliet make to Romeo toward the end of the balcony scene?

9.      An oxymoron is a combination of contradictory terms.  In Act I we heard Romeo combining terms such as brawling love, loving hate, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health.  What is the oxymoron in Juliet’s parting speech to Romeo?

“Good night, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow,

That I shall say good night till it be morrow.”

1.      Interpret the lines Friar Laurence says at the beginning of scene iii. 

“The earth that’s nature’s mother is her tomb,

What is her burying grave, that is her womb;” 

2.      Choose three adjectives that you think would describe Friar Laurence.  Explain your choices with examples of his character. 

3.      When Romeo tells Friar Laurence that he’s in love with Juliet, how does the friar react?  Why?

4.      Why does the friar finally agree to Romeo’s proposal to be married to Juliet?

5.      What warning does the friar give to Romeo?

Act II, scene 4:

1.      What threat is introduced in this scene?

2.      What examples of humor can you find in this scene?  Examine the words and actions of characters such as Mercutio and the Nurse, and refer to specific lines or incidents to describe the humor.

3.      What steps does the nurse have to take to carry out Romeo’s instructions?

4.  What does the Nurse reveal about Juliet’s feelings toward Paris in lines 202-210 (166-172)?

Act II, scene 5:

1.      What adjectives would you choose to describe Juliet at the beginning of scene 5?  Give examples to support your choices.

2.      How does Juliet treat the Nurse in scene 5?  Are her actions justified?  Explain your opinion.

Act II, scene 6:

1.      Why do you think Shakespeare has his characters discussing sorrow, death, violent delights and violent ends at the beginning of scene 6?

2.      Do you think the feelings Romeo and Juliet have for each other are true love or infatuation?  Explain.

3.      Juliet is thirteen years old and Romeo is not much older.  In what way is their love typical of adolescence, and in what way is it not?