ROMEO AND JULIET

A play by

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
 ROMEO AND JULIET

An assignment for Group and Individual Work

TASK: You will be placed in groups to do most of the following work which will include A
presenting some scenes to the class. There will also be individual sections of work to nsw
be handed in. Each member of the group must keep thorough notes as these will be er
needed for revision at the end of the unit. the

following questions in complete sentences.

ACT ONE
Scene One

1. In the prologue to Act 1, quote the lines that indicate that the outcome will
be tragic.
2. How do Benvolio’s first lines in the play differ from Tybalt’s? What does this
reveal about the two characters?
3. What penalty does Prince Escalus pronounce on the Montagues and
Capulets? Quote the lines that explain that this has happened before.
4. Why is Romeo feeling so depressed? Give details.
5. What advice does Benvolio give Romeo about Rosaline?

Scene Two

1. What is Paris asking of Capulet and why is Capulet unwilling to grant him this favour? Quote the lines.
2. How does Romeo find out about Capulet’s feast?

Scene Three

1. What impression of the nurse do you get from her speech on P47?|
2. What is Juliet’s reaction to the news that Paris wants to marry her?

Scene Four

1. Romeo introduces the subject of dreams (lines 45-49) and Mercutio launches into his Queen Mab speech.
How does this speech reveal both his imagination and his sense of humour? Give examples of each.

Scene Five

1. How does Romeo react to seeing Juliet for the first time? Explain with reference to
specific lines.
2. Tybalt recognises Romeo and complains to Capulet, who silences him. What
reasons does Capulet give for not reacting to Romeo’s presence?
3. How does Juliet discover Romeo’s identity? What is her reaction? Quote the lines.
 ACT TWO
Scene One

In this scene Romeo is on his way home but turns back to the Capulet’s house again. Benvolio and Mercutio are looking
for him but do not see him. Benvolio realises that Romeo has climbed the wall into the Capulet’s house. Mercutio calls
after him various taunting and bawdy remarks, but, getting no reponse, the two continue on the way home.

Scene Two – The famous ‘Balcony Scene’

1. What metaphors and similes does Romeo use to describe his love? Write them
down (up to Line32)
2. Juliet asks Romeo how he managed to get inside the walls. What is his reply?
3. Paraphrase into ordinary modern English, the lines beginning “… Gentle
Romeo,” down to “…but else not for the world.” Don’t attempt to write in verse!!
4. Why is Juliet apprehensive about the exchange of vows (contract) between
them? Quote the liens and explain them.
5. What does Juliet plan with Romeo for the next day?
6. Explain the lines where Juliet says she wishes Romeo was gone, but no further
than “a wanton’s bird.” Explain the next four lines clearly.

Scene Three

In this scene, Romeo is visiting Friar Lawrence who is out in the early morning collecting herbs. Romeo admits to him that
he has been out all night.

1. In line 65 Friar Lawrence says to Romeo: “Holy St Francis, what a change is here!” Explain what he is
referring to.
2. Why does Friar Lawrence agree to help Romeo?

Scene Four

It is later that morning, Mercutio and Benvolio are still looking for Romeo. Tybalt has sent a letter
(probably a challenge) to Romeo’s home. Mercutio comments that Tybalt loves duelling and
knows all the latest fencing styles. Romeo arrives and greets them. Romeo is in fine form and is
more than a match for Mercutio’s skill with words. When the Nurse and her attendant Peter
come looking for Romeo, the three young men tease her mercilessly. At last Mercutio and
Benvolio leave and the Nurse can speak to Romeo.

1. Explain what arrangements Romeo makes with the Nurse (lines 190 ff).

Scene Five

Juliet is waiting impatiently for the Nurse’s return. When the Nurse returns, she is in no hurry to tell Juliet what happened.
She teases Juliet by delaying her news as long as possible. Eventually the Nurse tells Juliet the arrangement that she is
to go to Friar Lawrence’s cell to meet Romeo and be married.

Scene Six

Romeo and Friar Lawrence await Juliet’s arrival. Romeo is impatient and the Friar
tries to persuade him to be patient. Juliet arrives, she and Romeo exchange
declarations of love, and the Friar leads them off to be married.
 ACT THREE
Scene One

In the heat of the day, Benvolio and Mercutio are in the street. Benvolio wants Mercutio
to withdraw because the Capulets are about and looking for trouble. Mercutio refuses;
if anything, he says, Benvolio is the trouble-maker. Tybalt and his companions
approach them, looking for Romeo. Mercutio looks for a fight, while Benvolio urges
caution. Romeo arrives. Tybalt insults Romeo in an attempt to provoke a fight, but
Romeo responds calmly and will not take the challenge. Mercutio is incensed at this
apparent cowardice and challenges Tybalt. They fight. Romeo tries to stop the fight
and in the confusion Tybalt stabs Mercutio. As Tybalt and his companions leave, we
realise that Mercutio is fatally wounded.

1. What pun does Mercutio employ as he explains the extent of his injuries to Romeo? Quote the lines.
2. How does Romeo believe his marriage to Juliet has affected him?
3. How does he resolve to act when Tybalt returns? What happens?
What is the Prince’s decision when he hears Benvolio’s summary of events?

Scene Two

1. Why is Juliet so impatient at the beginning of the scene?

2. What bad news does the Nurse bring?
3. Quote the lines where Juliet expresses what Romeo’s banishment means to her.

Scene Three

Friar Lawrence returns to his cell, where Romeo is hiding. He tells Romeo that he Prince’s
sentence is banishment from Verona. Romeo responds that since he will no longer be able to
be with Juliet, it might as well be a death sentence. As Romeo speaks, he becomes
increasingly wild, and repeats that he might as well be dead. Romeo continues to reject Friar
Lawrence’s advice.
Their conversation is interrupted by someone knocking on the door. The Nurse arrives to see
Romeo collapsed on the floor in his grief. She tells him that Juliet is similarly grief-stricken.
On hearing this, Romeo blames himself and tries to kill himself but they stop him. Friar
Lawrence tells him to get control of himself: Juliet and he are still alive. Romeo must go to
Munich and wait until the situation can be sorted out. The Nurse gives Romeo Juliet’s ring
and they arrange that Romeo will spend that night with Juliet but depart for Mantua before it
is light.

Scene Four

1. What does Capulet tell Paris? Give details.

Scene Five

It is almost light and Romeo is preparing to leave Juliet and travel to Mantua. Juliet tries to persuade him to stay, saying
that it is still night and Romeo says he will accept her judgement and risk death. Juliet realises he is right and tells him he
must go. The Nurse warns them that Lady Capulet is coming and Romeo and Juliet say farewell.

1. What joyful news does Lady Capulet bring?

2. What is Juliet’s response?
3. How does her father react? What does he threaten to do?
4. Why is he so angry?
5. What is the Nurse’s advice?
6. What is Juliet’s reaction to this advice and what does she resolve to do at the end of the scene?
 ACT FOUR
Scene One

1. Why has Capulet hastened Juliet’s marriage to Paris? Quote the line.
2. When Juliet is alone with the Friar, what does she threaten to do and why?
3. What does he suggest as a way out of her problems? Explain in detail what she has to do.

Scene Two

Capulet is busying himself making preparations for the wedding; sending out invitations and hiring cooks. Juliet returns
from her visit to Friar Lawrence and immediately asks her father to forgive her for her earlier behaviour.

Scene Three

1. What fears does Juliet express in her long soliloquy? She imagines five different
scenarios. Four of them are introduced by a phrase containing the word “if” and the
other begins with the words, “it is not like that.”
2. What does she do at the end of this scene?

Scene Four

What preparations are being made for the wedding?

Scene Five
The Nurse goes to wake Juliet. At first she thinks she is very soundly asleep but gradually realises that she is dead. Lady
Capulet and her husband enter the bedroom and are horrified at this news. The Friar and Paris also arrive and are
equally distressed. All five grieve the sudden and shattering death of Juliet. Friar Lawrence tries to calm their grief.

1. What does Friar Lawrence tell them they should remember?

2. What decision does Capulet make as a result?

They all leave, except the Nurse, who begins to prepare Juliet’s body for burial. The musicians, who have been hired for
the wedding, now leave. Peter, the Nurse’s servant, asks them to play to cheer him up. They refuse and after some talk

they leave.
ACT FIVE
Scene One

1. What is Romeo’s mood at the beginning of this scene? Quote to support your points.
2. What does Romeo decide to do once Balthasar leaves?
3. What prompts the apothecary to sell the poison? Why should he not?

Scene Two

1. What news does Friar John bring to Friar Lawrence?

2. Where does Friar Lawrence go, and why?

Scene Three (Quote to support your points for each question)

1. When and where does this scene take place?

2. Why does Paris go to Juliet’s tomb?
3. What excuses does Romeo give to Balthasar for wanting to open Juliet’s
tomb?
4. Why does Romeo kill Paris?
5. Why does Friar Lawrence leave Juliet on her own?
6. Explain in detail what Montague and Capulet do at the end of the play to make amends.