Name: ASHLEY THOMAS
Period:2_
Romeo and Juliet:
Complete Study Guide
About Shakespeare’s Plays
Name the three types of plays Shakespeare
1. Tragedy
2. Comedy
3. History
About Romeo and Juliet
Circle one: This play is a Tragedy Comedy History
Literary Terms and Other Factoids
Allusion- A brief reference to something outside of the text, such as a person, event, or place (real or fictitious)
or work of art.
Aside- Words spoken by a character in an undertone, not intended to be heard by other characters on stage. This
lets the audience know what a character is really thinking or feeling.
Blank Verse- Unrhymed Iambic Pentameter. Basically, the lines are unrhymed and 10 syllables long. They
have alternating stresses:
U / U / U / U / U / 10 syllables, 5 “feet”
But soft. What light through yonder window breaks?
Couplet- When Shakespeare rhymes, it’s usually in couplets, two consecutive lines of poetry that rhyme.
Example from Juliet: Good night, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow
That I shall say good night till it be morrow.
Dramatic Irony- The tension, humor, or suspense created by a situation in which the audience knows
something the character or characters do not know.
End-stopped Line- Punctuation is at the end of it. Example from Juliet’s speech, Act II, Scene 2:
O, Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo?
Deny my father and refuse thy name;
Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,
And I’ll no longer be a Capulet.
Foil- A character that is set up as a contrast to another so that each will stand out vividly.
Hyperbole- A figure of speech which is an exaggeration. Persons often use expressions such as "I nearly died
laughing," "I was hopping mad," and "I tried a thousand times." Such statements are not literally true, but
people make them to sound impressive or to emphasize something.
Malapropism- an inappropriateness of speech resulting from the use of one word for another which resembles
it.
● He had to use a fire distinguisher.
● Michelangelo painted the Sixteenth Chapel.
● "Don't" is a contraption.
● Sweet land of liberty, of thee icing.
Metaphor- a comparison that does not use like or as.
Monologue- long, uninterrupted speech that is spoken in the presence of other characters.
Example) Mercutio’s famous speech on Queen Mab in Act I, Scene IV.
Oxymoron- Of Greek Origin: Oxus (sharp, clever); Moron (dull, foolish). Two opposites combined. Examples:
“Loving Hate,” “Sweet Sorrow,” “Jumbo Shrimp”
Personification- Applying human elements or qualities to non-human things.
Poetry Vs. Prose- PROSE is spoken for the most part by common people and occasionally by Mercutio when
he is joking. Most of the other characters speak in POETRY, which is largely written in unrhymed iambic
pentameter (i.e., blank verse).
Puns- Play on the multiple meanings of a word or on two words that sound alike but have different meanings.
Used for humorous effects.
Repetition- Key words repeated in the course of a speech or conversation for the sake of emphasis.
Run-on Line- No punctuation at the end. Example from Romeo’s speech, Act II, Scene 2.
The brightness of her cheek would same those starts
As daylight doth a lamp; her eyes in heaven
Would through the airy region stream so bright
That birds would sing and think it were not night.
Simile- A comparison that uses like or as.
Sonnet: 14-line poem that is usually written in iambic pentameter and that has one of several rhyme schemes.
There are two kinds of Sonnets:
● Italian sonnet (also known as the Petrarchan sonnet)
o The first eight lines (octet) pose a question or problem about some subject (for example, love).
o The concluding six lines (sestet) are a response to the octet.
▪ Rhyme Scheme: abba abba cde cde
● Shakespearean Sonnet
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o It has 3 four-line unites (quatrains) followed by a concluding two-line unit (couplet).
▪ Rhyme Scheme: abab cdcd ef ef gg
Soliloquy- a monologue spoken to the audience, often while the character is alone on stage. (How is this
different from a monologue?)
Examples: Friar Lawrence in Act II and Juliet in Act IV, Scene 3
Splitting Lines- lines split between two characters, typically each character speaks five beats. The splitting of
lines usually indicates a close relationship between characters.
Example: Juliet: Take all myself.
Romeo: I take thee at thy word.
Act One Study Guide for ROMEO & JULIET
PROLOGUE
1. Who speaks the Prologue? What is the Prologue’s purpose?
2. In what poetic form is the Prologue?
3. Explain the importance of lines 5 and 6.
4. What themes are established in the Prologue?
ACT 1 SCENE 1—A Public Place in Verona
1. How does Shakespeare start the play so that he gains the attention of the “groundlings?”
2. The servants of the house of Capulet are already using insulting language to generalize about members of the
Montague family. What does this show about attitudes in the two houses? To me the two families have no
respect for each other as well. I think there are enemies that do not like each other.
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3. What are the attitudes of Gregory and Sampson towards the law? (Lines 38-41) they know it is against the
law so they lie and say no their attitudes seem they don't care but they do care.
4. Who is Tybalt, and why is he dangerous? i think he related to the Capulet family
5. In Scene 1, Lines 76- 81, how are the responses of Lady Capulet and Lady Montague to their husbands
different? I think Lady Montague wants nothing to do with the fight so she holds her husband back.And Lady
Capulet gives her husband a crutch for the fight.
6. What warning does the prince give the street brawlers in Scene 1, Lines 82-104? stop fighting and no more
fight or be put to death.
7. What is unusual about Romeo’s behavior, according to Benvolio and Lord Montague? He has been sad for a
while and he is avoiding everyone and not talking to them.
8 When Benvolio asks Romeo what is the cause of Romeo's strange behavior, what does Romeo tell him?
(Lines 165-169) I love someone but they dont love me
9 An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines two contradictory elements, such as "deafening silence."
List four of the oxymorons in lines 177-182. love is smoke raised with fume of fire, a choking gall and
preserving sweet
10 According to Romeo, why does the young woman he is in love with refuse him? (Lines 213-219)
She vow to be a virgin forever
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11 Why does Romeo not want to look at other women? (Line 237) because he will think about the women he
loves.
ACT 1 SCENE 2-- A Street
1. In this scene Lord Capulet talks to Paris about marrying his daughter Juliet. What reasons does he give for
not wanting Juliet to marry at this time?That she is too young she olnt 14 years old
2. What does Lord Capulet mean when he says “the earth has swallowed all my hopes but she” (line 14)?That
his daughter is not ready to become a mother
3. Look carefully at lines 16-19. On what condition will Lord Capulet agree to Juliet’s marriage with Paris? If
his daughters agree to marriage with paris
4. Who is Rosaline, and how is she related to the Capulets? His fair niece
5. What is the dramatic irony in lines 70-85? He is in love Rosaline who is related to Capulets family
ACT 1 SCENE 3--A Room in Capulet’s House
1. What is the nurse’s relationship with Juliet? How would you describe the Nurse’s personality?They have a
mother and daughter relationship
2. Look closely at lines 62-63. What is the nurse’s one wish for Juliet? i think she wish that juliet will get
married to someone with peace and grace
3. When Lady Capulet asks Juliet how she feels about being married, what is Juliet’s answer (line 66), and
what does it reveal about her character? It is an honor that I dream of not because she does not want to get
married. Her character feels like she is a free spirit and does not want to be controlled.
4. Look closely at lines 98-100. Explain Juliet’s answer to her mother when asked if she can love Paris. She
telling her mother that she will not love Paris
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ACT 1 SCENE 4--A Street
1. What does Romeo feel about love (lines 25-26)? He thinks falling in love is too painful.
2. How does Mercutio try to snap Romeo out of his depression? by cheering him up, say if love is too painful be
painful with love.
3. Summarize Mercutio’s speech on Queen Mab.
4. Look closely at lines 106-111. Why does Romeo feel uneasy about going to the party? He thinks by
attending the party there may be consequences.
5. What decision does Romeo make in lines 112-113, and what is the thematic importance of this decision? He
was feeling worried about going because he had a bad dream saying the party will start to lead to his death.
6. In what ways throughout this scene do we see how Mercutio is a foil to Romeo? he mocks romeo vision of
love
ACT 1 SCENE 5--A Hall in Capulet’s House
1. We learn from Romeo’s soliloquy that he is struck by love at first sight when he sees Juliet at the party.
Paraphrase Romeo’s speech (lines 43-52). To what does he compare Juliet? He says how beautiful she is and
says i have not fallen in love till now. He compares her to roseline.
2. How does this speech about his love for Juliet compare to his speeches about being in love with Rosaline?
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3. Are you convinced that Romeo truly loves Juliet? Why or why not? No he is in love with her beauty and not
for herself.
4. Tybalt recognizes Romeo’s voice and tries to start a fight. What two reasons does Lord Capulet give for
stopping him (lines 65-69)? Romen is a gentleman and is not starting trouble.
5. Look closely at lines 90-91. What threat does Tybalt make as he agrees to withdraw? but this intrusion shall
not seem sweet, convert to bitterest gall.
6. In lines 92-105, Romeo and Juliet speak to each other. What type of poem do their lines form? A love poem
where he wants to kiss her.
7. What does Romeo realize in lines 119-120? that he fell in love with Capulet daughter.
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Act 2 Study Guide for ROMEO & JULIET
CHORUS
1. Paraphrase the chorus’s speech. What type of poem is this?
ACT 2 SCENE I--Near Capulet’s Orchard
1. What is Mercutio saying in lines 7-17? What is his tone? He talking about how romeo is in love with
rosaline
2. What is the dramatic irony found in lines 16-21? Mercutio still thinks romeo is still in love with rosaline
3. What does Mercutio say about “blind love”?If love be blind, love cannot hit the mark
ACT 2 SCENE 2--Capulet’s Orchard
1. 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? Because she is beautiful and shines like the sun
b. Why does he want the sun to kill the envious moon? because the moon is not as beautiful as the sun
and i think he is talking about rosaline.
c. Why is the moon envious? it does not shine like the sun the moon is pale and looks sick
d. Why does he compare Juliet’s eyes to the stars? her eyes twinkle like the stars
2. Look closely at lines 33-36. Juliet is still unaware that Romeo is nearby. What is she asking? i think she
saying she loves romeo is she wish not to be a capulet
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3. Look closely at lines 38-49. What does Juliet say about names? What can we infer about her attitude toward
the feud that has separated the two families? she knows that he is montague and knows it will be hard to be
together
4. How does Juliet feel when she realizes Romeo has been listening? (lines 52-53) she was scared when he
came out of hiding.
5. What will happen if Romeo gets caught outside Juliet’s window? Which one, Romeo or Juliet, seems to take
this threat more seriously? (Lines 70-74) he will die. and Juliet is taking it seriously.
6. Explain/paraphrase Juliet’s feelings of embarrassment (Lines 95-105). Would you be as embarrassed as she is
in a similar situation? She fell in love with Romeo and she thinks she is too easy.
7. Why does Juliet object to Romeo’s swearing on the moon (lines 109-111)? you can't swear on the moon
because of it monthly changing her circle orb.
8. What are Juliet’s fears in lines 116-119? their love is to rash and she does not joy the contract of there love
that night.
9. What do you think changes Juliet’s mind in lines 142-149? I think she only changed her mind because she
does not want to get married to the princes.
10. Juliet is going to send someone to Romeo on the following day for what purpose?
ACT 2 SCENE 3-Friar Laurence’s Cell
1. What is in Friar Laurence’s basket?
2. What details in the friar’s speech casually suggest that these herbs have the power to heal or kill? How might
this relate to Romeo and Juliet?
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3. Explain lines 21-22: “Virtue itself turns vice, being misapplied,/And vice sometime by action dignified”?
4. When Friar Laurence sees Romeo, what comment does Friar Laurence make about seeing Romeo so early in
the morning?
5. What does Friar Laurence mean when he says to Romeo, “Young men’s love then lies not truly in their
hearts, but in their eyes?” (67-68)
ACT 2 SCENE 4-A Street
1. Why is Mercutio looking for Romeo?
2. Describe Mercutio’s feelings toward Tybalt.
3. How does Mercutio use tricks of poetry to tease Romeo? Does Mercutio’s teasing of Romeo remind you of
the way friends today tease one another?
4.. What part does the nurse play in Romeo and Juliet’s schemes?
5. Define malapropism. Where does the Nurse say one in her quips with Mercutio?
6. What message does Romeo urge the nurse to give to Juliet (lines 163-166)?
7. The nurse is one of Shakespeare’s great comic characters. Do you think she has a strong sense of right and
wrong? Or, does she seem to be easily corrupted, someone who will do whatever people want her to do?
ACT 2 SCENE 5--Capulet’s Orchard
1. Describe Juliet’s mood as she waits for the nurse’s return.
2. What type is Juliet’s speech, a soliloquy or monologue? (lines 1-17)
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3. The nurse knows Juliet is impatient, but she keeps putting her off. Why does the nurse do this?
4. Why does the Nurse agree to help Juliet marry Romeo?
5. What is Juliet’s mood at the end of this scene?
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Act 3 Study Guide for ROMEO & JULIET
ACT 3 SCENE I--A Public Place
1. According to Benvolio, what is the weather like? What is Benvolio worried about as a result? IT HOT
OUTSIDE SO I'M GUESSING IT AROUND THE SUMMER
2. What is unique about Benvolio and Mercutio’s conversation at the opening of the act? Mercutio is angry in
the opening act
3. Look closely at lines 15-31. What is Mercutio saying about Benvolio? What might his tone of voice be here?
Mercutio says toBenvolio that he will not do something and then ends up doing it anyway. Mercutio may be
talking in a serious tone.
4. Why does Tybalt approach Mercutio and Benvolio and want a “word” with one of them (line 39)?Tybalt
want to hurt one of them
5. Mercutio tries to provoke Tybalt to fight (lines 40-41). Why doesn’t Tybalt want to fight him (line 57)?
Tybalt wants to fight romeo
6. After Tybalt insults Romeo, Romeo responds with lines 63-66. Explain his lines. What is the “reason”
Romeo has for ignoring the insult? Because he is married to juliet Tybalt's cousin
7. Look closely at Romeo’s lines 69-73. Explain the meaning of the lines and the dramatic irony of the
situation.
8. Who starts the fight? Mercutio
9. Romeo tries to stop Mercutio and Tybalt from fighting by reasoning with them (lines 87-91). Paraphrase
what he says.. He is trying to get Tybalt and Mercutio to put their weapons down and break it up.
10. How are Mercutio’s lines (94-95 and 97-100) ironic?
11. What is Mercutio’s threat as he dies? A plague on both families
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12. What does Romeo mean when he says Juliet’s beauty has made him “effeminate”? It's making him soft like
a girl.
13. What does Romeo do when Tybalt returns?They fight, and Romeo kills Tybalt.
14. “I am fortune’s fool!” What does Romeo mean by this line?He is fortunate for marrying Juliet, but he is a
fool for killing her cousin.
15. Why do you think the prince chose Benvolio to explain what had happened? He honest and he was there
ACT 3 SCENE 2--Capulet’s Orchard
1. What type of speech is Juliet’s in the opening of the scene? What is she anxiously awaiting?, Juliet
impatiently waits for her nurse,
2. In lines 37-68 the nurse confuses Juliet as she tells Juliet of the fight. What misconception does Juliet
make? She thinks romeo is hurt
3. What pun does Juliet make in lines 43-51? Do you find her wordplay appropriate??Upon first sight of
her, Romeo exclaims that she teaches "the torches to burn bright
4. Look closely at line 73. When Juliet receives news of Tybalt’s death, what is her first reaction?she felt
sad for her cousin passing
5. What language is Juliet using in lines 75-79, and why? I think she is speaking good about him
6. In Juliet’s monologue (96-127), Juliet says Romeo’s banishment is worse than what? Her cousin death
7. What does Juliet threaten to do after she hears about Romeo's banishment? That everyone else should die to
8. What will the nurse do to comfort Juliet? The nurse is get romeo and bring him to juliet's room
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ACT 3 SCENE 3--Friar Laurence’s Cell
1. Romeo and Friar Laurence speak of death and banishment. Which would Romeo prefer, and how does the
Friar respond?Romeo would rather die. Friar thinks he should be grateful he's only being let off with
banishment.
2. When the nurse enters, what news does she bring of Juliet? How does Romeo react (line103-108)?Nurse
enters and tells Romeo that Juliet is grief-stricken, Romeo attempts suicide
3. Why does the Friar get angry at Romeo (lines 108-118)? What type of speech is this? He acting like a child
mongeau
4. Friar Laurence tells Romeo to count his blessings. What are they (line 135-140)?He is handsome, and both
him and Juliet are still alive, so he has no reason to be sad.
5. What plans are made to resolve Romeo and Juliet's difficulties?Romeo will leave until Friar and the nurse
can uplift his banishment and reconcile him with his friends.
ACT 3 SCENE 4--A Room in Capulet’s House
1. How does Lady Capulet interpret the fact that Juliet has shut herself in her room (lines 10-11)?and
arranged for her to be married to Paris on Thursday morning.
2. What does Lord Capulet decide to do in lines 12-18? Why does he make this decision (19-28)? To let
paris marry juliet
3. How does dramatic irony function in this scene?
ACT 3 SCENE 5--Capulet’s Orchard
1. Why does Juliet insist she hears the nightingale and not the lark?So that she doesn't have to face reality.
2. What images in Romeo and Juliet’s conversation echo previous speeches of light and dark imagery in the
play? Is the mood different from before? The sun yes
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3. According to the Prologue, what is the answer to Juliet’s question in line 51? What is Romeo’s response?
No, because she loves him too much.
4. What literary device does Juliet use when talking about Fortune (lines 60-64)?Juliet uses an apostrophe to
speak to luck.
5. Lady Capulet misunderstands Juliet’s sadness, and Juliet does not want her to know that she is married to
Romeo. What does Juliet say to keep the truth from her mother (lines 78-102)?She would rather marry Romeo.
6. 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?She has changed her feelings for both Paris and Romeo.
7. What is her mother’s reaction to Juliet’s response (line 124-125 and lines 140-141)?? She is shocked and
says that she'll tell her father the news if she dares.
8. Look closely at lines 190-197. What is Lord Capulet’s response to Juliet’s refusal to marry Paris?
?
ACTS IV and V STUDY GUIDE for ROMEO & JULIET
ACT IV, SCENE 1--Friar Laurence’s Cell
1. Why is Paris visiting Friar Laurence? to arrange his marriage to Juliet
2. According to Paris (lines 6-15), why is Lord Capulet pushing his daughter to marry so quickly? Because
she'll stop crying if she marries him.
3. Look at all the lines that Paris speaks. What kind of character is he? he pushing to marry juliet so I think
he'll be pushy
4. Juliet tells Friar Laurence what she will do if the wedding to Paris cannot be avoided. Paraphrase lines
50-67 She will kill herself with a knife if Friar Laurence cannot come up with a better solution..
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5. What are all the things Juliet would rather do than marry Paris (lines 76-88)? kill herself
6. Summarize Friar Laurence’s plan as described in lines 89-120. He wants her to drink the vial and it will
cause her to look like she's dead. This will get her out of her unwanted marriage.
7. Do you think this plan has the potential to be successful? Explain. Yes because her family will think she
is dead and she can run away with romeo
ACT IV, SCENE II--A Hall in Capulet’s House
1. What does Lord Capulet decide to do in lines 23 and 24? How will this affect the Friar’s plan?Have the
wedding tomorrow morning.
2. What is the dramatic irony in Lines 33-37? Juliet asks the nurse to help her pick out her outfit for
tomorrow
ACT IV, SCENE III--Juliet’s Chamber
1. Why does Juliet dismiss both the nurse and the mother from her chamber?Because she needs to
drink the potion.
2. What are Juliet’s fears regarding the potion the Friar has given her (lines 14-58)?The potion may not
work; it may kill her; she may wake up alone in the tomb before Romeo comes.
ACT IV, SCENE IV--A Hall in Capulet’s House
1. What are the Capulets preparing for at the beginning of this scene? How does this contrast with
Juliet’s previous soliloquy?The wedding.
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2. We finally learn the Nurse’s name! What is it? Angelica
3. How does Lord Capulet treat the Nurse in this scene as compared to before? with affection
4. What is the purpose of this brief scene?
ACT IV, SCENE V--Juliet’s Chamber
1. What does the Nurse find when she goes to wake Juliet? What’s the dramatic irony of this moment?
She finds Juliet lying there dead Juliey is not really dead
2. On Line 24, why does Lady Capulet repeat herself? Oh She's Dead
3. What do you think about Friar Laurence’s first line (Line 33) when he enters the scene? he good at
acting
4. How does Lord Capulet personify death in lines 34-40?? He says everything, his life, his
possessions, and everything else of his belongs to death.
5. Paraphrase Friar’s speech, lines 65-83. What consolation does he offer? Why does he encourage
them to be merry? The only thing they really ever wanted was for her to be higher in society.
6. What is Friar Laurence’s motive in speaking lines 94 and 95? that she is better place
7. How does this scene end?
ACT V SCENE I--Mantua. A Street.
1. What premonition does Romeo have at the beginning of this scene (lines 1-11)?
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2. What news does Balthasar bring? How does this disrupt the Friar’s plan?
3. Paraphrase line 24. Why is this a brazen thing for Romeo to say?
4. What does Romeo decide to do after he hears Balthasar’s story (lines 34-57)?
5. Why does the Apothecary agree to sell mortal drugs to Romeo? What is Romeo’s response?
6. What does the Apothecary mean about the drugs when he says, “if you had the strength of twenty
men, it would dispatch you straight.”
7. What is the “poison” that Romeo has “sold” the Apothecary?
ACT V SCENE II--Friar Laurence’s Cell
1. Why was Friar John unable to deliver the letter to Romeo explaining Juliet's coma?
2. What are Friar Laurence’s adjustments to the plan?
ACT V, SCENE III--A churchyard; in it, a monument belonging to the Capulets
1. Why is Paris at the tomb?
2. What does Romeo find when he enters the tomb?
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3. In lines 28-32, what strange excuse does Romeo give his servant for wanting to descend into the
tomb alone?
4. What does Paris say killed Juliet? What does he want to do when he sees Romeo?
5. What is Romeo’s first reaction to Paris? What does Paris do to provoke Romeo?
6. What happens to Paris?
7. What does Romeo do for Paris?
8. What clues in Romeo’s soliloquy indicate that Juliet is still alive?
9. What are Romeo’s last words?
10. What is the irony of Friar Laurence’s arrival?
11. How does Juliet find out about Romeo and Paris?
12. Why do you think the Friar leaves?
13. Look closely at line 167. What does Juliet realize about the situation?
14. How does Juliet die? What are her last lines?
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15. Does the Friar accept responsibility in his monologue for what happened to Romeo and Juliet?
16. According to the prince, who has been punished?
17. How does the play end?
18. Did you cry at the end?
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