House of Capulet
House of Montague
#Elizabethanlingo
Romeo & Juliet:
Literary Terms
Literary Terms
Who Said What?
Kill or be Killed
Supporting Cast
100
These servants to the Capulets instigated a fight with the Montagues in the first scene of Act I.
Who were Gregory and Sampson?
(Must name both servants)
100
Romeo goes to this place to die next to his beloved.
What is the "Capulet Monument or Capulet Tomb?"
100
Juliet uses this Elizabethan cliche to describe Romeo's kissing "skillz" after their first kiss.
What is "kiss by the book?
100
Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet would be an example of this genre, which was also included in the original title of the play.
What is a tragedy?
(And for inquiring minds who want to know the original title, here it is:
The Most Excellent and Lamentable Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet)
100
Not realizing Romeo is hiding below in the Capulet's orchard, Juliet begins this famous soliloquy lamenting how she has fallen for a Montague.
(Answer is only the first line of the soliloquy)
What is “O Romeo, Romeo! Wherfore art thou Romeo?”
100
This character concocted a potion for Juliet to use to fake her own death.
Who is Friar Laurence?
100
This character was married with a child by the age of 14.
Who is Lady Capulet?
200
This niece of the Capulets was the reason Romeo decided to crash their big party.
Who is Rosaline?
200
Although Romeo avoids a death sentence for Tybalt's murder, Romeo refers to this punishment from the Prince of Verona as "Hell itself."
What is being "banish'd"?
200
Considered a rude and offensive gesture during the Elizabethan era.
What is biting your thumb?
200
When Paris challenges Romeo to a fight outside of the Capulet Monument, Paris plays this role to the protagonist, Romeo.
What is a dramatic foil?
200
In Act 1, Scene 1, when Abram asked Sampson if Sampson bit his thumb at Abram, Sampson offered this smart retort.
What is "I do bite my thumb, sir."
(Acceptable if the answer does not include "sir." Just need to be clear Sampson suggested he only "bit his thumb."
200
Vengeance was the reason for this character's death.
Who is Tybalt?
200
Sampson bit his thumb at this character.
Who is Abram?
300
It was his idea initially to arrange a marriage with Juliet.
Who is Paris?
300
This is the neighboring city where Romeo takes up temporary residence upon being "banish'd" by the Prince of Verona for the murder of Tybalt.
What is Mantua?
300
If you had an important assignment in your English class and Shakespeare was your teacher, he might say this if he wanted you to get right to work.
What is "anon?"
300
This literary device is used throughout Romeo and Juliet, but the consequence is most dire when Romeo kills himself unaware his beloved Juliet is faking her death.
What is dramatic irony?
300
"O happy dagger!" is the way this character refers to their instrument of death.
Who is Juliet?
300
Mercutio wishes this upon the houses of the Capulets and Montagues after he is stabbed by Tybalt.
What is a "plague"?
300
The Apothecary in Romeo and Juliet is an old homeless man. Today, someone in this field must go to medical school, makes a nice living, and is referred to by this title instead of as an "apothecary."
What is a pharmacist?
400
This Capulet was the primary antagonist in Romeo and Juliet.
Who is Tybalt?
400
This cousin of Romeo served as a personal dating coach, defended Romeo's vengeful murder of Tybalt to the Prince of Verona, and failed miserably at maintaining peace between the Capulets and Montagues.
Who is Benvolio?
400
This polite farewell in #Elizabethanlingo translates to "God give you a good evening."
What is "God gi' go-den?
400
In the of the beginning of Act II, Scene 2, Juliet is standing on her balcony, talking to herself (just like Mr. "L" does every morning in his kitchen as he sips on a cup of coffee before work), which is an example of this theatrical device frequently used by Shakespeare.
What is a soliloquy?
400
"... see what a scourge is laid upon your hate, that heaven finds means to kill your joys with love.”
This character's admonishment leads to the end of the feud between the Capulets and Montagues.
Who is the Prince of Verona?
400
Lady Montague was the only character to die naturally in Romeo and Juliet, but Lord Montague believed this specific event is actually what "stopped her breath."
What is the banishment of her son, Romeo?
400
This character was sent by Friar Laurence to deliver an important message to the exiled Romeo in Mantua.
Who is Friar John?
500
The nurse loses Juliet's trust when the nurse encourages Juliet to do this.
What is encourage Juliet to go along with her parent's desire to marry Paris?
500
He came to Mantua to bring Romeo what turned out to be #fakenews - with deadly consequences.
Who is Balthasar?
500
If fast food restaurants existed in the 16th century, this salted fish might be on the menu.
What is a "poor-john"?
500
In the middle of Juliet's famous soliloquy from her balcony in Act II, Scene 2, Romeo demonstrates another one of Shakespeare's favorite theatrical devices when he says, "Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this?"
What is an aside?
500
This character would not have been a follower of Romeo's Instagram if this play took place today, referring to Romeo as a "villain" and as a "haughty" and "vile Montague."
Who is Paris?
500
These are the characters killed by Romeo.
Who are Tybalt, Paris, and Romeo?
500
This character accompanies Paris to the Capulet tomb and calls for help when Paris engages Romeo in a sword fight.
Who is the Page?