Act 3
This character’s death marks the moment when the play shifts from a romantic story toward tragedy.
Who is Mercutio?
This character proposes the risky plan involving a sleeping potion.
Who is Friar Laurence?
This character brings Romeo the news that Juliet has died.
Who is Balthasar?
This theme is developed when Romeo and Juliet continue their relationship despite their families’ feud.
What is love versus family loyalty?
This literary device occurs when the audience knows Juliet is alive but Romeo believes she is dead.
What is dramatic irony?
This action Romeo takes after Mercutio’s death escalates the conflict between the families.
What is killing Tybalt?
This decision Juliet makes shows her willingness to risk death rather than marry Paris.
What is agreeing to drink the potion?
This decision Romeo makes immediately after hearing the news shows his impulsive nature.
What is deciding to return to Verona and die beside Juliet?
This theme is reinforced when Romeo kills Tybalt in an impulsive act of revenge.
What is the danger of impulsive decisions?
This type of conflict occurs when Romeo must face punishment for killing Tybalt.
What is character vs. society?
This punishment Prince Escalus gives Romeo advances the central conflict of the play.
What is banishment?
This setting becomes important to the plot because it is where Juliet will awaken.
What is the Capulet family tomb?
This obstacle prevents Friar Laurence’s message from reaching Romeo.
What is the messenger being quarantined?
This theme is emphasized when the letter explaining Juliet’s plan fails to reach Romeo.
What is fate controlling events?
This type of imagery Shakespeare often uses when describing Juliet in Romeo’s life.
What is light imagery?
This conflict develops the theme of love versus family loyalty.
What is Juliet’s struggle between loving Romeo and mourning Tybalt?
This fear builds suspense for the audience.
What is Juliet's fear of waking up alone in the tomb?
This example of dramatic irony occurs when Romeo enters the tomb.
What is Romeo believing Juliet is dead while the audience knows she is not?
This theme is reinforced when Juliet risks death rather than follow her father’s command to marry Paris.
What is individual choice versus social expectations?
This structural element at the beginning of the play reveals that the lovers will die.
What is the Prologue?
This structural shift occurs in the play after Mercutio’s death and Romeo’s banishment.
What is the transition from rising action to tragic conflict?
This purpose explains why Shakespeare includes Juliet’s long speech before she drinks the potion.
What is building suspense and revealing Juliet’s internal conflict?
This event finally resolves the conflict between the Montagues and Capulets.
What is the deaths of Romeo and Juliet leading the families to reconcile?
This theme becomes clear at the end of the play when the families reconcile after the tragedy.
What is the destructive consequences of hatred?
This author’s choice explains why Shakespeare allows the letter explaining the plan to fail.
What is reinforcing the theme of fate in the tragedy?