Plot & Setting
What city is the setting of Romeo and Juliet?
Verona, Italy
Who is Romeo in love with at the beginning of Act I?
Rosaline
**Daily Double** What does “star-crossed lovers” mean?
Lovers doomed by fate.
Text Example: Prologue – “A pair of star-cross’d lovers take their life.”
What theme is introduced by the family feud?
The destructive nature of hatred and conflict.
Why does Benvolio want to talk to Romeo after the fight?
Benvolio genuinely cares about Romeo’s well-being. After the street brawl, he notices Romeo is withdrawn and melancholy. His intention is to understand the cause of Romeo’s sadness and offer advice. This shows Benvolio’s role as a peacekeeper and loyal friend who values harmony and emotional support.
Name the two families involved in the feud.
Capulets & Montagues
**Daily Double**
Which character is known for being a peacekeeper?
Which character is known for being a hothead?
Benvolio & Tybalt respectively
Define “oxymoron” and give an example of how it might appear in a love poem.
A figure of speech combining contradictory terms (e.g., “sweet sorrow”).
Text Example: Romeo – “O brawling love, O loving hate.”
How does the Prince’s speech reflect the theme of law and order?
He threatens death to restore peace, showing authority vs. chaos.
Why does Tybalt challenge Benvolio during the fight?
Tybalt’s intention is to escalate the conflict and assert his loyalty to the Capulets. When Benvolio tries to stop the fight, Tybalt interprets this as weakness and mocks him for speaking of peace. Tybalt hates peace as much as he hates Montagues, which reveals his aggressive, prideful nature and foreshadows his role as a catalyst for violence later in the play.
**Daily Double**
Who tries to stop the fight between the servants in Scene I?
Benvolio
How does Tybalt react when Benvolio tries to stop the fight?
Tybalt challenges him and expresses hatred for peace.
What is a pun? Explain why Shakespeare might use puns in a play.
A pun is a play on words with multiple meanings; adds humor or cleverness.
Text Example: Romeo – “You have dancing shoes with nimble soles; I have a soul of lead.”
What does Lord Capulet’s response to Paris reveal about his values?
He values Juliet’s consent and thinks she is too young to marry.
**Daily Double**
What is Mercutio’s intention when giving the “Queen Mab” speech?
Mercutio intends to mock Romeo’s romantic obsession and lighten the mood. He uses humor and fantastical imagery to argue that dreams are meaningless and should not dictate actions. His speech reflects his practical, witty personality and serves as a foil to Romeo’s idealistic nature. Mercutio’s intention is to persuade Romeo to stop worrying and enjoy life.
What punishment does the Prince decree for anyone who fights again?
Death or execution.
What does Juliet say about marriage when her mother brings up Paris?
“It is an honor that I dream not of.”
What is iambic pentameter, and why is it important in Shakespeare’s plays?
A line of poetry with five iambs (unstressed/stressed syllables); creates rhythm and flow.
Text Example: Prologue – “Two households, both alike in dignity.”
How does Mercutio’s “Queen Mab” speech contrast with Romeo’s view of dreams?
Mercutio sees dreams as meaningless; Romeo sees them as omens.
What does Romeo hope will happen when he agrees to attend the Capulet party?
Romeo’s initial intention is to see Rosaline, the woman he loves at the start of the play. He hopes attending the party will ease his heartache or rekindle his feelings. However, his words—“my mind misgives / Some consequence yet hanging in the stars”—reveal a sense of foreboding, suggesting he fears fate has something else in store. This moment foreshadows his meeting Juliet and the tragic chain of events that follow.
What event in Act I foreshadows the tragic ending?
Several possible answers.
Romeo says, “For my mind misgives / Some consequence yet hanging in the stars.”
Compare Romeo’s attitude toward love with Juliet’s attitude toward marriage in Act I.
Romeo is emotional and obsessed with love; Juliet is cautious and obedient, not eager to marry.
Explain the difference between a metaphor and a simile, and give an original example of each using Romeo and Juliet.
Simile: compares using “like” or “as” (e.g., “Her smile is like sunshine”).
Text Example: Romeo – “It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night / As a rich jewel in an Ethiop’s ear.”
Metaphor: direct comparison without “like/as” (e.g., “Her smile is sunshine”).
Text Example: Romeo – “Love is a smoke made with the fume of sighs.”
**Daily Double**
Based on Act I, predict one theme that will develop later and support it with explanation.
Fate vs. free will – foreshadowed by “star-crossed lovers” and Romeo’s premonition.
Compare Juliet’s parents’ intentions regarding her marriage to Paris.
Lord Capulet: Initially, Capulet wants Juliet to wait before marrying Paris because she is too young and he values her consent. He says, “My child is yet a stranger in the world,” showing his protective nature and desire for her happiness. His intention is to delay marriage until Juliet is ready.
Lady Capulet: Lady Capulet, however, is eager for Juliet to marry Paris soon. She emphasizes Paris’s wealth and status, saying, “So shall you share all that he doth possess.” Her intention is practical and social—she wants Juliet to secure a good match and elevate the family’s status.
Comparison: Lord Capulet’s early approach is more cautious and considerate, while Lady Capulet’s is ambitious and focused on social advantage. This difference highlights gender roles and family expectations in the play.