Act I
Where and when is Romeo and Juliet set?
Verona, Italy in the 1500s
Why is Romeo depressed at the start of the play?
He's heartbroken over Rosaline
What does Juliet fear will happen to Romeo if he is seen by her family?
They would probably attack him or even kill him
What does Romeo predict about his future Fate when he gets ready to go to the Capulet party?
He predicts his own tragic death
How old is Juliet?
13
What does Romeo need Friar Lawrence to do for him?
He needs the Friar to marry him and Juliet
How does Juliet feel about marriage?
She is not interested
Who accidentally invites Romeo to the Capulet party? How does this happen?
Peter, because he can't read and asks Romeo to take a look at the invitation list from Capulet
What does Juliet tell Romeo not to "swear by"? Why does she tell him not to swear by this?
She tells him not to "swear by the moon," because the moon is always changing, and she doesn't want his love to be changing too
In the prologue to Act I, where does it mention the "Fate" of Romeo and Juliet? (Hint: Fate is a big theme, look at the last pages of study guide for more info)
“A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life,
Whose misadventured piteous overthrows
Doth with their death bury their parents’ strife” (pg. 2)
What's the major difference between a monologue and a soliloquy?
They are both longer speeches by one character in a play, but in a monologue the other characters can still hear, whereas in a soliloquy only the audience can hear
What is one moment of dramatic irony in the play so far?
Mercutio is making fun of Romeo at start of Act II scene 1, but they don't know that Romeo can hear
Or
Romeo can hear when Juliet is talking about him at the start of the balcony scene
What's the difference between Tybalt and Benvolio's personalities?
Tybalt is always ready to start a fight (aggressive) and Benvolio tries to be the peacemaker
Describe one of the plays major motifs?
-One of the play’s most consistent visual motifs is the contrast between light and dark, often in terms of night/day imagery.
Romeo and Juliet feel more comfortable hanging out at night. How does this relate to the Theme of "Individual vs Society?
The nighttime offers a sense of secrecy for their love affair, which would not be approved by the bigger society of their families.
In Act 2, Scene 4, line 152, the Nurse says:
"Sir, I'll tell her that you protest to her, which I think is the gentlemanly thing to do..."
What does "Protest" mean here?
Protest: "to propose"