Plot
Characters
Quote Identification / Paraphrasing / Analysis
Vocabulary / Literary Terms
Miscellaneous
100
When (act and scene) and where do Romeo and Juliet first meet?
At the Capulet Ball. Act 1, Scene 5.
100
Who is Romeo's first love? Why can't they be together
Rosaline. She has taken a vow of chastity.
100
A plague a'both houses. Who is the speaker of this quote? What other important speech does he deliver before the Capulet ball (the first time we meet him)?
Mercutio. The Queen Mab speech describing the fairy queen visiting dreaming citizens.
100
Three words, dear Romeo, and good night indeed. If that thy bent of love be honorable, Thy purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow By one that I’ll procure to come to thee This quote is spoken by Juliet Act II. Summarize the quote and explain the meaning of procure in this context.
If Romeo's intentions are honorable, and he wants to marry Juliet, he should send word to her tomorrow through the messenger that she will send. procure = obtain
100
Why does the apothecary sell Romeo the poison? What is the punishment for this crime if they are caught?
He is poor. Death.
200
Why does the Friar agree to marry Romeo and Juliet? What were his original concerns about the marriage?
To reconcile the Capulets and Montagues. He worried that Romeo was moving too quickly from one woman (Rosaline) to another (Juliet).
200
Describe the character of Mercutio (house affiliation, relative, and personality).
Mercutio is Romeo's best friend and a relative to the prince. He has a quick wit and an arrogant personality.
200
O serpent heart hid with a flowering face! Did ever dragon keep so fair a cave? Beautiful tyrant! Fiend angelical! Dove-feathered raven, wolvish-ravening lamb! Despisèd substance of divinest show, Just opposite to what thou justly seem’st. A damnèd saint, an honorable villain! What are beautiful tyrant, fiendish angel, damned saint, and honorable villian examples of?
Oxymorons / contradictions
200
Define 3 of the following: soliloquy, monologue, dialogue, chorus, prologue, stage directions, aside.
Dialogue: Conversation between characters Monologue: When a character delivers a long speech to another character on stage. Soliloquy: A long speech delivered by a character who is alone on stage. A soliloquy typically reveals the private thoughts and emotions of a character. Stage Directions: An instruction written into the script of a play, indicating stage actions, movements of performers, or production requirements. Aside: In a play, a comment made by a character that is heard by the audience or another character but is not heard by other characters onstage. Asides usually reveal the private thoughts of an actor. Chorus: An ode or series of odes sung by a group of actors in ancient Greek drama. the group of actors that performed the chorus and served as major participants in, commentators on, or as a supplement to the main action of the drama. Prologue: An introductory speech, often in verse, calling attention to the theme of a play.
200
List two themes (in the form of theme statements) for the play
Answers will vary.
300
Explain what happens in the fight from 1.1, its consequences, and why the play begins this way.
Sampson and Gregory, servants of Capulet house, bait servants of Montague house on the streets of Verona by biting their thumbs at them. A brawl ensues and the Prince declares that further fighting will result in death. This fight reinforces how intense the feud between the Capulets and Montagues is.
300
Describe the Nurse's relationship with Juliet. Name one action that shows that she cares for Juliet and supports her relationship with Romeo. Name one action that shows her opposition to Juliet's relationship with Romeo.
The Nurse (a nanny-like figure) has essentially raised Juliet, especially since the death of her own daughter. Nurse supports her relationship with Romeo by acting as messenger between Romeo and Juliet (setting up their wedding, their wedding night, delivering Juliet's ring to Romeo). She shows her opposition to their marriage when she tells Juliet to marry Paris and forget Romeo.
300
"This day's black fate on more days doth depend:/ This but begins the woe others must end." Act 3, Scene 1, lines 118-119 This quote is spoken by Romeo after the murders of Tybalt and Mercutio. Paraphrase its meaning.
The future will be affected by today’s terrible events. Today is the start of a terror that will end in the days ahead.
300
What is dramatic irony? Name 1 example of dramatic irony in the play and explain.
Dramatic Irony is when the audience is aware of something the characters are not aware of. Lady Capulet thinks Juliet is weeping over Tybalt's death, Friar' Lawrence's announcement before the wedding, Romeo's suicide, etc.
300
Summarize key points of the fight between Tybalt, Mercutio, and Romeo.
Mercutio and Benvolio are roaming the streets of Verona on a hot day. Benvolio begs Mercutio to go inside. He refuses and they encounter Tybalt. Mercution and Tybalt exchange words. Romeo arrives, refuses to fight Tybalt and Mercutio takes his place. Mercutio is killed under Romeo's arm. Tybalt flees, returns, and is murdered by Romeo. Romeo flees and is banished.
400
Who is Paris (his position, relatives, role in the play)? What happens to Paris?
Paris is a nobleman, and kinsman to the Prince. He wants to marry Juliet and he is killed by Romeo outside of Juliet's grave in the final act.
400
How does Capulet change over the course of the play? What does this reveal about his character?
Capulet appears to be a rational, calm man at the beginning of the play. He allows Romeo to stay at the party and advocates for his daughter's choice in her marriage. By the end of the play, he is easily enraged and threatens to disown his daughter if she acts against him. This shows that his power and reputation are of the utmost importance to him and he will do anything when they are on the line.
400
But soft, what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun. Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, Who is already sick and pale with grief That thou, her maid, art far more fair than she. . . . Give the context for this quote and explain the metaphor (hint: there are TWO comparisons here)
Romeo is secretly admiring Juliet's beauty in the balcony scene. He compares Juliet to the sun, saying that she is far more beautiful than the moon.
400
The sweetest honey Is loathsome in his own deliciousness And in the taste confounds the appetite. The Friar says this in Act II, Scene 6 before marrying Romeo and Juliet. What does loathsome mean in this context? What is the message of this speech?
Disgusting. To love moderately.
400
Explain what foreshadowing is and identify two example of foreshadowing in the play.
Foreshadowing or guessing ahead is a literary device by which an author hints what is to come. Benvolio's prediction about the party, Romeo's dream before the party, Tybalt's threat at Capulet ball, Romeo and Juliet's last goodbye, etc. are all examples of foreshadowing.
500
List everything that COULD go wrong with the Friar's plan. Then, list everything that DOES go wrong
Could = potion could be poison, she could wake-up to early and go insane or die Does= Friar John fails to deliver the letter, Romeo believes Juliet is really dead, Romeo kills Paris, R&J kill themselves
500
Compare and contrast Tybalt and Benvolio. What are their most and least admirable traits?
Tybalt is a hot-head, while Benvolio is a peace-keeper. Benvolio's dedication to peace is admirable, but it is not always effective. Tybalt's pride in his family is noble, but the fact that he seeks out violence and vengeance causes his, and others', deaths.
500
1. "From forth the fatal loins of these two foes A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life, Whose misadventured piteous overthrows Doth with their death bury their parents’ strife. . . . " 2. "O, I am fortune’s fool! . . . " 3. "Then I defy you, stars." What theme do these quotes reflect? Answer in a complete sentence.
That Romeo and Juliet's love is destined, or fated, for tragedy.
500
List two tragic hero characteristics and explain how Romeo fulfills those characteristics.
Noble--from a wealthy family, non-violent / loving man Flaw--impulsivity; blind love Realization--realizes he acted foolishly when Mercution dies Turning Point--his murder of Tybalt and banishment Audience Pity--commits suicide before Juliet wakes up
500
Gallop apace, you fiery-footed steeds, Towards Phoebus' lodging: such a wagoner As Phaethon would whip you to the west, And bring in cloudy night immediately. Explain what an allusion is and identify the three allusions in these lines.
An allusion an expression designed to call something to mind without mentioning it explicitly; an indirect or passing reference that the reader is supposed to understand. fiery steeds = sun god's horses Phoebus= sun god Phaeton = sun god's sun
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