Characters
Which family does Tybalt belong to and what is one key trait that defines him?
Tybalt is a Capulet; he is quick-tempered and aggressive.
Who wrote the play and where/when is it set? (brief answer)
William Shakespeare; Verona, Italy in a setting roughly corresponding to the late 16th century.
Define “prologue” in the context of this play and explain what the Prologue promises about the story.
Prologue: an opening speech that introduces the story; the Chorus’s prologue tells the audience that two lovers from rival families will die (promising a tragic outcome).
What does the imagery of light and darkness commonly represent in Romeo and Juliet?
Light and darkness often represent love and secrecy or hope and danger—Romeo describes Juliet as light in darkness.
“O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?” — Who says this and what does it mean in one sentence?
Juliet says it; she asks why Romeo must be a Montague and laments that his name separates them.
Name two close friends of Romeo and describe one way each influences him.
Benvolio (cousin and friend) encourages Romeo to forget Rosaline; Mercutio (friend) mocks Romeo’s romanticism and provokes lively but risky behavior.
How do Romeo and Benvolio find out about the Capulet party?
A Capulet servant, unable to read, asks Romeo and Benvolio to read the guest list while looking for help; they learn about the party that way.
Define “star-crossed” and explain how the play shows this idea.
Star-crossed: doomed by fate; Romeo and Juliet are called star-crossed lovers, meaning their destiny is ill-fated.
How does Act I introduce the conflict between public family loyalty and private desire? Give one example.
Act I shows public loyalty in the street brawls and family honor; privately, Romeo and Juliet secretly wish to pursue their own desires, as when Romeo falls for Juliet despite family lines.
“A plague o’ both your houses!” — Who says this and what is the speaker’s complaint?
Mercutio says it as he dies; he curses both families for the feud that caused his death.
Describe the Nurse’s relationship to Juliet and give one important piece of advice the Nurse gives.
The Nurse is Juliet’s caregiver and confidante; she advises Juliet to marry Paris after Romeo is banished (this advice shows practical concern but betrays Juliet’s trust).
Why does Romeo decide to attend the Capulet party even though he is a Montague?
Romeo goes to see Rosaline (initially) and later to encounter Juliet; he also wishes to see other beauties but ends up meeting Juliet.
What is a “soliloquy”? Give one example of a soliloquy speaker in the play and its purpose.
Soliloquy: a long speech by a character alone on stage revealing inner thoughts (e.g., Juliet’s balcony speech or Romeo’s soliloquies about love).
In Act II, how does secrecy both help and endanger Romeo and Juliet? Give one specific instance.
Secrecy helps them marry secretly (Friar Laurence marries them) but endangers them because key information fails to be delivered (e.g., the letter in Act V).
“These violent delights have violent ends.” — Who says this and what warning is being given?
Friar Laurence says it warning that intense pleasures can lead to intense consequences; it foreshadows tragedy.
Who is Friar Laurence and what is his primary motive for helping Romeo and Juliet?
Friar Laurence is a Franciscan friar who marries Romeo and Juliet and helps them because he hopes their union will end the family feud.
What causes the fight that results in Mercutio’s death, and what happens immediately afterward?
Tybalt confronts Mercutio and Romeo; Mercutio is killed while defending Romeo’s honor after Tybalt wounds him; Romeo then kills Tybalt in revenge and is banished.
Explain the term “foil” and identify a pair of characters who act as foils in Romeo and Juliet; explain briefly how.
Foil: a character who contrasts with another to highlight particular qualities (e.g., Mercutio’s cynical wit vs. Romeo’s idealism).
What do the symbols of poison and dagger suggest about the play’s view of love and death?
Poison and dagger link love with death, suggesting passionate love can lead to self-destruction and tragic outcomes.
Give an example of dramatic irony from the play and explain its effect in one or two sentences.
Example: The audience knows Juliet is alive when Romeo finds her apparently dead—this dramatic irony increases tension and sorrow.
Compare Romeo and Mercutio: give Romeo’s age/one key trait and Mercutio’s relation to Romeo and one way Mercutio influences events.
Romeo: youthful lover, impulsive; Mercutio: kinsman of Prince and friend of Romeo, whose witty and reckless behavior escalates the feud and leads to his duel with Tybalt.
Summarize the sequence of miscommunications in Act V that lead to Romeo and Juliet’s deaths.
Friar Laurence’s letter to Romeo fails to arrive because the messenger (Friar John) is quarantined; Romeo believes Juliet is dead, buys poison, and kills himself at her tomb; Juliet awakens, finds Romeo dead, and kills herself with his dagger. The deaths prompt the families to reconcile.
Define “tragic flaw” and state which character’s tragic flaw most contributes to the tragedy, explaining why.
Tragic flaw: a character defect that leads to their downfall; Romeo’s impulsiveness (and sometimes Friar Laurence’s poor planning) contribute to the tragedy.
In what ways do the final scenes resolve the play’s central conflicts and lead to reconciliation between the Montagues and Capulets?
The deaths expose the futility of the feud and force both families to make peace, resolving the central conflict but at great cost.
Choose one quotation (not listed above), identify the speaker, and explain how it reveals a theme or a character’s motivation.
Teacher’s choice