Basic Info
Name the TWO families feuding throughout the play
The Capulets and the Montagues
Who is Romeo in love with at the beginning of the play?
Rosaline
How long did Romeo and Juliet know each other when they decided to get married?
A few HOURS
(Talk about moving fast!)
Who dies in this Act? Tell me their names and how/why they died?
Mercutio and Tybalt
Explain the Friar's plan to prevent Juliet from marrying Paris
1. Juliet pretends to want to marry Paris
2. Juliet goes to bed alone and drinks the potion to appear dead
3. Paris finds her the next morning and thinks she is dead
4. Juliet's body is taken to the Capulet tomb
5. Meanwhile, Friar Laurence will get word to Romeo about the plan
6. Friar Laurence and Romeo will be there when she wakes, and she will go to Mantua with Romeo
Who is Balthasar, and what news does he bring Romeo? How does Romeo react to the news?
Romeo's servant. He saw Juliet's body being taken into the Capulet tomb; Romeo immediately came up with a plan to see his wife and end his life.
A character who changes throughout the story.
*Bonus points if you can give me an example! (Either from our play or something you come up with!)
Round
Name the PROTAGONISTS of the play
Romeo and Juliet
Protagonist: The main character(s) that a story follows
What happens in the opening scene of the play? *Double points if you can explain why this is significant to the play?
Servants from the Montague and Capulet houses are fighting in the streets
This shows the audience how intense the family feud was before the play began.
What does Juliet mean when she asks "Wherefore art thou Romeo?"
"Why are you 'Romeo'?"
She is asking why Romeo has to be a Montague because their love is forbidden.
Who said the following quote, and why did they say it?
"A plague on both your houses!"
*Bonus points if you can tell me what type of figurative language this quote is!
Mercutio
He blamed the family feud for his death and wanted both families to be punished for the parts they played in the feud
Idiom-- A commonly used phrase amongst a group of people/society to express something
What reason does Paris give Friar Laurence for needing to marry Juliet so soon? How does Friar Laurence react to this?
Paris explains that Lord Capulet believes that a quick marriage will end Juliet's grief over Tybalt
Friar Laurence says he doesn't think the marriage is a good idea because Paris doesn't even know if Juliet wants the marriage.
Why does Romeo ask for a pen and paper?
*Hint: We find this out later, towards the end of Act 5, Scene 3
He wrote a letter to his father telling him about his secret marriage to Juliet and his plans to end his life in the tomb with Juliet's body
An extreme exaggeration
*Bonus points if you can give me an example! (Either from our play or something you come up with!)
Hyperbole
Where does Romeo and Juliet take place? (Setting)
Verona, Italy
Who asks Lord Capulet for permission to marry Juliet?
Count Paris
What does Juliet wish Romeo would do so they could be together?
*Bonus points if you can tell me the quote! (I will accept answers I deem close enough)
Refuse his name
What is wrong with how the Nurse delivers the news about Romeo/Tybalt to Juliet about Tybalt and Romeo?
She is too vague, and at first, Juliet believes that Romeo is the one who is dead.
Name one of the 3 fears Juliet describes before she drinks the potion
*Bonus points if you can name all 3 fears!
1. What if the potion doesn't work and she has to marry Paris?
2. What if the potion is a poison the Friar made to kill her?
3. What if she wakes too early and goes mad in the tomb?
What does Friar Laurence learn when Friar John returns? What does Friar Laurence plan to do given this information?
Friar John got quarantined before he could get Friar Laurence's letter to Romeo; Friar Laurence will break into the Capulet tomb and free Juliet himself.
When a character is experiencing a struggle within themselves
*Bonus points if you can give me an example! (Either from our play or something you come up with!)
Internal Conflict
What type of play is Romeo and Juliet?
A tragedy
How does Romeo find out about the Capulet ball?
A Capulet servant asks Romeo to read the guestlist for him because he is illiterate (cannot read)
By what does Romeo swear his love for Juliet? Why does Juliet not want Romeo to swear by this object?
The moon; The moon "changes" (the different phases), and she doesn't want Romeo to say that his love for her will change.
What does Juliet ULTIMATELY decide she feels about Romeo after finding out about Tybalt and Romeo's banishment?
She decides that she won't speak badly about her husband and that her allegiance in marriage is more binding than her allegiance to her cousin
What does Juliet's vision of Tybalt's ghost reveal about her state of mind?
Juliet is becoming dangerously paranoid and losing her grip on reality. She is also still guilty over choosing to stand by her husband instead of her family.
How does Romeo convince the apothecary to sell him the poison? Why does this demonstrate character development?
The apothecary is desperately poor, and Romeo offered him so much money that he was "too poor to refuse." Romeo was once respectful to those in a lower class than himself, but now he uses others' poverty to manipulate them into doing what he wants.
When an author makes a reference to another person, place, thing, or event in their writing.
*Bonus points if you can give me an example! (Either from our play or something you come up with!)
Allusion
How old is Juliet?
*TRIPLE points if you can tell me her birthday! (This was said in the play, I SWEAR!)
13
Lammas Eve/July 31st
Name ONE of the reasons why Lady Capulet says Juliet is ready to get married
Other girls of Juliet's age are already married with children
Lady Capulet was Juliet's age when she had Juliet
Paris has expressed interest in marrying Juliet
What is the Friar doing when we are first introduced to his character?
*Bonus points if you can tell me why this is significant to his character!
Making medicine from plants
A friar at this time, creating medicine/potions from plants, is the opposite of what we would expect. It shows that Friar Laurence may not be as motivated/driven by his religion as we would expect.
What is Romeo's punishment? Why did the Prince view this as a balanced punishment?
Banishment/exile
It equally punishes both families. The Montagues don't lose their son, but he can never live in Verona with them again. The Capulets don't have to see the man who killed their relative again, but they don't receive "an eye for an eye" because it was their relative who initiated the fight and killed someone first.
How does the plan go wrong in Act 4?
*Honors must name BOTH!
Juliet's parents moved up the wedding date
The Nurse finds Juliet "dead" instead of Paris.
What does Romeo say is the “poison to men’s souls”? What does he mean?
Gold/money; wealth (or the lack thereof) can drive people to do things they normally wouldn't.
A short speech made by ONE character; only the AUDIENCE hears it
*Bonus points if you can give me an example! (Either from our play or something you come up with!)
Aside
Name an antagonist from the play.
*There are multiple characters that I will accept!
Tybalt: A skilled but violent swordsman who is determined to fight Romeo. He instigates the conflict that leads to Mercutio's death and his own murder by Romeo, which results in Romeo's banishment.
Paris: A nobleman who wants to marry Juliet. He stands in the way of Romeo and Juliet's relationship and ultimately confronts Romeo in the tomb, leading to his death.
Lord Capulet: Juliet's father, who insists she will marry Paris even after she is already married to Romeo. His actions ignore Juliet's feelings and autonomy, contributing to the tragic plan that follows.
What does Juliet say she feels about marriage when her mother asks?
She thinks marriage is honorable, but it isn't something she's really thought about.
Who says the following quote: "What's in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet."
*Bonus points if you can tell me what this person meant and why they said it!
If we called a rose by any other name, it would still smell as sweet.
Names are just names; they don't define who we are
If Romeo had any other name, he would be just as beautiful/perfect
How does Romeo react to his banishment? What is the Friar's reaction to Romeo, and why did he feel that way?
Romeo thinks banishment is worse than death
Friar Laurence gets angry with Romeo because he thinks Romeo is being ungrateful, short-sighted, and overdramatic.
How does Lord Capulet react to his daughter's "death"? How is this different from his earlier treatment of Juliet?
At first, he is in denial that she is dead, and then he is incredibly devastated. This is different from how he treated her earlier because he threatened to disown Juliet if she refused to marry Paris.
He called her his soul
What does Paris’s soliloquy at the Capulet tomb reveal about him?
He genuinely had feelings/affection for Juliet and is now deeply grieving now that she's "dead."
When the audience knows something that the characters do NOT
*Bonus points if you can give me an example! (Either from our play or something you come up with!)
Dramatic Irony
What does the Prologue tell the audience is going to happen within the play?
*You must answer with at least 2 examples!
There is an ancient feud between two families
Two children, one born to each family, are destined lovers
The two star-crossed lovers take their own lives
The deaths of their children cause the families to end the feud
Explain Romeo's premonition as he and his friends enter the Capulet ball.
*Bonus points if you can tell me what this is an example of!
He is afraid that going to the party will seal his fate and will lead to his "unnatural" (early) death
This is an example of foreshadowing & dramatic irony!
How does the Friar react to Romeo's request to be married? Why does Friar Laurence agree to do it?
He is concerned that Romeo has moved on from Rosaline too quickly.
He agrees to marry Romeo and Juliet because he hopes it will end the family feud.
What does Lord Capulet decide will help Juliet stop crying about Tybalt?
*Bonus points if you can tell me why else he would make this decision!
He will have her marry Paris in three days (on Thursday)
Marrying his daughter to Paris would also secure a strong alliance between the Capulet family and the Prince's family, helping to keep Juliet safe and ensuring the Capulets' victory in the feud.
How does Friar Laurence tell Juliet's family to feel about her "death"?
Instead of being sad, Friar Laurence tells them to recognize that Juliet is in a better place. He reminds them that they wanted what was best for their daughter, and she has that in Heaven.
What is Paris's last request, and why does Romeo agree to this?
To be buried next to Juliet; To honor his late friend, Mercutio, and because he knew that Paris was a good man to Juliet.
A long speech spoken by ONE character; can be funny or dramatic; OTHER CHARACTERS on stage can hear this speech
*Bonus points if you can give me an example! (Either from our play or something you come up with!)
Monologue
Name an event from the rising action portion of Romeo and Juliet.
*There are several correct answers!
Answers will vary
Describe how Mercutio views love!
*Bonus points if you can tell me what character he alludes to when he expresses his view!
He believes that love is strictly a PHYSICAL attraction; it is a surface-level emotion.
He alludes to Queen Mab, a fairy queen who enters people's dreams and makes them fall in love with others
Why did Tybalt send a letter to Romeo? Who received the letter, and what was their reaction?
Tybalt sent a letter to challenge Romeo to a duel
Benvolio and Mercutio received the letter. Mercutio didn't think that Romeo should fight, but rather that he should fight in Romeo's place. Benvolio insists on bringing the letter to Romeo to give him the choice for himself.
Explain the significance of the lark and the nightingale
The (morning) lark's call signifies that it is morning, therefore it is time for Romeo to leave Juliet
If they heard the nightingale, then that signifies that it is still nighttime, therefore Romeo and Juliet have more time to be together
What is significant about Friar Laurence’s response to Juliet’s family when he finds them grieving? How does this demonstrate character development?
This is the first instance where the Friar has blatantly lied, which demonstrates that Friar Laurence is no longer considering his religion and its doctrines to influence his decisions.
What did the Prince mean when he said, "All have been punished"
Everyone involved in the feud has suffered from the losses caused by the feud
Two opposite words are put together to create a new meaning
*Bonus points if you can give me an example! (Either from our play or something you come up with!)
Oxymoron
What poetic structure was the Prologue written in? Hint: Think number of lines and the rhyme scheme!
*Bonus points if you can tell me the parts of this poetic structure!
Shakespearean sonnet
3 Quatrains (ABAB CDCD EFEF)
1 Rhyming Couplet (GG)
Who recognizes Romeo at the Capulet party? How did they know it was Romeo? What is their reaction to Romeo crashing the party?
Tybalt; He recognized Romeo's voice; He asks for his sword so he can fight/kill Romeo.
He tells Tybalt to let it go because he doesn't want to cause a scene. Lord Capulet also says he's heard that Romeo is a virtuous and good-natured young man.
What advice does Friar Laurence give Romeo before the wedding?
Love in moderation
What advice does the Nurse give Juliet regarding Paris?
Forget the banished Romeo and marry Paris (he's the better man compared to Romeo)
How does Peter get back at the musicians for making fun of him?
*Bonus points if you can tell me why it is funny that Peter, a servant, did this!
Peter challenges the musicians to a battle of wits by asking them a riddle. The riddle makes fun of musicians for being poor.
This is funny because Peter is a servant, who is likely also poor. Additionally, Peter is challenging the musicians to a battle of wits when he, himself, is also uneducated.
What do Lords Montague and Capulet decide to do after discovering their children in the tomb
*Bonus points if you can name all 3 agreements!
Lord Montague will build a golden statue of Juliet to honor her, and Lord Capulet will allow Romeo to be buried in the Capulet tomb with his wife, Juliet. They also agree to end the feud.
When the outcome of a situation is the OPPOSITE of what was expected
*Bonus points if you can give me an example! (Either from our play or something you come up with!)
Situational Irony
A majority of the play is non-rhyming but has a consistent meter (rhythm). What is this called?
*Bonus points if you can tell me the name of the meter used!
Blank Verse
Iambic Pentameter
How does Romeo react to seeing Juliet? What does he do when they meet?
*Bonus points if you can tell me what he said! (I will accept close-enough answers if you can't remember the exact quote)
He thinks she is the most beautiful person he's ever seen. He dances and flirts with her, then kisses her twice
"She doth teaches the torches to burn bright!" (Her beauty lights up a room!)
What did Friar Laurence mean when he said, “These violent delights have violent ends”? What type of literary device(s) is this an example of?
Intense or "violent" passions can lead to destructive/tragic ends.
Foreshadowing and Dramatic Irony
(Still can't believe how much hate y'all gave Juliet's dress in the movie)
What does Juliet decide she will do at the end of Act 3 after her argument with her parents? (3 correct answers)
*Bonus point if you can tell me all 3 correct answers!
She will go to Friar Laurence for help
She will no longer trust the Nurse
She will end her life if the Friar cannot help her
What is significant about Peter’s interaction with the musicians? Why would Shakespeare include this in the scene?
It demonstrates how the family feud has negatively affected everyone, not just the members of the families. Peter was once a docile and shy servant, but now he is aggressive, quick to violence, and disrespectful to people he views as "lesser than."
Who is dead at the end of the play?
*Bonus points if you can name all 6 characters that died in the play!
Romeo
Juliet
Tybalt
Mercutio
Paris
Lady Montague
A long speech spoken by ONE character that reveals their inner thoughts/feelings; only the AUDIENCE can hear this speech
*Bonus points if you can give me an example! (Either from our play or something you come up with!)
Soliloquy