Plot
What event at the Capulet party first connects Romeo and Juliet?
Romeo and Juliet meet and fall in love when they share a kiss at the Capulet party.
Who kills Mercutio, and why does the fight begin?
Tybalt kills Mercutio after Mercutio intervenes in a fight meant for Romeo.
What does the Prologue suggest about Romeo and Juliet’s fate?
It suggests they are “star-crossed lovers” whose tragic ending is predetermined.
Who are the two ruling families in conflict?
The Montagues and the Capulets.
Who says, “My only love sprung from my only hate”?
Juliet.
Why does Romeo choose to attend the Capulet feast even though it is dangerous?
He hopes to see Rosaline and allows emotion to override logic, showing his impulsive nature.
How does Tybalt’s personality contribute to the tragic ending?
His aggressive, honor-obsessed nature fuels violence and escalates the family feud.
Identify one moment when a character believes fate controls their life.
Romeo believes fate controls his life when he says “I am fortune’s fool” after killing Tybalt.
Romeo believes fate is guiding him when he has a bad dream before attending the Capulet party and fears “some consequence yet hanging in the stars.”
Romeo believes fate has abandoned him when he learns of his banishment and says there is “no world without Verona walls.”
Juliet believes fate controls her situation when she feels trapped by her parents’ decision to force her to marry Paris.
Romeo believes fate has doomed him when he hears of Juliet’s “death” and says, “Then I defy you, stars!”
How does Lord Capulet’s behavior toward Juliet change during the play?
He shifts from supportive to threatening when Juliet refuses to marry Paris.
What does “These violent delights have violent ends” warn the audience about?
Intense passion can lead to destruction if left unchecked.
What specific action leads to Romeo’s banishment from Verona?
Romeo kills Tybalt after Mercutio is killed.
In what way does Romeo’s impulsiveness affect the outcome of the play?
Romeo acts without thinking—killing Tybalt, marrying quickly, and committing suicide—each choice speeds up the tragedy.
Give an example where a character chooses an action rather than letting fate decide.
Romeo chooses to attend the Capulet party despite knowing it is dangerous.
Romeo chooses to pursue Juliet even after learning she is a Capulet.
Romeo chooses to marry Juliet secretly the day after meeting her.
Romeo chooses to fight and kill Tybalt instead of walking away.
Romeo chooses to buy poison and kill himself rather than seek confirmation.
Juliet chooses to marry Romeo without her parents’ knowledge.
Juliet chooses to take Friar Laurence’s potion to avoid marrying Paris.
Friar Laurence chooses to marry Romeo and Juliet in secret.
Friar Laurence chooses to use the fake-death plan instead of telling the truth.
Lord Capulet chooses to force Juliet to marry Paris.
What advice does Friar Laurence give that directly affects the tragic outcome?
He advises secrecy and creates the fake-death plan.
Explain the meaning of “I am fortune’s fool.”
Romeo believes fate has trapped him in misfortune because of his actions.
Which plan is meant to reunite Romeo and Juliet, and how does it go wrong?
Friar Laurence’s plan for Juliet to fake her death fails because Romeo never receives the explanatory letter.
How does Juliet show both maturity and recklessness in her decisions?
She shows maturity by thinking independently but recklessness by agreeing to fake her death without a reliable backup plan.
How does Shakespeare blur the line between fate and personal choice?
Characters make choices that seem to fulfill the fate already predicted in the Prologue.
How does the Prince attempt to prevent violence, and why does it fail?
He threatens punishment, but inconsistent enforcement allows the feud to continue.
How does the Prologue prepare the audience for the tragic ending?
It reveals the outcome in advance and emphasizes fate and family conflict.
Identify the moment where the tragedy becomes unavoidable and explain why it cannot be reversed.
The tragedy becomes unavoidable when Romeo believes Juliet is dead and kills himself, eliminating any chance for clarification or intervention.
Which character’s single action most directly leads to Romeo’s banishment, and what is that action?
Romeo kills Tybalt after Mercutio’s death, which results in his banishment from Verona.
What term does the Prologue use to describe Romeo and Juliet’s relationship to fate?
Star-crossed lovers
What threat does Lord Capulet make if Juliet refuses to marry Paris?
Lord Capulet threatens to disown Juliet and cast her out of the family.
Who says, “Hang thee, young baggage!” and to whom is it spoken?
Lord Capulet says this to Juliet.