Act I: The Brawl & the Ball
This pair of Capulet servants begins the opening street brawl in Act I, Scene i
Who are Sampson and Gregory?
Juliet asks “What’s in a name?” and says this flower “by any other word would smell as sweet.”
What is a rose (by any other word would smell as sweet)?
Romeo visits this location after the feast to speak with Juliet (the famous setting).
What is the Capulet orchard?
The public street confrontation in Scene i involves Tybalt, Mercutio, Benvolio, and this other character.
Who is Romeo?
Juliet visits Friar Lawrence in Act IV to ask for help avoiding marriage to this suitor.
Who is Paris?
The Prince threatens this punishment (death or this) for anyone who disturbs the peace again.
What is death (or exile)?
Romeo gains entry to the Capulet feast by arriving this way.
What is slipping in uninvited (masked)?
Juliet’s balcony speech begins with this famous question about light and a window.
What is “But soft — what light through yonder window breaks?”?
This fiery Capulet wounds Mercutio fatally, provoking Romeo to seek revenge.
Who is Tybalt?
To prevent the forced marriage, Friar Lawrence gives Juliet this kind of potion that produces a deathlike effect.
What is a potion that induces a deathlike sleep?
Romeo is melancholy at the play’s start because he is lovesick for this woman.
Who is Rosaline?
After the party, this servant helps reveal Romeo’s identity to Juliet.
Who is the Nurse?
This religious figure agrees to marry Romeo and Juliet and hopes their union will do this to the families.
Who is Friar Lawrence, and what is ending the families’ feud?
In retaliation for Mercutio’s death, Romeo does this to Tybalt.
What is he kills Tybalt (Romeo kills Tybalt)?
When Juliet appears to consent to marry Paris, Capulet responds by doing this to the wedding timetable.
What is he speeds up / moves the wedding earlier?
This character (and Benvolio’s urging) most directly convinces Romeo to attend the Capulet feast.
Who is Mercutio (with Benvolio’s urging)?
On the balcony Romeo argues that a name is merely this
What is an artificial label (a mere word)?
The Nurse’s dual role: she gives comic relief and performs this practical function for the lovers.
What is delivering messages / arranging meetings for the lovers?
The Prince spares Romeo’s life but hands down this punishment instead of execution.
What is banishment (exile)?
The Capulet household discovers Juliet apparently dead and reacts this way, preparing these rites.
What is they mourn deeply and prepare funeral rites?
At the Capulet party Romeo exclaims this line comparing Juliet’s brightness to a torch.
What is “O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!”?
Shakespeare uses this repeated theme (often tied to stars and destiny) to suggest events may be beyond the lovers’ control.
What is fate (or fortune)?
Friar Lawrence warns against haste with this memorable line about sudden pleasures having sudden outcomes (“violent ____ have violent ____”).
What are “violent delights have violent ends”?
After the banishment, Romeo first hides at this ally’s cell before planning to go to Mantua.
Where is Friar Lawrence’s cell?
The dramatic irony here is that the audience knows Juliet’s alive in a drugged sleep while these people believe she is this.
What is dead?