Plot events
This is the city in Italy where the majority of the play’s action takes place.
What is Verona?
"O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo?"
Who is Juliet?
When Juliet says, "Parting is such sweet sorrow," she is using this device that links two contradictory terms.
What is an oxymoron?
This is the family name of Romeo.
What is Montague?
In Shakespeare's time, "wherefore" (as in "Wherefore art thou Romeo?") actually meant this word.
"Why"?
In Act 2, this character agrees to marry Romeo and Juliet in hopes it will end the feud between their families.
Who is Friar Lawrence?
"A plague o' both your houses!"
Who is Mercutio?
The audience knows Juliet is married to Romeo, but her parents think she is crying over Tybalt. This is an example of this type of irony.
What is dramatic irony?
This is the family name of Juliet.
What is Capulet?
This character is the Prince's kinsman and the man Juliet's father insists she must marry.
Who is County Paris?
In Act 3, Romeo is banished from Verona after killing this cousin of Juliet.
Who is Tybalt?
"But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun."
Who is Romeo?
When a character speaks their inner thoughts alone on stage, like Juliet does before drinking the potion, it is called this.
What is a soliloquy?
Before meeting Juliet, Romeo was desperately "in love" with this woman.
Who is Rosaline?
Romeo is reluctant to go to the Capulet party because he had a dream that served as this literary device, hinting at a "fearful date" or bad ending.
What is foreshadowing?
To avoid marrying Count Paris, Juliet drinks a potion given to her by the Friar that will make her appear dead for this many hours.
What is 42 hours?
"Wisely and slow; they stumble that run fast."
Who is Friar Lawrence?
Mercutio’s Queen Mab speech is an example of this—a long speech delivered by one character to others on stage.
What is a monologue?
This character serves as a messenger between Romeo and Juliet, helping them arrange their secret wedding.
Who is the Nurse?
After Romeo is banished, the Nurse gives Juliet this advice, which Juliet views as a betrayal.
What is to marry Paris?
At the very beginning of the play, the Prince decrees that the next person to "disturb our streets" will pay this ultimate price.
What is death?
"Part, fools! Put up your swords; you know not what you do."
Who is Benvolio?
Romeo describes love as "smoke raised with the fume of sighs" and "a sea nourish'd with lovers' tears," using this comparison device.
What is a metaphor?
In Act 3, Tybalt challenges Romeo to a duel because Romeo did this at the Capulet house.
What is crashed/attended the party?
When Romeo refuses to fight Tybalt, Mercutio calls Romeo's submission "vile" and "dishonorable," reflecting this specific societal value of the time.
What is Masculine Honor (or Manhood)?