Category 1: Motivation & Hidden Reasons
Why does Romeo attend the Capulet party even though he fears something bad will happen?
He feels fate is already controlling his life
Why is Romeo’s refusal to fight Tybalt ironic in Act 3?
Romeo knows they are family, but Tybalt does not
What recurring imagery does Romeo use to describe Juliet?
Light and brightness
DOUBLE JEOPERDY
Romeo kills Tybalt
How does the play suggest impulsive actions lead to tragedy?
Major decisions are made too quickly
Why does Juliet agree to marry Romeo so quickly?
She believes their love is genuine and fears losing him
Why is the audience aware the lovers’ happiness will not last?
The prologue reveals their tragic fate
What metaphor does Juliet use when she compares Romeo to a rose?
A name does not change a person’s nature
What is the Prince’s reaction to the events of Act 3?
He banishes Romeo from Verona
How does the feud function as more than a background conflict?
It directly causes the deaths and suffering
Why does Friar Laurence agree to marry Romeo and Juliet?
He hopes the marriage will end the family feud
Why is Juliet’s excitement about marriage ironic?
The audience knows tragedy is coming
What type of imagery is used in “It is the east, and Juliet is the sun”?
Celestial imagery
Why is Mercutio’s death considered the play’s turning point?
The tone shifts from romance to tragedy
What theme is reinforced by Romeo’s belief in fate?
Fate vs. free will
Why does Romeo kill Tybalt even though he knows it will ruin him?
He is driven by grief and rage over Mercutio’s death
Why is Mercutio’s joke-filled personality ironic in Act 3?
He dies as a result of a serious feud he mocked
What does Mercutio’s “plague” curse symbolize?
The destruction caused by the feud
What consequence does Romeo underestimate after killing Tybalt?
Permanent separation from Juliet
How does Juliet’s behavior challenge traditional expectations?
She makes independent, risky decisions
Why does Juliet defend Romeo after Tybalt’s death?
Her loyalty shifts fully to Romeo over her family
Why is Romeo’s banishment ironic punishment?
It spares his life but separates him from Juliet
What does night imagery represent for Romeo and Juliet?
Privacy, love, and safety
How does Act 3 change the direction of the play?
Love becomes overshadowed by violence and loss
What theme is strongest by the end of Act 3?
The destructive power of unchecked hatred