Shakespeare
What is the purpose of the play’s prologue?
to inform the audience that the lovers from the long-feuding families will die
Which character always wants to fight and is hotheaded?
Tybalt
Which character recounts the events of the deaths of Mercutio & Tybalt to the Prince?
Benvolio
When Friar Lawrence agrees to marry the couple, what is his chief motive?
to end the feud between the families
Why does Friar Laurence rebuke Romeo in the garden?
Because Romeo so quickly forgot his love for Rosaline and fell in love with Juliet
What is dramatic irony?
when the audience knows something that the characters in a play do not
What do we learn about the two families at the beginning of Act 1?
The Capulet and Montague men and servants fight over even small insults
Which character is known for being peaceful and telling the truth?
Benvolio
Which character is lovesick and moody?
Romeo
What complications are introduced in Act 1?
The Capulets and the Montagues are feuding.
Paris wants to marry Juliet.
Romeo and Juliet are attracted to each other.
Tybalt is determined to get revenge on Romeo.
What does archaic mean? What are some examples of common archaic words in this play?
Archaic = old-fashioned (no longer in common use) - Examples: coz, God-den, ope, tis
How does Juliet respond to the news of Tybalt’s death?
With anger at first toward both Romeo and Tybalt
Which character is clever and witty and always joking?
Mercutio
What do we learn about Tybalt in Act 1?
Tybalt has a reputation as a hot-tempered sword fighter
What is the purpose of the humor arising from the nurse’s comic character?
to provide relief from the tragedy
In Act 2, the action focuses on the wedding plans of Romeo and Juliet. How does the nurse intensify the feeling of action when she brings Juliet the message from Romeo?
She goes on and on about her pains, thus leaving Juliet in suspense
Which character yells at his only child and vows to disown her?
Lord Capulet
Who said: “O, speak again, bright angel, for thou art as glorious to this night, being o’er my head, as is a winged messenger of heaven.”
Romeo
How does Romeo know Juliet’s feelings of love for him?
he overhears her musing about her feelings for him
How does the Prince decide to punish Romeo?
banishing him from Verona forever
List some of the consequences that result from Romeo’s killing of Tybalt
Romeo and Juliet cannot reveal their marriage.
The wedding of Juliet and Paris is decreed to "cheer up" Juliet
Romeo is banished from Verona.
How can Mercutio be described as a foil to Romeo?
unlike Romeo, he does not take love seriously and makes fun of it
Why does Romeo not want to fight Tybalt at first?
Because he is now related to Tybalt.
What is the turning point of the play?
When Romeo kills Tybalt and is banished
Mercutio says, “Tybalt, you rat-catcher, will you walk?” because he wants Tybalt to do what?
He wants Tybalt to fight him