Characters
What are the full names of the protagonists?
Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet
Name the thematic idea in the play beginning with 'L'?
Love. Bonus points - What is the difference between how Romeo and Mercutio see love?
Name and describe the poetic form of the prologue?
Sonnet - 14 lines; iambic pentameter; ababcdcdefefgg
With whom is Romeo love prior to meeting Juliet?
Rosaline
Bonus points - what is Rosaline's relationship to Lord Capulet?
What is the first line of the play?
'Two households, both alike in dignity' (prologue). Bonus points - what is the next line, or another line in the prologue?
Tybalt Capulet and Benvolio Montague
How does Juliet (and her relationship with her parents) both conform to and violate expectations of women at the time? Bonus marks - give one quotation.
Juliet is being pushed into an arranged marriage. She seems to agree but cleverly uses language to hide her real feelings. Capulet tells Paris his 'consent is but a part' (1, 2, 17)
Define a pun and give one example of where a pun is used.
Throughout
What is Benvolio's advice to Romeo on how to get over Rosaline? Extra points for using a quotation!
Benvolio advises Romeo to 'forget to think of her' 'By giving liberty unto thine eyes;/ [and] [Examining] other beauties' (1, 1, 211-13)
How does Romeo first describe Juliet?
'O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!' (1, 5, 42)
Which two characters are related to Prince Escalus?
Paris and Mercutio
Describe one place in the play where Shakespeare references the antithesis of young/old?
Act 1, Scene 1, Capulet asks for his sword and Lady Capulet replies 'A crutch, a crutch! Why call you for a sword?' (1, 1, 62)
Capulet stops dancing at the ball as he feels 'past [his] dancing days' (1, 5, 29)
Give one metaphor used to describe women.
Earth-treading stars (1, 2, 25)
Fresh female buds (1, 2, 29)
Swans and crows (1, 2, 89)
How old is Lady Capulet, and how do we know?
28. We know Juliet is nearly 14, and Lady Capulet points out (when convincing Juliet to marry) that she 'was [Juliet's] mother much upon these years/That you are now a maid' (1, 3, 72-3).
What does Juliet say when she realises Romeo is a Montague?
'My only love sprung from my only hate!' (1, 5, 136)
Name the four servants who brawl in the first scene of the play, and their houses?
Outline how the idea of 'individual vs society' is expanded into a theme in the play.
Answers could include: Romeo and Juliet's individual desires vs family expectations, Shakespeare's criticism of the treatment of poor servants, the brawl and Prince's warning.
Give an example of celestial imagery or a light/dark; day/night motif in the play and explain its effect.
Throughout.
What is Rosaline's reasoning for being disinterested in Romeo? What strategies has Romeo tried to use in wooing Rosaline?
Rosaline has 'forsworn to love' (1, 1, 209) and sworn 'she will live chaste' (1, 1, 203). Romeo has tried 'the siege of loving terms', 'the encounter of assailing eyes', and offering 'saint-seducing gold' (1, 1, 198-200)
Which character says this? 'Black and portentous must this humour prove,/Unless good counsel may the cause remove' (1, 1, 127-8)
Bonus 100 points: About whom is he speaking?
Montague. Montague is worried about Romeo's bad mood over Rosaline.
What is the name of the servant at the ball who 'helps not to take away' (1, 5, 1-2) and does not do his duty in shifting and scraping trenchers?
Potpan
What is one line in the play which references the thematic idea of fate?
See script
Define antithesis. Give one example of a character using antithesis and explain the effect.
Antithesis - two opposing ideas. Lots of examples! Egl, Romeo: 'O brawling love! O loving hate'. Shows his state of distress and confusion over Rosaline.
What does the nurse remember about the night 11 years before Juliet's upcoming birthday? How old was Juliet in this memory?
It was Lammas eve and Juliet's third birthday. Juliet was weaned that day by the Nurse putting bitter wormwood on her nipple. Then there was an earthquake.
Recite one line rom the 'pilgrims' sonnet when Romeo and Juliet meet. Must be close to word perfect!
See script