Romeo and Juliet Study Guide
Act I Vocabulary: 1. star-crossed 6. shrift 11. rapier 2. bite my thumb 7. Soft! 12. nuptial 3. marry 8. God gi’ godden 13. anon 4. fray 9. fortnight 5. exeunt 10. County
Guided Reading Questions: 1. What is the purpose of the prologue?
2. How does Shakespeare manage to get the audience’s attention at the beginning?
3. Describe Romeo’s mood when he first enters.
4. Why is Capulet reluctant to accept Paris’ offer to marry Juliet?
5. What do you learn about Capulet’s feelings for his daughter?
6. Why does Benvolio urge Romeo to attend the Capulet’s party?
7. Describe the relationship between Juliet and her mother.
8. Describe the relationship between Juliet and the Nurse.
9. Describe Mercutio’s personality.
10. What are Romeo’s feelings when he first meets Juliet? Discuss how this may indicate more about his personality and character. Act I Interpretation of lines: 1. “A crutch, a crutch! Why call you for a sword?”
2. “If ever you disturb our streets again, your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace.”
3. “She hath sworn to love, and in that vow do I live dead, that live to tell it now.”
4. “By giving liberty unto thine eyes Examine other beauties.”
5. “the earth hath swallowed all my hopes but she, She is the hopeful lady of my earth.”
6. “Why, he’s a man of wax.”
7. “...this is a Montague, our foe, a villain, that is hither come in spite, to scorn at our solemnity this night.”
8. “I tell you he that can lay hold of her shall have the chinks.”
9. “My only love sprung from my only hate.”
Act II
Vocabulary: 1. perjury 6. chide 2. enmity 7. rancor 3. Jove 8. feign 4. cell 9. hie 5. Benedicte 10. poultice
Guided Reading Questions: 1. Where does Scene 2 take place? Why is it important that this action takes place at night?
2. In Scene 2, the famous balcony scene, we get further insight into the characterization of Romeo and Juliet. In your opinion, who has better common sense? Discuss the reason for your answer.
3. Why is the Friar surprised at what Romeo has to tell him in Scene 3?
4. Why does the Friar agree to marry Romeo and Juliet? Act II Interpretation of Lines: 1. “But soft! What light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun!”
2. “O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name.”
3. “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet.”
4. “God pardon sin! Wast thou with Rosaline?”
5. “Then hie you to Friar Laurence’s cell. There stays a husband to make you a wife.”
Act III Vocabulary: 1. consort’st 6. dexterity 11. dram 2. Zounds 7. Phoebus 12. adieu 3. ally 8. Phaeton 13. banishment 4. effeminate 9. exile 5. kinsman 10. Mantua
Guided Reading Questions: 1. Why does Romeo refuse to accept Tybalt’s challenge?
2. Who instead takes up Tybalt’s challenge?
3. How does Juliet react when the Nurse brings her news of Tybalt’s death and Romeo’s banishment?
4. How does Romeo act in the Friar’s cell?
5. In Act I, Lord Capulet was not very excited about Julie getting married. Why has he suddenly decided to accept Paris’ offer?
6. How do Juliet’s parents react to her disobedience?
7. By the end of Act III, Juliet has only one person to turn to for help. Who is it? What do you think this person will advise her to do?
Interpretation of lines: 1. “And so, good Capulet-which name I tender As dearly as mine own—be satisfied.”
2. (not on sheet) “Ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man.”
3. “A plague o’both your houses! I am sped.” 4. “Either thou, or I, or both, must go with him.”
5. ‘I beg for justice, which thou, Prince, must give. Romeo slew Tybalt, Romeo must not live.”
6. “Oh that deceit should dwell In such a gorgeous palace.”
7. “Thou canst not speak of that thou does not feel.”
8. “Tell me that I may sack the hateful mansion.”
9. “It was the nightingale, and not the lark, That pierced the fearful hollow of mine ear.”
Act IV Vocabulary: 1. Venus 6. curfew bell 2. charnel house 7. slugabed 3. shroud 8. aqua vitae 4. vial 9. dirges 5. vault 10. lament
Guided Reading Questions: 1. What is Friar’s scheme for reuniting Romeo and Juliet?
2. How will Romeo know of the plan?
3. Before she goes ahead with the plan, Juliet’s soliloquy shows her fears and suspicions. Briefly describe the various thought which go through her mind.
4. What finally convinces her she should go ahead with her plan?
5. Who is the first person to find her the following day? Why do you think this character is first on the scene?
6. From her parents’ point of view, what do they think is the cause of Juliet’s death? Act V Vocabulary: 1. presage 6. pestilence 2. Capels’ Monument 7. vengeance 3. apothecary 8. sepulcher 4. penury 9. liege 5. ducats 10. ambiguities
Guided Reading Questions: 1. Who brings Romeo word of Juliet’s “death”? What is Romeo’s reaction?
2. Why does Romeo think he will be able to convince the Apothecary to sell him poison? Why would the Apothecary be opposed to this sale?
3. What circumstances kept Friar John from delivering the letter to Romeo as planned?
4. Why does Paris come to Juliet’s tomb?
5. When he sees Romeo there too, what does Paris think Romeo’s intentions are?
6. There are a number of deaths in Act V. List the names of the characters who die and how.
7. There is a long speech toward the end of Act V where Friar Laurence tells the whole truth. What are your feelings toward Friar Laurence and his part in the drama? Is he to blame? Why?
8. Do you think the play should have a happy ending? Would the meaning have been the same?
Interpretation of lines: 2. “An if a man did need a poison now, Whose sale is present death in Mantua, Here lives a caitiff wretch would sell it him.”
3. “There is thy gold, worse poison to men’s souls.”
4. “Thou detestable maw, thou womb of death, Gorged with the dearest morsel of the earth, Thus I enforce thy rotten jaws to open, And in despite, I’ll cram thee with more food.”
5. “O happy dagger! This is thy sheath. There rust and let me die”
6. “And if aught in this Miscarried be my fault, let my old life, Be sacrificed some hour before his time Unto the rigor of severest law.”
7. “Capulet! Montague! Se what a scourge is laid upon your hate that Heaven finds means to kill your joys with love!”