STUDY GUIDE: ‘ROMEO & JULIET’ by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
1- Read the PROLOGUE and answer the following questions:
Where does the play take place?
The play takes place is Verona
Explain the situation described in the prologue.
In the prologue describe de play, two families who fight between each other and their children
whom fall in love but their destiny is unfortunate.
What is the meaning of ‘star-crossed lovers?
It is mean that their love is unfortunate, the destiny of their love is to fail.
2- Answer the following questionnaire:
ACT I
SCENE I
Who are at the opening of the scene?
They are Sampson and Gregory, Capulet servants
What are they doing?
They are talking about the Montague
Who enters after them? (Name them in the correct order).
Abram and another Montague servant
Why does Prince Escalus enter?
The prince is trying to maintain the peace between the Montague and Capulet
What do we learn about Romeo?
Romeo always is alone because she suffers in silence with love
Describe Romeo´s speech from line 165 to line 175.
How does Romeo describe love?
Romeo describes love as tyrannous and rough.
Is his love requited? Why?
No, because he is fall in love with a woman that not correspond their love.
SCENE II
What does Paris ask to Capulet?
What does Capulet answer? Why? What does he say about his daughter?
Where does Capulet invite Paris?
How does Romeo learn about the feast?
What does Benvolio say about Rosaline? What does he suggest to Romeo?
What does Romeo decide to do?
SCENE III
What does Lady Capulet ask to Juliet?
What is Juliet’s answer?
Describe the Nurse.
SCENE IV
Describe Romeo’s feelings at the beginning of the scene.
Why does Romeo say that he is afraid of going to the feast?
SCENE V
What is Romeo’s reaction when he sees Juliet for the first time?
What does Capulet say to Tybalt when he tries to fight with Romeo?
What do Romeo and Juliet learn? What are their feelings about it?
ACT II
SCENE I
Explain the prologue.
Name the things with which Romeo compares Juliet.
What does Juliet say about Romeo?
Explain Juliet’s words. (line 127 to 148)
Who interrupts them?
Why are they going to meet the next day?
When do the lovers say good-bye?
SCENE II
Why is Romeo at Fraiar Lawrence’s place?
What is Fraiar Lawrence’s opinion about this change in Romeo’s feelings?
Why does Fraiar Lawrence accept to marry Romeo and Juliet?
SCENE III
What do Benvolio and Mercutio believe at the beginning of the scene?
What is Tybalt’s letter about?
What change does Mercutio notice in Romeo’s behaviour? Give examples.
What does Romeo say to the Nurse?
SCENE IV
Describe Juliet’s state of mind at the beginning of the scene.
Describe the Nurse.
SCENE V
What does Fraiar Lawrence think about Romeo and Juliet’s marriage?
How does the scene end?
ACT III
SCENE I
Where are the characters at the beginning of the scene?
What does Benvolio say at the beginning of the scene? Why?
How does Mercutio describe Benvolio?
Who starts the fight? Why?
What is the result of this fight?
Explain Romeo’s words: ‘I’m a fortune’s fool’.
What is Prince Escalus’s decision?
SCENE II
What news does the Nurse bring to Juliet? Compare them to those from the previous act.
What does Juliet believe when the Nurse says her the news?
What does she learn later?
Describe Juliet’s feelings. What does she think about Romeo?
In what way does she change her feelings?
How does this scene end?
SCENE III
Where is Romeo banished?
What does Romeo think about it?
What does Romeo try to do? What does Fraiar Lawrence say to him?
How does the scene end?
SCENE IV
What is Capulet preparing?
Compare Capulet’s attitude with ACT I – SCENE II.
SCENE V
Where are Romeo and Juliet?
Explain Juliet’s words: ‘It was a nightingale and not the lark’. Why is this phrase important?
Who interrupts them?
Explain Juliet’s lines from 54 to 56.
Why does Lady Capulet think Juliet is crying?
What does Lady Capulet say about Romeo?
What news Lady Capulet bring to Juliet?
What is Juliet’s answer?
What is Capulet’s reaction when he learns about Juliet’s answer? What does he say?
Explain Juliet’s words: ‘Make the bridal bed in the monument where Tybalt lies’.
What is the answer of the Nurse? How can you explain her attitude?
Where does Juliet want to go? Why?
ACT IV
SCENE I
Where are the characters?
Explain Paris’ words from line 6 to 15.
Why is Juliet at Fraiar Lawrence’s cell?
Explain Fraiar Lawrence plan.
SCENE II
What does Juliet say to Capulet?
What does Capulet decide?
SCENE III
Explain Juliet’s words.
SCENE IV
What are the characters?
What are they doing?
SCENE V
How does the scene begin?
Explain Capulet’s words from line 83 to 90.
Why do you think there is a funny scene after they have learnt Juliet is dead?
What is the meaning of ‘It is music with silver sound because musicians have no gold for
sounding’?
ACT V
SCENE I
What does Romeo learnt at the beginning of the act?
How does the scene end?
SCENE II
What does Friar John tell to Friar Lawrence?
What does Friar Lawrence want to do?
SCENE III
Where is Paris?
Who enters the vault?
What happens between Romeo and Paris?
What does Romeo do?
What does Juliet learn when she wakes up?
What does she want to do when she kisses Romeo?
What does she do when the watchman approaches to the vault?
Explain Montague’s words from line 210 to 215.
What does Friar Lawrence tell to Prince Escalus?
Explain Prince Escalus words.
How does the scene end?