Romeo and Juliet

Study Questions
Prologue/Act 1, Sc. 1

1. In which town is the play set? In what country do you suppose this town exists? (Yes, this is a real place on our
planet.)

2. In the prologue, Shakespeare tells us that our two title characters are going to kill themselves. (You already
knew this, right?) His 1600’s audience would’ve already known the story of Romeo & Juliet from a famous poem of
the time, so this information would not have ruined the experience. In fact, many scholars say that knowing the
deaths are coming actually improves the play. How could this be? Explain your thoughts.

3. When Sampson says he will not “carry coals,” what does he mean? What literary technique is being used in this
silly exchange between Sampson and Gregory?

4. Complete this sentence: In Shakespearean times, biting your thumb was... a. a gesture of friendship b. an insult
c. a way of hitting on someone

5. Is Benvolio a Montague or a Capulet?

6. Why doesn’t Lady Capulet want her husband to get involved in the fight?

7. How many times have the Capulets and Montagues had street fights recently?

8. How has Romeo been spending his days recently?

9. List three of the oxymorons Romeo uses to describe the conflict between his family and the Capulets. Then,
explain how the family feud is oxymoronic in its nature.

10. In your own words, rewrite Romeo’s speech about love in Scene 1, lines 176-180, line by line.

11. Romeo is heartsick over a girl (it’s not Juliet) who is not at all interested in Romeo. Name three of the
ineffective romantic strategies Romeo has used in his attempt to woo this girl.

12. Why doesn’t this girl like Romeo?

13. What does Benvolio tell Romeo to do in order to forget the girl who doesn’t want him?

Act 1, Sc. 2

1. What “suit” does Paris bring to Capulet in Scene 2?

2. How old is Juliet? What are her father’s thoughts about allowing her to marry?

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3. Lord Capulet’s willingness to allow Juliet to have a say in whom she marries is pretty progressive, since most
marriages for this social class at the time would’ve been arranged by parents. Why, do you suppose, Capulet is
willing to take Juliet’s feelings into consideration?

4. Why is the Capulet servant upset about having been given a list of party guests to find?

5. Why does Benvolio want to crash the party? Why does Romeo agree?

6. What does Romeo want to happen to his eyes if they find someone other than Rosaline desirable at the party?
What does this show us about Romeo?

Act 1, Sc. 3

1. In your own words, explain the Nurse’s two stories about Juliet as a toddler.

2. Does Lady Capulet want Juliet to love Paris?

3. What is Juliet’s reaction to her mother’s request? What does this show us about Juliet?

Act 1, Sc. 4

1. According to Mercutio, who or what is Queen Mab, and what does she do?

2. What does Romeo say about the value of dreams?

3. What does Mercutio say about the value of dreams?

4. At the end of Scene 4, Romeo mentions the subject of his latest vivid dream. What did Romeo dream? Why isn’t
he changing his course of action? What does this show us about Romeo?

Act 1, Sc. 5

1. When Romeo first sees Juliet, what terms does he use to describe her?

2. How does Tybalt recognize Romeo?

3. When Tybalt is ready to seize Romeo and throw him out of the party, what does Capulet say to Tybalt? Why?
What is Tybalt’s reaction to this?

4. How does Romeo find out Juliet’s last name?

5. How does Juliet find out Romeo’s last name?

6. In the 1996 film version, the Capulet ball is a costume party, where Juliet is dressed as an angel, Romeo as a
knight in shining armor, and Paris as an astronaut. Explain how these costumes are appropriate for each character,
giving special attention to analyzing Paris’ outfit.

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Act 2, Sc. 1

1. What does the Act 2 Prologue say happened to Romeo’s love for Rosaline? How is this an example of
foreshadowing?

2. What does Romeo mean by “dull earth” in Scene 1, line 2?

3. Who does Mercutio think that Romeo is in love with in his speech in Scene 1, lines 6-21? What’s funny about
these lines?

Act 2, Sc. 2

1. When Romeo says, “He jests at scars that never felt a wound,” what does he mean?

2. What does Romeo compare Juliet to in his first speech in Sc. 2, lines 2-3?

3. In your own words, rewrite Juliet’s speech in Scene 2, lines 33-36. Go line-by-line as you restate her meaning.

4. When Juliet says, “That which we call a rose / By any other word would smell as sweet,” what does she mean?
Do names matter in our lives? If you had a different first name, do you think you might have grown up to be a
slightly different person?

5. In your own words, translate Juliet’s meaning in lines 95-101. Why do other young lovers, both then and now,
play such games?

6. Why does Juliet ask Romeo not to swear his love’s allegiance by the moon?

7. Which one is the first to mention marriage? What does this show us about this character?

8. What does Juliet instruct Romeo to send her the next day?

9. Look at lines 182-184. What do these lines literally mean? Then, explain how this bit of text is an example of
foreshadowing

Act 2, Sc. 3

1. At the beginning of Scene 3, what is Friar Laurence doing?

2. According to the Friar, how are humans like plants?

3. With whom does Friar Laurence assume Romeo has spent the night?

4. In lines 87-88, the Friar says, “O, she knew well / Thy love did read by rote and could not spell.” Explain what he
means here.

5. Why does the Friar begrudgingly agree to marry Romeo and Juliet?

Act 2, Sc. 4

1. Who are Laura, Dido, Cleopatra, Helen, and Hero? What does Mercutio say about them?

2. Write down three subjects Mercutio and Romeo make puns about in Scene 4, lines 44-70.

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3. How does Mercutio treat the Nurse?
a. He adores her and wants her to be his mom.
b. He mistakenly thinks that she is Rosaline.
c. He makes rude jokes about her.

4. What instructions does Romeo tell the Nurse to pass on to Juliet?

5. Who does the Nurse say also wants to marry Juliet? What does she say Juliet’s feelings are for this other suitor?

Act 2, Sc. 5

1. What time of day is it?

2. How long has the Nurse been gone on her errand to find Romeo?

3. What’s humorous about the way the Nurse treats Juliet in this scene?

Act 2, Sc. 6

1. Is Romeo fearful of the future? Write down the lines that support your answer.

2. In your own words, explain the Friar’s warning in these lines: “These violent delights have violent ends And in
their triumph die like fire and powder, Which, as they kiss, consume.”

3. In your own words, explain the Friar’s message in these lines: “Therefore love moderately; long love doth so:
Too swift arrives as tardy as too slow.”

4. What happens at the very end of this scene?

Act 3, Sc. 1

1. At the beginning of Act 3, who says the following lines? What do these lines foreshadow? “I pray thee, good
Mercutio, let’s retire. The day is hot, the Capulets abroad, And, if we meet, we shall not ‘scape a brawl, For now,
these hot days, is the mad blood stirring.”

2. What does Mercutio tell us about Benvolio in lines 15-27? Is this true? Explain what’s happening here.

3. Examine Mercutio’s “grave man” line. What figure of speech is used? What is the meaning?

4. Explain the following lines (104-110): “This gentlemen, the Prince’s near ally, My very friend, hath got his mortal
hurt In my behalf – my reputation stained With Tybalt’s slander – Tybalt, that an hour Hath been my cousin. O
sweet Juliet, Thy beauty hath made me effeminate And in my temper soft’ned valor’s steel!”

5. Explain the Prince’s judgment and why he makes this ruling.

Act 3, Sc. 2

1. In her speech at the beginning of Scene 2, what is Juliet looking forward to that night?

2. Give two examples from lines 26-31 that Juliet uses to explain the agony of expectation that she’s feeling.

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3. Write down three of the oxymorons Juliet uses to describe Romeo and explain why she uses this literary
technique to describe her young husband.

4. The Nurse says, “Shame come to Romeo!” How does Juliet react to the Nurse? 5. Where is Romeo hiding?

Act 3, Sc. 3

1. What is Friar Laurence’s opinion of Romeo’s punishment in Scene 3, lines 25-28?

2. In Scene 3, lines 33-39, why does Romeo say that he is less honored than carrion-flies?

3. What three reasons does Friar Laurence give Romeo to show that he should be happy?

4. In Scene 3, the Nurse gives Romeo a gift from Juliet. What is the gift?

Act 3, Sc. 4

1. Capulet explains to Paris that Juliet is upstairs crying about Tybalt. He says, “Look you, she loved her kinsman
Tybalt dearly, And so did I. Well, we were born to die.” From this passage, explain how Capulet felt about his
nephew. Why, do you suppose, he felt this way?

2. What decision does Capulet make, thinking that it will cheer up Juliet?

3. What is Paris’ reply when Capulet makes his announcement?

Act 3, Sc. 5

1.Why does Juliet want to believe the songbird she can hear is a nightingale, not a lark?

2. What does Juliet mean by an “ill-divining soul” in Scene 5, line 54?

3. Why do Juliet’s parents believe she is upset? What is their plan to help cheer her?

4. Earlier in the play, Capulet said Juliet will get to have a voice in whom she marries. Now, he’s raging at his
daughter for speaking up against his choice. Explain why Capulet has changed his mind about listening to his
daughter’s opinion about her future spouse.

5. How does the Nurse describe Paris in Sc. 5, lines 218-223?

Act 4, Sc. 1

1. What reason does Paris give for not having spent much time courting Juliet?

2. Name three of the horrible things Juliet says she would find preferable to marrying Paris.

3. Describe the Friar’s plan in your own words.

Act 4, Sc. 2

1. How do you know if you’re hiring a good cook?

2. Juliet was supposed to marry Paris on Thursday, but what has her father decided?

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3. Who will stay up all night to make sure the wedding party preparations are complete?

Act 4, Sc. 3

1. In case the potion doesn’t work, what item does Juliet keep with her in the bed?

2. Describe three things Juliet thinks might go wrong if she takes the potion.

3. Write down six words from Juliet’s speech (Scene 3, lines 30-58) that show her feelings about death.

Act 4, Sc. 4

1. What time in the morning is it?

2. In the midst of all the cooking and prepping, Paris arrives for his wedding date. Given the answer to the previous
question, what does this arrival show us about Paris?

3. What does Capulet mean when he says the Nurse should “go and trim her up” in Scene 4, line 27?

Act 4, Sc. 5

1. Who is the first to find Juliet’s body and think that she’s dead in Scene 5?

2. In what three ways does Capulet say he can tell Juliet is dead?

3. What does the Friar advise Juliet’s parents to do with her body?

4. In a sly way, the Friar actually blames Juliet’s parents for her lifelessness. Write the lines in which he says they
are being punished by God.

5. Why does Shakespeare end this heavy, emotionally wrenching scene with the odd exchange between Peter and
the musicians?

Act 5, Sc. 1

1. Describe the dream that Romeo has just had at the beginning of Scene 1?

2. Who brings news from Verona? What is the news?

3. Write down three odd things Romeo noticed in the apothecary shop.

4. Why is it difficult to get poison in Mantua? Why does Romeo believe this apothecary will sell him some despite
this?

Act 5, Sc. 2

1. In Scene 2, what is Friar John’s excuse for not having delivered the letter to Romeo?

2. What is Friar Laurence’s plan of action once he realizes Romeo hasn’t received his letter?

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Act 5, Sc. 3

1. Who is the first person to arrive at Juliet’s tomb in Scene 3? Why is he there?

2. Explain Paris’ logic in thinking that Romeo is responsible for Juliet killing herself.

3. Did Paris love Juliet? Give evidence to support your answer.

4. Romeo comments that Juliet looks just as beautiful in death as she did in life, with roses in her cheeks and lips.
He doesn’t realize that the “death” is just a potion that’s wearing off. Instead, why does he figure Juliet is still so
beautiful?

5. Does Juliet wake up just before Romeo dies or just after?

6. Who is present when Juliet awakens? Why doesn’t this person stay?

7. Why does Juliet kiss Romeo’s lips even after he already died?

8. Juliet says, “Thy lips are warm!” This is, quite arguably, one of the saddest lines in the entire play. Why are these
four little words so meaningful?

9. How does Juliet kill herself?

10. Which two characters are detained by the watchmen after Juliet’s death?

11. Who else died tonight? How do we find out?

12. How many people died in this play? List their names in order of their deaths.

13. Rewrite the final six lines of the play in your own words.