Questions for a better understanding of Romeo and Juliet, hopefully!

Prologue The Chorus here gives you plenty of information about the story: where it is set (In fair
Verona), who the characters are (two star-cross’d lovers), what will happen to them
(fearful passage of their death-marked love), even how long the play will last (two hours)

You know, you read the Prologue and know at once everything that will happen in the play.
Does it make sense? What’s the use of it? Why should I be interested in going on reading?
Well, on second thought …. What do you think?

Act 1 sc.1. Two servants of the Capulet household meet two servants of the Montagues. They would
enjoy a fight very much, but none of them dares to start it, so they begin provoking each
other.
Here you meet Tybalt, read what he says: what kind of guy is he?
Eventually the fight starts and the prince has to intervene.
Read what the Prince says: is this the first fight between Capulets and Montagues?
What will happen if they go on like this?

The Prince asks Lord Capulet to follow him. Lady Montague is worried about Romeo, she
doesnt’ know where he is and she says he looks quite depressed these days. Then Romeo
arrives and talks with Benvolio about his love problems: he loves Rosaline, a girl who
doesn’t return his love and, worst of all, is probably going to be a nun.
Consider Romeo: what’s your first impression of him?
What advice does Benvolio give him?
Discuss the effects of starting a play with a fight scene

Act 1 sc.2 Lord Capulet is talking to Paris, a noble young kinsman to the Prince, about Juliet: Paris
would like to marry her. The girl is only 13 but, he says
“Younger than she are happy mothers made”
How do you feel about the idea of getting married at 13?
Lord Capulet tells Paris that he is going to hold a party and invites him to join. Then he
sends one of his servants to handout the invitations. The servant meets Romeo and
Benvolio who are chatting together in the street. They learn of the party and, even if not
invited at all, they decide to go.
Benvolio: “ Tut man, one fires burns out another’s burning,
One pain is lessened by another’s anguish…”
What does he mean? Has anything like this ever happened to you? Write a short
paragraph about it.
Benvolio and Romeo eventually decide to go to the party. Can you explain why?

Act 1 sc.3 Lady Capulet tells Juliet that Paris is going to marry her. While they talk, the Nurse is
there too and has her say. Note that she doesn’t speak in verse, but in prose.
How would you define the nurse? How would you feel if your mother would like you to
marry a guy you have never met?
Act 1. sc.5 Benvolio, Mercutio and Romeo go the Masque. Romeo is not going to dance, since he is too
sad because of Rosaline and he is also a little bit upset because of a dream he had the
previous night. As soon as he enters the hall, Romeo notices Juliet and wants to know who
she is. He admires her beauty aloud and Tybalt recognizes his voice – don’t forget he is
wearing a mask and a costume. Tybalt would like to face Romeo with his sword but Lord
Capulet prevents him from doing anything like that: after all Romeo is behaving and he doesn’t
want Tybalt to make “ a mutiny” among his guests. Romeo at last meets Juliet.
Tell a friend what happens during the Masque.
Why do you think Romeo and Juliet use such religious imagery?
Do you think what happens during their first meeting is enough to justify such deep love?

Act 2 Chorus Consider the rhyme scheme, what kind of composition is it?
Act.2 sc.1 While leaving the party with his friends, Romeo decides to go back to the Capulets’.
Benvolio and Mercutio call him but cannot make him come back

Act. 2 sc.2 This is the well-known Balcony Scene. Romeo is in the Capulets’ orchard and is looking at
Juliet’s window. He praises her beauty with metaphors and similes. Can you find them out
and explain them?
Then Juliet appears on the balcony and, to his amazement, she starts speaking about
Romeo himself and how much she likes him. He decides to let her see him and they start
chatting about their names, how dangerous it is for him to be there, and how much they
love each other. They really cannot say goodbye: she keeps on going and coming back. Finally
they decide to get married the day after. Romeo thinks he will go and visit Friar Laurence,
his spiritual father.
Can you detect any difference between Romeo and Juliet as for personality?
How would you explain such a hurry to get married?
Do you believe in love at first sight?

Act 2 sc.3 Friar Laurence belongs to the Franciscan Order and is quite expert in the properties of
herbs and plants. When Romeo tells him of his love, Friar Laurence thinks he is talking of
Rosaline. When he understands the truth, he says “… Young men’s love then lies
Not truly in their hearts but in their eyes ….”
What does he mean?
He eventually decides to help the two lovers. Why does Friar Laurence accept to help
Romeo and Juliet? Does his plan prove successful in the end? Can you detect any irony in
it?

Act 2 sc.4 Romeo and Mercutio start a sort of duel of wits.

Who do you think is better at it?
Then, sent by Juliet, the Nurse arrives and wants to know about the plan for the
marriage: they will meet in the afternoon at Friar Laurence’s cell and get married.

Act 2 sc.5 Juliet is impatiently waiting for news: the Nurse left at nine and now, at midday, she
hasn’t come back yet. She cannot imagine what might have happened and she thinks that
 the Nurse is definitely getting old. At last the Nurse arrives but, instead of telling at
once the news Juliet is waiting for, she starts wasting time and speaking about her
backache, then headache and so on. Finally she tells Juliet what she is expected to do.
Can you give a reason why the Nurse delays the news?

Act 2 sc.6 Romeo is at Friar Laurence’s cell.

Can you explain the meaning of Friar Laurence’s short sermon? (ll. 9-15)

Act 3 sc. 1 Benvolio and Mercutio are in a public place in Verona and talking about who of the two is
the bigger hothead. Tybalt arrives and Mercutio provokes him deliberately
misunderstanding his words. But Tybalt is looking for Romeo: he is still angry after
Romeo’s appearance at the party. When Romeo appears, Tybalt insults him but, instead of
reacting, Romeo just says he loves him the name Capulet is dear to him. Mercutio feels
offended by Romeo’s submission and draws his sword to defend his friend’s honour.
Romeo tries to stop them but Tybalt wounds Mercutio. At first nobody realizes how
serious the wound is, as a matter of fact Romeo says “ Courage , man, the hurt cannot be
much” but Mercutio dies cursing the two rival families
“A plague o’er both your houses/ They have made worms’ meat of me”
Can you explain why Romeo speaks of love instead of fighting with Tybalt?

Romeo then fights with Tybalt and kills him. Benvolio makes him run away before the
Prince may condemn him, Romeo defines himself “O, I am fortune’s fool” and leaves. Then
the Prince arrives and wants to know what has happened and who has begun the fight.
Benvolio tells him everything but Lady Capulet – who has arrived with her husband and also
the Montagues – doesn’t believe him “ He is a kinsman to the Montagues/ Affection makes
him false”. Mercutio was a kinsman to the Prince who, thinking that
“Mercy but murders, pardoning those that kill” condemns Romeo to exile.
Why does the Prince think that mercy, in this case, might cause more murders?
Consider that Juliet is waiting for Romeo for their first night together: what do you think
her reaction will be when she learns what has happened?
Write a short paragraph where you explain why this scene may be considered the turning
point in the action of the play

Act 3 sc. 2 Juliet is alone and waiting for night to come and bring her her Romeo.
Find out how many times Juliet speaks the word “night” and consider the images
( pictures in your mind) which are being created

The Nurse arrives with the bad news. In her reply, Juliet uses a lot of oximorons –
phrases which contain opposite qualities. Find out at least three and explain them
The Nurse replies giving her opinion on men. Which is it?
Juliet doesn’t let the Nurse say something against Romeo and asks her to go and find him
and give him a ring.

Act 3 sc.3 Friar Laurence tells Romeo about the prince’s decision. Romeo is in despair and says he
would have preferred death since “There is no world without Verona walls/ But
 purgatory, torture, hell itself. Friar Laurence tries to console him but Romeo doesn’t
want to listen Then the nurse arrives and Romeo is anxious to know what Juliet thinks of
him. When he draws a dagger meaning to stab himself, the Friar says of him
“ Unseemingly woman in a seeming man/And ill-beseeming beast in seeming both”
Can you explain?
The Friar tells Romeo to go and meet Juliet but not to be late in the morning because he
will have to leave Verona and reach Mantua.

Act 3 sc 4. Lord Capulet decides that Juliet will marry Paris in three days and sends his wife to
inform Juliet about it.

Act 3 sc 5. Romeo and Juliet have spent the night together and now they have to part. The nurse
arrives to inform them that Juliet’s mother is coming. Romeo leaves. Juliet learns of
her parents’ plan and refuses, but her father gets furious, her mother doesn’t want to
help her and the Nurse advises her to do what her father wants her to. Juliet decides
to go and ask Friar Laurence for advice
Do you think Lord Capulet is somehow responsible for Juliet’s death?

Act 4 sc 1 Paris is talking to Friar Laurence and telling him about the marriage. Juliet arrives and
after some short exchanges Paris leaves. Juliet asks the Friar for help. He
understands that she prefers to die instead of marrying Paris and so he thinks that
she might be strong enough for a really daring plan: he gives her a potion that will make
her look like dead for forty-two hours. In the meantime he will send a letter to Romeo
to inform him and ask him to come to Verona, to take Juliet after she awakes, then
leave together for Mantua.
What do you think of Friar Laurence’s plan? Write a paragraph about it

Act 4 sc 2 Juliet goes back home and pretends to have changed her mind. Lord Capulet decides to
have the marriage celebrated a day before

Act 4 sc 3 Juliet succeeds in being alone I her room and in a long soliloquy. At first she is a little
bit afraid of being alone and would like the Nurse to come back, but then she
understands she must be alone. Can you find out what frightens her?
Eventually she drinks the potions and falls asleep.
Do you think Juliet is brave or silly to accept such a dangerous plan?

Act 4 sc 4 At the Capulets’ everybody is working to get things ready for the wedding. Lord
Capulet sends the Nurse for Juliet

Act 4 sc 5 The Nurse thinks Juliet is dead and calls for help. Everybody is in despair. Friar
Laurence and Paris arrive and they too express their woe. Friar Laurence tries to
console them reminding them that Juliet is now in heaven. Everything that is ready
for the wedding, will now be used for the funeral. In the last part of the scene one of
the servants quarrels with the musicians who are not going to play a song for him.

Act 5 sc 1 A servant brings Romeo the news of Juliet’s death. Romeo is upset and decides to die
 as well. He goes to an apothecary and buys some poison.
Here you find a long description of the apothecary and his shop. What’s the use of it?

The apothecary doesn’t want to sell him the poison because in Mantua this is a crime,
but he accepts the money Romeo offers him and gives him what he asks for. Romeo
thinks “…gold – worse poison to men’s souls ..”
What do you think will happen now? Do you think there is anything which might prevent
bad things from happening?

Act 5 sc 2 Friar Laurence learns that his letter has never reached Romeo, since his messenger
was not allowed to enter Mantua because of fear of infection from the plague. The
Friar decides to go to Juliet before she awakes and to send another letter to Romeo.
He doesn’t know that Romeo is already on his way to Verona.

Act 5 sc 3 Paris is at Juliet’s grave.

Read what he says and compare to what Romeo will say a little bit later
When he realizes somebody else is coming, Paris steps back. Romeo enters and tells his
servant to leave hem alone. Paris recognizes him and faces him. They fight and Romeo
kills him even though he doesn’t know at present who the man is. When he finds out he
decides to bury him in Juliet’s grave. Then Romeo sees Juliet and is amazed at her
beauty. He asks Tybalt for forgiveness and expresses all his grief for Juliet’s death.
Eventually he drinks the poison whose effect is quite quick. Friar Laurence arrives and
Sees the bodies of Paris and Romeo. Juliet awakes and asks for Romeo. Friar Laurence
proposes her to join a nunnery. Juliet asks him to go and then she sees the cup of
poison in Romeo’s hand and understands what has happened. In despair she stabs
herself with Romeo’s dagger. Some watchmen enter who see all the corpses and send
for help. First the Capulets then Lord Montague arrive. The prince too is there and asks
for silence because he wants to understand what has happened. Friar Laurence is ready
to give explanation.
The Prince comments “ Capulet, Montague/ See what a scourge is laid upon your hate”
The two men are ready to make peace.
“A glooming peace this morning with it brings
The sun for sorrow will not show his head.
…….
For never was a story of more woe
Than this of Juliet and her Romeo”