William Shakespeares Romeo & Juliet

This study guide should be completed as we read. Memorize and know how to identify the
literary terms below. Review Shakespeares life and theater notes. Keep all work for this unit
together.
Romeo & Juliet Literary Terms:
Prologue: preface to a play or story giving background information related to the setting and characters.
Drama: story acted out usually on stage by actors who take parts of specific characters.
Blank Verse: !erse written in iambic pentameter" where each line contains ten syllables and every other
syllable is stressed. #t does not rhyme.
Monologue: long uninterrupted speech that is spoken in the presence of other characters.
Tragic Flaw: The protagonist has a serious fault$flaw in his character" which leads to his downfall.
Aside: %ords spoken by a character in a play" usually in an undertone not intended to be heard by other
characters on stage.
at!arsis: &eeling by the audience of cleansing relief during a tragedy. Tension is released and a lesson
is learned.
Foil: character that sets off another character by emphasizing his differences.
"olilo#uy: speech" usually lengthy" in which a character alone on stage e'presses his thoughts aloud.
Tragedy: literary work in which the protagonist meets an unhappy or disastrous end.
(rotagonist is a person of nobility who must make a moral decision that influences the outcome
of the drama. )ives the audience an opportunity for catharsis.
Pun: The humorous use of a word or phrase to suggest multiple meanings at the same time.
Ju$ta%osition: %hen two things or ideas are placed side by side for contrast.
&nglis! "onnet: *Shakespearean+ ,- lined lyric poem with three .uatrains and a concluding couplet.
Fores!adowing: The use of hints or clues in a story to suggest what action is to come.
"tage directions: #nstructions in a play usually in parentheses or italics which tell the actors or technicians
what to do.
Dramatic 'rony: device whereby the audience understands more of a situation or of what is being said
than the characters on stage do.
Personi(ication: n animal" ob/ect" natural force" or idea that is given human .ualities.
T!eme: The underlying meaning or basic relevance to life0 lesson.
)$ymoron: figure of speech which combines contradictory words and meanings for effect.
Protagonist: The principal actor or character0 the hero.
Antagonist: #n drama or fiction" the character that opposes the hero.
"ituational 'rony: %hen what the reader e'pects to happen differs from the actual outcome.
*umor: Silly or funny situations or speech that usually has a surprise ending.
,
Romeo & Juliet : Act )ne
,. %hen and where is the play set1
2. ccording to the prologue" what will happen to Romeo and 3uliet1 4ow will it affect their
families1
5. %hat rude action begins the fight1
-. %ho says 6%hat" drawn" and talk of peace1 # hate the word as # hate hell" all Montagues" and
thee.71
8. 9escribe :envolio and Tybalt. 4ow are they different1
;. %ho ends the fight1
<. %ith what punishment does the (rince threaten anyone who breaks the peace again1
=. Romeo is worrying his father. %hat is the concerning behavior1
>. %hat is bothering Romeo1
,?. %hat advice does :envolio give1
,,. ccording to the (rince" how many times have these families disturbed the peace1
,2. 6:ut to himself so secret and so close" so far from sounding and discovery" as is the bud bit with
an envious worm ere he can spread his sweet leaves to the air or dedicate his beauty to the sun.7
This .uote is an e'ample of what type of figurative language1 %ho does it refer to1 %hat does it
mean1
,5. 4ow does :envolio plan to cure Romeos lovesickness1
,-. 6@ brawling loveA @ loving hateA @ anything" of nothing first createA @ heavy lightnessA Serious
vanityAB7 This passage contains numerous e'amples of what type of figurative language1
,8. 6Cove is a smoke made with the fume of sighsB7This passage contains what type of figurative
language1
,;. %ho is the young man who asks Dapulets permission to woo 3uliet1
,<. 4ow old is 3uliet1
,=. %here is (aris invited1
,>. %hy does Dapulets servant ask Romeo for help1
2?. The invitation by the servant could be considered what type of irony1 %hy1
2,. %hat does 3uliets mother compare the young man to1
22. Romeos .uick response to Mercutio 6#n bed asleep" while they do dream things true7 is an
e'ample of what1
25. %hat does Mercutios monologue about Eueen Mab e'plain1
2-. 6True" # talk of dreams which are the children of an idle brain7 is an e'ample of what type of
figurative language1
28. Romeo is madly in love with Rosaline. %hat happens when he first sees 3uliet1
2
2;. Romeo says 6# fear" too early0 for my mind misgives some conse.uence yet hanging in the starsB
by some vile forfeit of untimely death.7 This is an e'ample of1
2<. %hat does Romeo compare 3uliet to upon seeing her1
2=. %ho wants to attack Romeo at the Dapulets masked ball1 %hy1
2>. %ho tells Romeo and 3uliet about each others identity1
5?. %ho says 6My only love sprung from my only hateA71 %hat does that mean1
Romeo & Juliet : Act Two
5,. %hy does Romeo not have access 6to breathe such vows as lovers use to swear17
52. %hat does it mean that 3uliets 6means are much less71
55. %here do Romeo and 3uliet get the power and the means to meet1
5-. %here and when does Scene , take place1
58. %hom does Mercutio praise in attempt to attract Romeos attention1
5;. )ive an e'ample of dramatic irony *something Mercutio and :envolio dont know+.
5<. %hat does Romeo mean by 64e /ests at scars that never felt a wound71
5=. 6:ut" softA %hat light through yonder window breaks1 B7 begins Romeos garden solilo.uy. %hy is
this considered a solilo.uy1
5>. To what does Romeo compare 3uliet1 %hat theme does this correspond to1
-?. 4ow bright are 3uliets eyes1 #s this figurative languageF if so" what type1
-,. %hat does Romeo wish he was1
-2. G'plain the dramatic irony that is taking place at this instant.
-5. 6Shall # hear more" or shall # speak at this17 This is an e'ample of an aside. %hy1
--. %hat does 3uliet say Romeo should do about his name1
-8. %hy is 3uliet surprised by Romeos appearance1
-;. %hat does Romeo say is more dangerous than 3uliets kinsmen1
-<. 4ow does Romeo say he discovered where 3uliet was1
-=. %hy is 3uliet so open with Romeo1
->. %hy doesnt 3uliet want Romeo to swear by the moon1
8?. 6This bud of love" by summers ripening breath" may prove a beauteous flower when ne't we meet.7
This .uote contains two types of figurative language" what are they1
8,. %hy isnt 3uliet happy about the promises of love /ust made1
82. 6My bounty is as boundless as the sea" my love as deep0 the more # give to thee" the more # have" for
both are infinite.7 This is what type of figurative language1
85. %hy does 3uliet wish she hadnt yet vowed her love to Romeo1
8-. %hy is Romeo afraid that his meeting with 3uliet is a dream1
88. %hat choice does 3uliet set before Romeo1
5
8;. 3uliet says" 6Tis almost morning" # would have thee gone0 FF and yet no farther than a wantons birdB7
This .uote meansB
8<. 6The greyFeyd morn smiles on the frowning nightB7 is an e'ample of1
8=. The line above begins &riar Cawrences speech alone. This is an e'ample of 1
8>. &ind a metaphor and foreshadowing in &riar Cawrences solilo.uy.
;?. %hat is the &riar collecting1
;,. %hat reasons does &riar Cawrence think could have caused Romeo to come so early1
;2. 4ow does &riar Cawrence react when Romeo says he has forgotten Rosaline1
;5. %here does &riar Cawrence say that mens love lies1
;-. %hy does &riar Cawrence agree to help Romeo1
;8. %hat does the &riar mean by 6%isely and slow0 they stumble that run fast71
;;. %hat new occurrence in the Montague$Dapulet feud do Mercutio and :envolio know about that Romeo
has not yet learned1
;<. To what do Romeos friends attribute his strange behavior1
;=. 4ow does Romeo respond to Mercutios /okes and gibes in this scene1
;>. %hat conclusion does Mercutio come to about Romeo from the changes in Romeos mood1
<?. %hat is so humorous about Mercutios comment 6Two" Two0 a shirt and a smock71
<,. %hose message does the Hurse deliver to Romeo1
<2. %hat does the note say1
<5. %hat scheme has Romeo devised1
<-. %hat proverb does the Hurse .uote1 %hat is her point1
<8. %hat is Romeos servant going to give the Hurse1
<;. #n what length of time did the Hurse promise to return1 4ow long has it been1
<<. Scene ! begins with 3uliet alone in the garden. #s this a solilo.uy1 %hy1
<=. #n what way" according to 3uliet" could the Hurse be a better messenger1
<>. The Hurse puts off answering 3uliets .uestions about the marriage plans with four e'cuses. %hat are
they1
=?. %hy is the Hurse making so many e'cuses1
=,. %hat praise does the Hurse give Romeo1 %hat is her one complaint1
=2. t the end of the scene" where is the Hurse going1 %here is 3uliet going1
=5. re &riar Cawrences first two lines a statement or a prayer1 4ow do you know1
=-. %hat does Romeo say about death1
=8. #n your own words" e'plain &riar Cawrences warning" 6These violent delights have violent endsB7

Romeo & Juliet : Act T!ree
=;. %hat three reasons does :envolio give for retiring1 #s this foreshadowing1
-
=<. %hat does Mercutio say about :envolios character1 #s this true1 G'plain.
==. %hen Mercutio says" 64eres my fiddlestick0 heres that shall make you dance"7 what is he referring
to1 %hat type of figurative language is this1
=>. %hy doesnt Romeo rise to Tybalts challenge1
>?. Romeo says" 6# do protest # never in/urd thee" but love thee better than thou canst devise till thou shalt
know the reason of my love.7 %hy is this dramatic irony1
>,.%hat do Mercutios answers to Tybalt show about Mercutios character1
>2. %hat reason does Mercutio give for interfering in Romeo and Tybalts .uarrel1
>5. 4ow does Romeo try to stop the fight1
>-. %hat is the result of Romeos interference1
>8. %ho says" 6 plague o both your housesA71 %hat does he mean1
>;. 6sk for me tomorrow" and you shall find me a grave man"7 is an e'ample of what1
><. %hy does Romeo rebuke himself1
>=. %hat does Romeo predict for the future after learning of Mercutios death1
>>. 4ow does this prophecy immediately come true1
,??. %hat reasons does :envolio give to convince Romeo to run away1
,?,. #s :envolios account of the fighting entirely accurate1 G'plain.
,?2. 4ow do you know that its true that Romeo is 6but newly entertained revenge71
,?5. %hat is Cady Dapulets immediate reaction to :envolios testimony1
,?-. ccording to Cady Dapulet" what really happened1
,?8. %hat can you conclude about Cady Dapulet from her statements1
,?;. 4ow does the (rinces punishment differ from the punishment he threatened in ct #1
,?<. The (rince states the principle behind his action. %hat does he mean1
,?=. 9o you think the (rince believed :envolio1 %hy1
,?>. %hat is 3uliet impatient for1 #s this a solilo.uy1 #f so" why1
,,?. #n ct ##" Romeo compared 3uliet to stars. 4ow does 3uliet now use this comparison1
,,,. %hat is the misunderstanding between 3uliet and the Hurse1
,,2. 4ow does the Hurse e'plain her reaction to Tybalts death1
,,5. %hat does 3uliet conclude about Romeo when she first learns that he killed Tybalt1
,,-. Cist the o'ymorons used by 3uliet to describe Romeo.
,,8. %hat words of &riar Cawrence does her speech recall1
,,;. %hat broad conclusions does the Hurse draw from the incident1
,,<. %hat wish does the Hurse utter1
,,=. #n your own words" tell how 3uliet reacts to the Hurse.
,,>. 4ow long have Romeo and 3uliet been married1
,2?. %hat sudden realization does 3uliet have about how the situation could have been far worse1

8
,2,. %hat event does 3uliet say would be preferable to Romeos e'ile1
,22. %hy does she wish for such a thing1
,25. %here are 3uliets parents1
,2-. %hat does the Hurse promise to do1
,28. Romeo and &riar Cawrence feel differently about the (rinces punishment of Romeo. 4ow does each
feel1
,2;. %hy" according to Romeo" is every cat" dog" mouse" and fly luckier than he is1
,2<. %hy wont Romeo listen to &riar Cawrence1
,2=. &or what five things does &riar Cawrence scold Romeo1
,2>. %hat earlier speech of &riar Cawrences does this recall1
,5?. %hat gift has 3uliet sent for Romeo1
,5,. %hat is the &riars plan1
,52. 4ow does &riar Cawrence plan to get messages to Romeo1
,55. %hat plans do 3uliets parents make for her1
,5-. 4ow are the lark and nightingale used in this scene1
,58. %hat four things does 3uliet call Romeo as he leaves1
,5;. %hat foreboding does 3uliet have1
,5<. 4ow does Cady Dapulet interpret 3uliets statement about Romeo1
,5=. %hy" according to Cady Dapulet" has Dapulet arranged the marriage so suddenly1
,5>. %hat reason does 3uliet give for putting off the wedding1
,-?. %hat sentence with a double meaning does 3uliet use to describe her intentions1
,-,. #n your own words" describe how Dapulet reacts to 3uliets refusal to marry (aris.
,-2. %hat choice does Dapulet give 3uliet1 Dopy the .uote below.
,-5. %hat does 3uliet beg of her mother1
,--. %hat advice does the Hurse give 3uliet1 %hy1
,-8. %hat sudden change does 3uliet apparently undergo1
,-;. %hy doesnt she tell the Hurse the truth1
,-<. %hat does 3uliet really intend to do1
Romeo & Juliet : Act Four
,-=. %ho does 3uliet run into at &riar Cawrences cell1
,->. %hat is he doing there1
,8?. %hat is the meaning of &riar Cawrences aside in line ,;1
,8,. #n which lines does 3uliet utter words that can be taken as an accusation of &riar Cawrence for his
failure to help more1
;
,82. 3uliet says" 6Bor bid me go into a newFmade grave and hide me with a dead man in his shroud.7
%hat is this an e'ample of1
,85. Cist the steps in &riar Cawrences plan.
,8-. %hat promise does 3uliet make to her father1
,88. #n your words" e'plain Dapulets reaction to her changed behavior.
,8;. %hat does he offer to do that he wouldnt do usually in order to get ready for 3uliets wedding1
,8<. %hat re.uest does 3uliet make of the Hurse and her mother1
,8=. %hat e'cuse does she give1
,8>. %hy does 3uliet take a dagger to bed with her1
,;?. 3uliet has some doubts about using the mi'ture on the vial. %hat is her fear about &riar Caurence1
,;,. 3uliet also fears what might happen if she wakes before Romeo arrives. %hat three possibilities does
she mention1
,;2. %hat are Cady Dapulet" the Hurse" and the servants doing as the scene opens1
,;5. %hat mood are they in1
,;-. %hy doesnt the Hurse discover that 3uliet is 6dead7 until line ,-1
,;8. Dapulet uses figurative language to describe his dead daughter. %hat kind of figure of speech does he
use and what does it mean1
,;;. %hat does Dapulet personify in lines 5=F-?1
,;<. #n lines ;8F<-" &riar Cawrence chides 3uliets family for something. %hat is it" and what reason does
he give1
,;=. %hat is ironic about lines <8F<;1
,;>. The Dapulets were ready to have a wedding feast. 4ow will all the preparations for the feast be
changed by 3uliets 6death71
,<?. %hy does (eter threaten the musicians1
,<,. %hat kind of character is (eter1 9escribe him.
,<2. %hy does Shakespeare include this short scene between (eter and the musicians1
Romeo & Juliet : Act Fi+e
,<5. %hat did Romeo dream in ct !1
,<-. %hat does Romeo e'pect from !erona1
,<8. %hat news does he receive1
,<;. #n what city is Romeo1
,<<. %hat does Romeo mean in line 5-1
,<=. %hat is the penalty for selling poisons in Mantua1
,<>. %hy does Romeo think he can buy poison nevertheless1
<
,=?. &or what kind of poison does Romeo ask the apothecary1
,=,. %hat does Romeo mean in line =5" when he says to the apothecary" 6# sell thee poison" thou has sold
me none71
,=2. %hy does Romeo call the poison a cordial1
,=5. %hat problem has arisen in carrying out &riar Cawrences plan1
,=-. %hat is &riar 3ohns e'cuse1
,=8. %hat does &riar Cawrence decide to do1
,=;. %hy is (aris in the churchyard in this scene1
,=<. #n your own words" briefly retell the instructions Romeo gives :althasar.
,==. %hy does :althasar disobey Romeo1
,=>. %ho recognizes Romeo as a Montague and challenges him1
,>?. %hat happens1
,>,. %hat last re.uest does (aris have for Romeo1
,>2. %hy does Romeo grant (ariss re.uest1
,>5. %hat metaphor does Romeo use to describe the grave1
,>-. %hy is Romeos statement" 6deaths pale flag is not advanced there"7 an e'ample of dramatic irony1
,>8. Ipon seeing 3uliet" what steps does Romeo take that lead to his demise1
,>;. %ho is the first to discover Romeos body1
,><. %hat is &riar Cawrences reaction to the scene1
,>=. %hat does 3uliet do when she awakes to find Romeo dead1
,>>. %ho alerts the town to the tragedy1
2??. %ho arrives first in the tomb to witness the deaths1
2?,. %ho arrives second" carrying news of a second tragedy1 %hat is the tragedy1
2?2. %hat was the cause of the second tragedy1
2?5. %ho recounts the events for the (rince1
2?-. :riefly recount the events as given to the (rince.
2?8. %hat is in the letter that :althasar gives the (rince1
2?;. 4ow does the (rince react after he has read Romeos letter to Montague1
2?<. %hat conclusion does the (rince draw about the cause of all the deaths1
2?=. %hat happens as a result of the suicides of Romeo and 3uliet1
2?>. %hat is built in memory of their lives1
2,?. %hat does the (rince mean by 6ll are punished.71
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