Prologue:
Where is the play set?
Verona, Italy
Prologue:
What problem exists in the city?
There is a lot of violence and fighting as well as warring families (Montagues and Capulets)
Act 1 Scene 1
Sampson and Gregory, servants to the Capulets, are bragging, vulgar mouthed men who engage in word games. What bawdy comment does Sampson make?
'I will cut off their heads (the heads of the maids)" and "I will push Montague's men from the wall and thrust his maids to the wall
Act 1 Scene 1
What is there about the talk and actual actions of Gregory and Sampson which suggest that they are not as brave and tough as they pretend? Give an example of their actions that contradict their talk.
Gregory and Sampson bite their thumbs at the Capulets' men. (a rude gesture) But, when asked upon whether they actually do, they reject that they quarrel and bite their thumbs
Act 1 Scene 1
Who is Benvolio and what does he attempt to do?
Benvolio is the kinsmen (cousin of Romeo) of the Montagues. He is a peacemaker and tries to stop the fighting between Abram and another servings-men, Sampson, and Gregory
Act 1 Scene 1
How does Tybalt, a Capulet, misinterpret Benvolio's actions? What does Tybalt say to him?
Tybalt misinterprets his action by thinking that he is a coward and questions this attempt at peace, and Tybalt actually threatens to kill him. "What art thou drawn among their heartless minds. Turn thy Benvolio to death.
Act 1 Scene 1
Why is Tybalt considered hot tempered?
He wants to always fight, quickly assumes the worst.
Act 1 Scene 1
What does Lady Capulet say about Lord Capulet age and condition?
She said he was too old to fight.
Act 1 Scene 1
What do you suppose prompts Lady Montague to hold her husband back from the fight?
He is in not good physical condition.
Act 1 Scene 1
The Prince appears and he is angry. Why is he angry and what is the promise and threat he makes?
The Montagues and Capulets have 3 times disturbed the quiet of Verona's streets, the Prince wants peace. He threatens both families that they will pay with their lives as a penalty if they disturb the peace of the streets again
Act 1 Scene 1
Lady Montague, glad that Romeo has misses the fight, asks Benvolio if he has seen Romeo. What is Benvolio response?
He saw Romeo in the morning when walking under a grove of a sycamore, but Romeo was aware of Benvolio and fled into the woods when Benvolio tried to go to him but Benvolio decided not to go after him and let him be alone
Act 1 Scene 1
At this point was is Lady Montague worried about?
She is worried about where Romeo is because Romeo is her son.
Act 1 Scene 1
Romeo enters the room and tells Benvolio the problem. What is the problem?
He is in love, but the love is not returned. Rosaline is like Dian. (a goddess who is against marriage and love) Rosaline swears to have chastity always
Act 1 Scene 1
Romeo's lines can be seen as presenting the paradox of love or simply as romantic nonsense. What indication is there that Romeo recognizes that his sentiments could be viewed as romantic nonsense?
He used contradicting phrases and at the end he says "do thou not laugh?" (saying isn't that crazy).
Act 1 Scene 1
What is Benvolio's response?
Benvolio sympathizes and promises that he will teach Romeo to forget or he'll die in the attempt
Act 1 Scene 1
Although both are saddened by unrequited love, what joke are they able to make?
Tut! I have lost myself, I am not here. This is not Romeo, he's some other well.
Act 1 Scene 1
What is the nature of Romeo's desire toward Rosaline? According to the tradition of courtly love, how is Romeo expected to respond to her rejection?
Romeo can't get his mind of Rosaline, he desires her. Romeo is expected to just forget about Rosaline and find someone else
Act 1 Scene 1
What practical advice does Benvolio give Romeo?
Benvolio says to examine other beauties, he will try and help Romeo to forget Rosaline
Act 1 Scene 2
After some small talk, Paris gets to the point of his visit. What does he ask of Lord Capulet?
Count Paris declares his wish to marry Juliet, he wants the approval from Capulet
Act 1 Scene 2
What is Capulet response?
Juliet is too young. Capulet wants to keep her daughter and let her enjoy 2 more summers before she gets married
Act 1 Scene 2
Paris responds that girls younger than she have been married. What is Capulet's response to this?
Juliet is Capulet's only surviving child of his body and only heir
Act 1 Scene 2
What suggestion and invitation does Capulet make to Paris?
That he can try to "woo" over Juliet at the banquet and if he does he will give consent to the marriage request
Act 1 Scene 2
Romeo, lamenting his unrequited love, is approached by the illiterate servingman. In reading his list he finds that Rosaline, his love, is going to attend the Capulet party, What suggestion does Benvolio give?
To go to the feast and compare girls at the feast to Rosaline.
Act 1 Scene 2
When Romeo responds that she is the most beautiful women since time began, What is Benvolio's response?
That he should still go and find other girls other then Rosaline.
Act 1 Scene 3
The Nurse quotes a vulgar remark that her husband made to the young Juliet and then likes it so much that she repeats it. What do the Nurse's indecent remarks in front of the family indicate about her relationship?
That she was trying to be funny, but it was tacked the wrong way. They have a very close relationship, the Nurse is like a second mother to Juliet.
Act 1 Scene 3
What does Juliet's mother tell Juliet?
Go to the banquet and check Paris out. Lady Capulet also tells of all the fine qualities of Paris and why she should wed him.
Act 1 Scene 3
What is Juliet's response?
She gives in and goes to the banquet.
Act 1 Scene 4
Why does Romeo say he won't be able to dance?
He won't be able to dance because he is too sad
Act 1 Scene 4
How do these Montagues expect to be able to enter the Capulet house?
Wear masks to disguise themselves
Act 1 Scene 4
Romeo seems to believe that our dreams have something to do with our lives, perhaps, dreams act as a presentiment or omen. What is Mercutio's opinion of dreams?
He does not care for it, he was mocking Romeo with a speech about a dream-giving queen of fairies.
Act 1 Scene 4
How does Mercutio end this conversation?
Rambles on about his speech, Romeo tells him to stop and Mercurtio says that the dream is just a "foolish fantasy.
Act 1 Scene 4
What is Romeo's misgiving and what does the line "some consequences, yet hanging in the stars" have to do with his feeling dread?
He is still worried about his dream and believes that it is a bad omen. "Some consequence laying in the stars" means that consequences are waiting for him and could lead to untimely death
(foreshadowing)
Act 1 Scene 5
Lord Capulet and a relative stand, unmasked, on one side of the room. Romeo masked, standing on the other side, asks the servingman who Juliet is. How does Romeo describe the girl, and what does he conclude?
O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!
It seems she hands upon the cheek of night
Like a rich jewel in an Ethiop's ear
;
Beauty to rich for use, for earth too dear!
So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows
As yonder lady o'er her fellows shows
Th
Act 1 Scene 5
What is the hot tempered Tybalt's reaction when he hears Romeo's voice?
He gets very angry and he alerts Lord Capulet about the disturbance of the party.
Act 1 Scene 5
What does Lord Capulet says to Tybalt?
He says that he does not want to have a disturbance at the party and he has heard that Romeo is a well mannered man.
Act 1 Scene 5
Tybalt obeys his uncle, but what does he vow?
He is going to get Romeo back (revenge) from him crashing the party.
Act 1 Scene 5
Romeo, goes up to Juliet, begins a conversation, and ends up kissing her twice before the Nurse comes and tells Juliet that her mother wants her. Romeo and his friends leave. How do we know that Juliet feels as strongly about Romeo as he doe
Juliet flirts with Romeo and exchanges 2 kisses but also Juliet says, "If he be married, my grave is like to be my wedding bed.