Prologue Vocabulary: mutiny - strife, rivalry piteous - passionate Questions: 1. What is the purpose of the Prologue?
Prologue (answers) Expository Information Setting - Verona, Italy Background/history of two rivaling families - Montagues & Capulets Conflict - brawling families / hatred Suicide of the star-crossed lovers End of the feud Duration of the play - 2 hours
Act 1, scene 1 Vocabulary: colliers - people who dig or sell coals valiant - brave pernicious - vindictive, wicked adversary - enemy, nemesis tyrannous - cruel, vicious
Act 1, scene 1 Character Roles Sampson Citizens Romeo Gregory Abram Benvolio Tybalt Officer Capulet Lady Capulet Montague Lady Montague Prince Escalus
Act 1, scene 1 Questions: 1. Identify an example of vulgar (indecent, bawdy) love. 2. Why do you suppose biting a thumb is offensive to the Capulets? 3. Why is Prince Escalus angry? What promise/threat does he make? 4. According to Lord Montague, how has Romeo been acting lately? 5. What has Benvolio observed about Romeo s behavior? 6. Why is Romeo depressed? 7. What advice does Benvolio give to Romeo? 8. Find an example of a monologue, an oxymoron, and an allusion. Look up and define these terms.
Act 1, scene 1 (answers) 1. Sampson brags that he will take the virginity from the Montague women. 2. Biting a thumb is equivalent to the modern day gesture of sticking up the middle finger. 3. The feuding families are disturbing the peace of the city and involving people outside of the families. 3x. Whoever breaks the peace will pay with his life. 4. Montague says he stays out until the early hours of the morning and then makes an artificial night of his room. 5. Benvolio says that he saw Romeo in the early hours of the morning and that Romeo fled into the forest to be alone when he say him.
Act 1, scene 1 (answers cont.) 6. Romeo is in love with a woman who does not return his love. In fact, she has decided to commit herself to God. 7. Benvolio tells Romeo to look for someone else and to forget about Rosaline, but Romeo is overly dramatic and says this his eyes should burn as heretics (traitor). 8. Monologue - Prince Escalus s speech ; Oxymoron (bringing together two contradictory words) - Romeo: O brawling love, O loving hate. ; Allusion (reference to historical or literary figure, event, object) Romeo says that Rosaline hath Dian s wit. Greek/Roman Mythology - Diana is the goddess of chastity, who opposed love and marriage.
Act 1, scene 2 Vocabulary heretics - people whose opinions differ from the official faith (Christianity) Questions: 1. Why does Capulet think it will be easy for Montague and him to keep the peace? 2. What does Paris ask of Capulet? What is Capulet s response? 3. Paris says that girls younger than Juliet have been married. What is Capulet s rebuttal? What suggestion does Capulet make? 4. How does fate assist Benvolio with his plan to help Romeo?
Act 1, scene 2 Character Roles Capulet Paris Servant Benvolio Romeo
Act 1, scene 2 (answers) 1. He says that it means death for them if they do not keep the peace, and they are both old men - not so fiery or hot-headed. 2. Paris asks for Capulet s daughter s hand in marriage. Capulet says that his daughter, Juliet, is not yet 14, but in 2 years she might be ready. 3. Capulet says his daughter is the only child he has left and he will not force her into a marriage that she does not want. Capulet tells Paris to win her heart and invites him to attend a party that night to see Juliet and other young women. 4. Fate has the servant and Romeo meet up on the street. The servant informs Benvolio and Romeo about the Capulet party. Romeo can see all of the beautiful, eligible ladies of Verona to help him forget about Rosaline.
Act 1, scene 3 Vocabulary tetchy - irritable, overly sensitive, touchy perilous - dangerous, hazardous
Act 1, scene 3 Character Roles Lady Capulet Nurse Juliet Servant
Act 1, scene 3 Questions 1. How old is Juliet? 2. How does Juliet feel about the idea of marriage? 3. What does Lady Capulet say in response to her daughter s answer? 4. How would you describe Juliet s relationship with her mother? With the Nurse?
Act 1, scene 3 Answers 1. 13, almost 14 2. She thinks it is an honor, but she doesn t dream about it right now because she is so young. 3. L. Capulet says that girls her age in Verona are already mothers and that Juliet should study Paris at the party tonight and be open to the idea of marriage. 4. Juliet is obedient to her mother, but she is not close to her. The Nurse feels connected and close to Juliet. She knows more about Juliet s life and feelings than Juliet s own mother.
Act 1, scene 4 Romeo Character Roles Benvolio Mercutio
Act 1, scene 4 Vocabulary lath - wood wantons - tomboys benefice - appointment in the church vile - wicked
Act 1, scene 4 Questions 1. Why does Romeo say that he is unable to dance? What is this an example of? 2. How do Romeo and his friends expect to gain entrance into the Capulet house? 3. Why is Romeo having second thoughts about attending the party? 4. What is Mercutio s point in talking about Queen Mab? 5. What does Mercutio s speech reveal about his character? 6. In what respect are Romeo and Mercutio foil characters for one another? 7. Identify a line(s) which reference Fate s role in Romeo s life.
Act 1, scene 4 (answers) 1. Romeo claims his soul is made of lead (sadness) which weighs him down. 2. The party is a masked ball, so they will not be easily recognized. 3. Romeo has had a dream which he believes is a bad omen. 4. Mercutio believes that dreams are nothing and reflect only superstitious nonsense. 5. Mercutio is showy and is prone to exaggeration and babbling. 6. They are foils when it comes to love and the importance of dreams. 7. Some consequence, yet hanging in the stars (112-117)By going to the party, he will put in motion a chain of events that will end in his untimely (premature) death. - Foreshadowing!!!
Act 1, scene 5 Vocabulary Nuptial - wedding ceremony Scathe - hurt, injure Perforce - is a requirement; is essential Choler - fury, anger Prodigious - threatening, ominous Gall - detest, disgust
Act 1, scene 5 Questions 1. What does Romeo think of Juliet the first time he sees her? 2. How does Tybalt recognize Romeo? What is his reaction? What does he vow to do? 3. What does Lord Capulet say to Tybalt concerning Romeo? 4. When Romeo and Juliet talk, he compares her to a and himself to a. 5. How does the reader know that Juliet has fallen for Romeo? 6. How does each act when they find out each others true identities?
1. He thinks she is the most beautiful woman he has ever seen: She doth teach the stars to burn bright.did my heart love til now? I never saw true beauty until this night. 2. Tybalt recognizes his voice. He is outraged and believes that Romeo is mocking his family. He vows revenge. 3. He informs Tybalt of Romeo s reputation, saying that the people of Verona brag how dignified and honorable Romeo has become. He tells Tybalt to ignore Romeo, have a good time, and not to start a fight. 4. Juliet is compared to a holy shrine/saint. Romeo is compared to a pilgrim. They flirt with one another. 5. Juliet sends the Nurse to find out his identity: If he be married my grave is like to be my wedding bed 6. Devastated - My only love born of my only hate