Romeo and Juliet
Act One (study guide)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------Choices and Consequences
Character
Page #
Choice-Sum up the choice the character
made.
ACT ONE -SCENE ONE
1. Which two families are involved in the feud (fighting)?
2. Who started the street brawl (fight) in Scene I?
3. Why is Romeo staying up all night and sleeping all day?
4. Talk to the following text:
Scene 1: pg 17 (Prince Escalus)
Rebellious subjects, enemies to peace,
profaners of this neighbor-stained steel
Will they not hear? What, ho! You men, you beasts,
That quench the fire of your pernicious rage
With purple fountains issuing from your veins!
On pain of torture, from those bloody hands
Throw your mistempered weapons to the ground
And hear the sentence of your moved prince.
Three civil brawls, bred of an airy word
By thee, old Capulet, and Montague,
Consequence- What happens as a
result of this choice?
Have thrice disturbed the quiet of our streets
And made Verona’s ancient citizens
Cast by their grave beseeming ornaments
To wield old partisans, in hands as old,
Cankered with peace, to part your cankered hate.
If ever you disturb our streets again,
Your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace.
For this time all the rest depart away.
You, Capulet, shall go along with me;
And, Montague, come you this afternoon,
To know our farther pleasure in this case,
To old Freetown, our common judgment place.
Once more, on pain of death, all men part
5. What is "going on" here (one sentence or more summary of what this passage is saying)?
ACT ONE -SCENE TWO
1. Give one reason that Lord Capulet says that Juliet is too young to marry?
2. Under what condition does Lord Capulet say he will allow Juliet to marry Paris?
3. Why does Benvolio suggest that Romeo go to the Capulet ball?
4. Talk to the following text:
Scene 2: pg 29 (Lord Capulet)
And too soon marred are those so early made.
The earth hath swallowed all my hopes but she;
She is the hopeful lady of my earth.
But woo her, gentle Paris, get her heart;
My will to her consent is but a part.
An she agree, within her scope of choice
Lies my consent and fair according voice.
This night I hold an old accustomed feast,
Whereto I have invited many a guest,
Such as I love, and you among the store,
One more, most welcome, makes my number more.
At my poor house look to behold this night
Earth-treading stars that make dark heaven light.
Such comfort as do lusty young men feel
When well-appareled April on the heel
of limping Winter treads, even such delight
Among fresh female buds shall you this night
Inherit at my house. Hear all, all see,
And like her most whose merit most shall be;
Which, on more view of many, mine, being one,
May stand in number, though in reck’ning none.
5. What is "going on" here (one sentence or more summary of what this passage is saying)?
ACT ONE -SCENE THREE
1. How old is Juliet?
2. The Nurse's reaction to Paris's proposal of marriage to Juliet is he is "a man of wax." What does this reveal
about the nurse's attitude toward love and marriage?
3. Juliet's reaction to her mother's question about marrying Paris is "I'll look to love if looking liking move." What
does this reveal about Juliet's attitude toward love and marriage?
4. Talk to the following text:
Scene 3: pg 41 (Lady Capulet)
Well, think of marriage now. Younger than you,
Here in Verona, ladies of esteem,
Are made already mothers. By my count,
I was your mother much upon these years
That you are now a maid. Thus then in brief:
The valiant Paris seeks you for his love.
5. What is "going on" here (one sentence or more summary of what this passage is saying)?
ACT ONE - SCENE FOUR
1. In Mercutio's monologue about Queen Mab, what is he trying to say to Romeo?
2. Talk to the following text:
Scene 4: pg 51 (Romeo)
I fear, too early; for my mind misgives
Some consequence, yet hanging in the stars,
Shall bitterly begin his fearful date
With this night’s revels and expire the term
Of despised life, closed in my breast,
By some vile forfeit of untimely death.
But he that hath the steerage of my course
Direct my sail! On lusty gentleman!
4. What is "going on" here (one sentence or more summary of what this passage is saying)?
ACT ONE - SCENE FIVE
1. When Romeo sees Juliet, he falls instantly in love. What then do you suppose is the basis for his love?
2. When Tybalt hears Romeo's voice and becomes angry, how does Lord Capulet respond?
3.Talk to the following text:
Scene 5: pg 61-63 (Juliet)
Go ask his name-If he be married,
My grave is like to be my wedding bed.
My only love, sprung from my only hate!
Too early seen unknown, and known too late!
Prodigious birth of love it is to me
That I must love a loathed enemy.
4. What is "going on" here (one sentence or more summary of what this passage is saying)?
Act One Figurative Language/Lit Devices
Find one example of each of the following literary terms used anywhere in Act One (pay attention in class during
class discussions). First define the term then give the example citing the line numbers/scene numbers.
Term
Pun
Definition of term
Example of term
Act 1 location(scene/lines)
Alliteration
The repetition of consonant sounds at
the beginning if words.
“I’ll look to like, if looking
liking move.”
Scene 3 line 107
Oxymoron
Allusion
Metaphor
Hyperbole
Irony
Foreshadow
Aside
Personification