Name _____________________
PLEASE WRITE YOUR ANSWERS ON A SEPARATE SHEET OF PAPER
The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet: Act IV Study Questions
Scene 1
1. Why is Paris speaking to Friar Laurence?
2. According to Paris, why does Capulet want Juliet to marry so quickly? (ll. 9-14)
3. Define “aside”:
a. Paraphrase Friar Laurence’s aside in line 16.
4. After Paris leaves, Juliet bursts into an emotional fit. She tells the friar that she needs his advice,
but if he can’t help her, she threatens to do something. What does she threaten to do? (ll. 54-67)
5. The friar states that if Juliet is brave enough to carry out what she has threatened, then she is
brave enough to do what? (ll. 71-74)
6. Juliet lists a few things that she’d rather do than marry Paris (ll.77-88). Name one.
7. Friar Laurence comes up with a plan to help Juliet (ll.89-120). Complete the outline of his plan:
a. Go home, act happy, tell everyone you will marry Paris
b. Tomorrow night look that thou _____________________________
c. Take this vial…and this distilled_____________________________
d. Each part [of your body]…Shall…appear like ________________
e. Paris will come for you and everyone will think you are dead
f. They will bury you that same day in the family vault
g. Romeo and I will be there when you wake up
h. Then Romeo shall bear thee hence to ______________________
Scene 2
1. In her apology to her father, Juliet states, “Henceforward I am ever ruled by you” (l.22). What
does she mean by this?
2. Capulet is so pleased that Juliet has had a change of heart that he changes the wedding date.
(l.24)
a. On what day was it supposed to take place?
b. To what day has he changed it?
3. Re-read lines 31-32. What is ironic about Capulet’s praise of Friar Laurence?
4. Think about how the plot of this tragedy is unfolding. What does moving the wedding day up by
one day do to Friar Laurence’s plan?
Name _____________________
Scene 3
1. Re-read lines 15-16. What does Juliet say that foreshadows her real death?
2. Juliet has a few things that she fears before taking the potion. What are they? (ll.21-58)
a.
b.
c.
d.
Scene 4
1. What is the nurse’s name? (l. 5)
2. Scene 4 is meant to provide “comic relief” (a break from a very serious scene). What jokes are
being made in this scene?
Scene 5
1. Who discovers Juliet’s dead body?
2. What simile does Capulet use to describe what has happened to Juliet? (ll. 28-29)
3. Again, Shakespeare injects some “comic relief” at the end of this very serious scene. Who is
exchanging insults with one another?
Quotes from Act IV
1. “Death is my son-in-law, Death is my heir;/ My daughter he hath wedded.”
_________________
2. “Thy face is mine, and thou hast slandered it.” _____________________
3. “I’ll not to bed tonight; let me alone./ I’ll play the housewife for this once.”
___________________________
4. “I’ll re you, I’ll fa you, do you note me?” _________________________
5. “But one, poor one, one poor and loving child,/ But one thing to rejoice and solace in,/
And cruel Death hath catched it from my sight!” _________________________