Name: ___________________________
Period: ___________________________
Romeo and Juliet Reading Guide – Act III
Scene I
1. When he meets Benvolio and Mercutio, whom is Tybalt looking for? (line 43) ___________________
2. How does Mercutio treat Tybalt when they meet? (lines 44-47; 52-53) ________________________
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3. How does Romeo react to Tybalt’s insults and challenge and why? (lines 66-69) _________________
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4. What causes the fatal sword fight between Mercutio and Tybalt? (lines 71-82) _________________
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5. What happens when Romeo tries to stop the fight? (lines 83-87) _____________________________
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6. After Mercutio is wounded fatally, he cries out “A plague a’ both your houses.’ (lines 87-88) what
does he mean by this curse? __________________________________________________________
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7. Why does Romeo fight with Tybalt after all, killing him in turn? (lines 119-126) __________________
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8. What extenuating circumstances does Benvolio bring up to defend Romeo? (lines 159-172)
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9. What is Romeo’s punishment? (line 184) ________________________________________________
10. What reasons may the Prince have for saying that he has ‘an interest in your hate’s proceeding’?
(line 185) _________________________________________________________________________
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11. Do you think Romeo is justified in killing Tybalt or not? Why or why not?
12. If Romeo has one ‘character flaw’, what do you think it is?
Scene 2
13. After the wedding ceremony, Juliet is at home waiting impatiently for Romeo’s arrival in the evening
when they can be together. What does the audience know that Juliet does not yet know?
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14. When Juliet hears that Romeo has killed Tybalt, she says that there are opposites in Romeo’s nature.
Give three examples of such opposites (i.e. oxymorons) from lines 73-84.
a. ______________________________________________________________________________
b. ______________________________________________________________________________
c. ______________________________________________________________________________
15. How does Juliet react when the Nurse disparages Romeo? (lines 90-95; 97-104) _________________
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16. In Juliet’s opinion, what is even worse that Tybalt’s death? (lines 112-126) _____________________
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17. What does the Nurse promise to do to comfort Juliet? (lines 138-139) _________________________
18. Where is Romeo hiding after leaving the scene of the fight? (line 141) _________________________
Scene 3
19. How does Romeo feel about begin banished from Verona? (lines 17-23) _______________________
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20. Why does Romeo seem so hopeless? (lines 57-60) _________________________________________
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21. What does Romeo attempt to do when he hears of Juliet’s sorrow? (lines 103-108) ______________
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22. Who stops Romeo from killing himself? (between line 58-59) ________________________________
23. While angrily rebuking Romeo for his suicide attempt, Friar Laurence tries to give him courage and
hope by telling him there are three things her should be thankful (happy) for. What are they? (lines
135-140)
a. ______________________________________________________________________________
b. ______________________________________________________________________________
c. ______________________________________________________________________________
24. At the end of his long monologue, the Friar advises Romeo to do three things. What are they? (lines
146-150)
a. ______________________________________________________________________________
b. ______________________________________________________________________________
c. ______________________________________________________________________________
25. Once Romeo has done these things, what will Friar Laurence and those in Verona do so that Romeo
and Juliet can be reunited? (lines 151-152)
a. ______________________________________________________________________________
b. ______________________________________________________________________________
c. ______________________________________________________________________________
d. ______________________________________________________________________________
26. What object has Juliet sent to Romeo as a token of her undying love and devotion? (line 163)
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Scene 4
27. Why does Lord Capulet agree to Paris’s and Juliet’s marriage now rather than later, contrary to what
he said previously? (lines 12-14) _______________________________________________________
28. When is the wedding to take place? (lines 19-21) _________________________________________
29. What is Lord Capulet’s concern about having too much celebrating at the wedding so soon after
Tybalt’s death? (lines 23-26) __________________________________________________________
Scene 5
30. At their parting in the morning, what is Romeo’s and Juliet’s hope for the future? (lines 50-53, 6064) _____________________________________________________________________________
31. Explain how Juliet deceives her mother into believing that she hates Romeo and wants to avenge
Tybalt’s death by killing Romeo? (lines 82-104) __________________________________________
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32. How does Juliet try to reason with her mother so that she doesn’t have to marry Paris? (lines 119124) _____________________________________________________________________________
33. What does Lord Capulet threaten to do if Juliet refuses to marry Paris? (lines 161-168, 190-197)
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34. Based on his reaction to Juliet’s refusal, how do you think Lord Capulet would react to hearing that
Juliet is already married to Romeo? ___________________________________________________
35. How does Lady Capulet react to Juliet’s plea to postpone the impending marriage? (lines204-205)
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36. What does the Nurse advise Juliet to do and why? (lines 214-227) ___________________________
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37. How does Juliet react to the Nurse’s suggestion? (lines 237-242) ____________________________
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38. What does Juliet decide to do? (lines 243-245) ___________________________________________
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