Romeo and Juliet Act III Breakdown
Act III
IIIi
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What is Tybalt’s nickname? Why do you think he was given this name?
o Prince/King of Cats, play on the way his name sounds
Why does Shakespeare have Benvolio tell the whole story of the fight that we just saw?
o A two hour play and people were circling around selling oranges, beer, and walnuts with
people standing. Some people can’t see the play, so it is to let the audience catch up.
IIIii
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What imagery does Juliet use to describe Romeo?
o Sun god at nighttime, she wants the gods to cut him up in to pieces and put him in the
stars (fate and foreshadowing)
Juliet does an emotional roller coaster about Romeo, and understandably the Nurse is confused.
In what lines does this happen, and why might Juliet do this?
o Juliet wants nighttime so she can see Romeo. On page 641, Juliet talks about contrasting
opposites. The world does not make sense.
IIIiii
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Translate the Friar’s big speech to Romeo. What is the Friar saying about Romeo while he yells
at him?
o Self-defense, you’re an idiot, don’t be so emotional, can’t you see the positives
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When her Mother comes to see her, Juliet does an “aside” (remarks spoken aloud but so the
other characters on stage don’t hear you). How does this help you understand why she sounds
like she’s agreeing with her mother when she really isn’t?
o Dramatic irony (you as the audience know something that the characters do not)- we
know that Juliet loves Romeo, Lady Capulet does not - Lines 81-86
o
How bad is Juliet’s situation? Is there some other way she could have gotten out of it?
IIIv
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