The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet Act II Study Questions
Scene 1
1.
Where does this scene take place?
2.
How much time has passed since the end of Act I?
3.
Why is Romeo hiding from Benvolio and Mercutio? (line 1)
4.
Dramatic irony is apparent at the beginning of scene 1. What do we know that Mercutio and Benvolio do not?
5.
In lines 9-14, Mercutio is teasing Romeo because of his lovesickness. In Act I Romeo was speaking in bad “lovey-dovey" poetry. What is Mercutio making fun
of Romeo for saying?
6.
7.
Line 15 is written in parallel form. Quote the line.
Based on his comments in this scene and previous scenes, how does Mercutio feel about love?
Scene 2
1.
Where does this scene take place?
2.
Romeo's lines (2-25) are a soliloquy. Define soliloquy:
a.
Who is Romeo speaking to in these lines?
b.
What does this soliloquy tell you about Romeo's thoughts?
3.
Find a metaphor at the beginning of Romeo’s soliloquy.
4.
In her soliloquy, Juliet says,
“What’s Montague? It is nor hand, nor foot,
Nor arm, nor face. O be some other name
Belonging to a man.
What’s in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other word would smell as sweet” (II. 2. 40-44).
What does she mean by this?
5.
After Romeo appears, why do you think Juliet becomes embarrassed?
6.
In lines 85 – 89, why does Juliet quickly admit her love to Romeo?
7.
What warning does Juliet give to Romeo in lines 63-65 & 70?
8.
Juliet wants to know who gave Romeo directions to her house. What is Romeo’s response? (lines 80-81)
9.
What allusion is used in line 93?
a. Quote the line:
b. Who is this person?
10. What is Juliet afraid that Romeo will think of her? (lines 93-97)
11. Why doesn't Juliet want Romeo to swear by the moon? (lines 109-111)
12. Re-read lines 116-124. Why does Juliet feel uneasy about how their relationship is moving along?
a. What does this show about her personality?
13. For what purpose is Juliet going to send a messenger to Romeo? (lines 142-148)
a. What kind of effect do you think Romeo is having on Juliet (consider your answer for 12a)?
14. What is the literary element used in line 154-155?
a. Quote the line.
15. In lines 157-158, Romeo uses a simile to compare how lovers feel (being together and then having to leave each other) to how school boys feel (when they
leave school and when they have to return to school). What is the purpose of this simile; what do the two situations have in common?
16. What is the allusion in line 161-162?
a. Quote the line:
b. Who is this person?
17. What literary device is used in the line, “How silver-sweet sound lovers’ tongues by night…”? (line166-167)
18. What literary element is used in line 170?
a. Quote the line.
19. In line 185, “sweet sorrow” is a contradictory phrase. It is an example of an ________________?
20. What time of day is it when Romeo leaves the orchard?
21. What have we learned about Romeo’s personality so far?
Scene 3
1.
Who is Friar Laurence?
2.
What is Friar Laurence doing when he is first introduced?
3.
4.
5.
Friar Laurence’s soliloquy has many figures of speech. Quote the line with the example of the following:
a. Personification:
b. Simile:
c. Paradox:
When Romeo asks Friar Laurence to marry him and Juliet, what does the friar say in response? (ll. 65-68)
When does Romeo want to get married? (line 64)
6.
What is the difference between Romeo loving Rosaline and Romeo loving Juliet? (ll. 85-87)
7.
8.
Why does Friar Laurence agree to marry Romeo and Juliet, despite his worry that Romeo falls in love too easily? (ll. 91-92)
What does Friar Laurence’s last line mean to you? (Wisely and slow. They stumble that run fast.)
9.
What does the conversation between Friar Laurence and Romeo reveal about their relationship?
Scene 4
1.
What news concerning Tybalt does Benvolio share?
2.
3.
“the very pin of his heart cleft with the blind bow-boy’s butt-shaft” shows alliteration. It also has an allusion to a famous Greek mythology character. Who is it
alluding to?
What does Mercutio reveal about Tybalt and his fighting style?
4.
What is revealed about the friendship between Romeo and Mercutio? (42-102)
5.
How does Mercutio react to the presence of the nurse when she comes to find Romeo?
6.
Romeo gives the nurse two specific instructions regarding Juliet. What are they?
a.
(162-164)
b.
(187)
Scene 5
1.
What is the setting of this scene?
Time:
Place:
2.
3.
How long did it take the nurse to return with information from Romeo? (ll. 10-11)
Why is the nurse carrying on as if in pain instead of telling Juliet about Romeo’s news?
a.
How does Juliet respond?
b.
What does this say about their relationship?
Scene 6
1.
2.
3.
In lines 1-2, Friar Laurence states, “So smile the heavens upon this holy act/That after-hours with sorrow chide us not!” (May Heaven bless this act
of marriage so that we won’t regret it later.)
a. What are some things that the couple or Friar Laurence may regret because of this hasty wedding?
Both Romeo and Friar Laurence refer to future sorrows. Quote their lines:
a.
Romeo: (3-8)
b.
Friar Laurence: (ll.9-10)
Friar Laurence tries to warn Romeo about loving too hard, too fast. What advice does he give to Romeo in line 14?
Quotes from Act II
1. “O, speak again, bright angel, for thou art/As glorious to this night, being o’er my head,/As is a winged messenger of heaven…” (Scene
2. 27-30) ______________
2. “My ears have yet not drunk a hundred words/ Of thy tongue’s uttering, yet I know the sound.” (Scene 2. 58-60)
________________________
3. “More than Prince of Cats. O, he’s the courageous captain of compliments. He fights as you sing pricksong – keeps time, distance, and
proportion…The very butcher of a silk button, a duelist, a duelist!” (Scene 4.19-24) _____________________
4.
5.
“Good Peter, to hide her face; for her fan’s the fairer face.” (Scene 4 89-95) _________________
“…I’ll take him down, and ‘a were lustier than he is, and twenty such Jacks; and if I cannot, I’ll find those that shall. Scurvy knave! I
am none of his flirty-gills; I am none of his skainmates.” (131-135) _____________________