Honors ELA Romeo and Juliet Study Guide

valiant def

Courageous and brave; showing determination in facing challenges.

pernicious def

Having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way.

augment def

To make something greater by adding to it; to increase.

portentous def

Of or like a portent; ominously significant or indicative.

tyrannous def

Exercising power in a cruel or arbitrary way.

“What, drawn, and talk of peace? I hate the word, As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee.”

Tybalt

“If ever you disturb our streets again, Your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace.”

Prince Escalus

“Is love a tender thing? It is too rough, Too rude, too boisterous, and it pricks like thorn.”

Romeo

1. “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.”

Juliet

What is the primary conflict in Romeo and Juliet? What happens in Scene 1 that illustrates this conflict?

The primary conflict in “Romeo and Juliet” is between the Montagues and the Capulets. During scene 1 in the streets of Verona, the servants from each family get into a fight over an insult. This shows the hatred from each family.

In Scene 1, with whom is Romeo initially in love? Why does she not return his love?

In Scene 1 of "Romeo and Juliet," Romeo likes a girl named Rosaline. She doesn't feel the same way about him because she doesn’t want to date anyone yet and shes also a nun

In Scene 4, what feeling does Romeo get about attending the party? What literary device is this an example of?

 In Scene 4 of Romeo and Juliet, Romeo feels anxious about going to the Capulet's party and is sensing that something bad will happen. This feeling is an example of foreshadowing because it hints about future events.

In Scene 4, what feeling does Romeo get about attending the party? What literary device is this an example of?

 In Scene 4 of Romeo and Juliet, Romeo feels anxious about going to the Capulet's party and is sensing that something bad will happen. This feeling is an example of foreshadowing because it hints about future events.

In your opinion, are the events leading up to the meeting of Romeo and Juliet at the end of Act 1 a result of fate, or are they caused by the characters’ own free decisions? Use at least two examples from Act 1 to support your answer.r.

The meeting of Romeo and Juliet at the end of Act 1 is influenced by both fate and their choices because when Romeo chooses to attend the Capulet party it leads to his encounter with Juliet. Juliet decideing  to speak with a masked stranger after being curious about the guests allows the connection to develop. While fate plays a role, their decisions drive the events leading up to their first meeting.

By the end of Act 1, Romeo and Juliet already claim to be in love with each other. Do you believe this is true love, or something else? Explain your reasoning with a brief character analysis and/or your own personal experience.

I do believe this is true love and also a passion because it’s both their first love that feels real and true to what they believe. I believe in true love and love at first sight and Romeo and Juliet are the definition of it. The fact they even kissed in just the beginning of the story is just like how love can be especially with the fact they are so young.

conjure

to summon or bring to mind, often through magic or imagination.

procure

to obtain something, especially with effort or through special means.

lamentable

deserving of regret or pity; unfortunate.

vexed

feeling annoyed, frustrated, or worried.

loathesome

causing hatred or disgust; repulsive.

“But soft! What light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.”

Romeo

“O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name.”

Juliet

“In one respect I'll thy assistant be, for this alliance may so happy prove to turn your households' rancor to pure love.”

Friar Laurence

“Hie you to church. I must another way to fetch a ladder, by the which your love must climb a bird's nest soon when it is dark.”

Romeo

In Scene 2, what is Juliet’s primary concern about Romeo? What does she then suggest shortly after?

1.  In Scene 2, Juliet's main concern about Romeo is the danger he faces being in the Capulet garden. That is because he could be killed if he was caught by her family. That says she should exchange their vows of love so they know they really are committed to each other.

In Scene 3, what is Friar Lawrence’s reason for agreeing to marry Romeo and Juliet?

1. In Scene 3, Friar Laurence agrees that Romeo and Juliet can get married because he believes that them being together could help end the feud between the 2 families. 

What is one example in Act 2 of a character providing comic relief?

1.   In Act 2,  the Nurse provides comic relief through her humorous comments. When she teases Juliet about Romeo and exaggerates her journey to meet him, it brings a sort of light in the middle of the romance building between Romeo and Juliet. 

In Act 2, Friar Lawrence and the Nurse both occupy roles of responsibility toward Romeo and Juliet. In your opinion, are these characters behaving appropriately in these roles? Why or why not? Use examples from Act 2 to support your answer.

1. In Act 2, Friar Laurence and the Nurse both show lots of care for Romeo and Juliet but behave very irresponsibly at the same time. First, Friar Laurence decided for Romeo and Juliet to get married in secret to hope end the feud but his actions lack caution to the tragedy. The Nurse supports Juliet's relationship with Romeo and helps arrange their secret meeting, but this also puts them in danger. While their intentions are good and are very kind, their decisions lead to serious consequences for both Romeo and Juliet.

Act 2 ends with the secret marriage of Romeo and Juliet. In a Shakespearean five-act play, the third act is typically the climax or turning point. What are your predictions for Act 3 of Romeo and Juliet? Use previous character interactions or instances of foreshadowing to support your answer

1.  In Act 3 of Romeo and Juliet, I predict the tension between the Montagues and Capulets will grow huge and there will be a fight or even a war. The foreshadowing with Tybalt’s aggressiveness and his earlier encounter with Romeo would imply that he could seek revenge for Romeo crashing the Capulet party. This could end in a confrontation that puts Romeo and Juliet in a pickle, especially after them getting married secretly. 

Motif def

A recurrent thematic element such as images, words, objects, phrases, or actions.

Foil

Any character who contrasts the distinctive characteristics of another character,

particularly the protagonist.

Stage Directions

An instruction for the actors written as part of the script.

Aside

A piece of dialogue intended for the audience or another character and supposedly

not heard by the other actors on stage.

Monolouge

A long speech by a character to other character(s).

Sociology

A type of monologue in which a character talks to himself or herself or reveals his

or her thoughts without addressing a listener.

Comic Relief

A humorous break in a serious literary work or drama intended to relieve the

dramatic tension or heighten the emotional impact by means of contrast.