Act 3&4 - Romeo & Juliet

Why does Tybalt want a piece of Romeo?

Romeo went to the Capulet party without an invitation. Tybalt felt this was insulting and he needed to get him back.

What is Romeo's reason for not fighting him?

Romeo doesn't want to fight Tybalt because he is now related to him (due to his marriage to Juliet). Romeo "loves him" like a relative. Tybalt doesn't know that Romeo has married Juliet.

Romeo says …

I do protest I never injured thee,

But love thee better than thou canst devise. (3.1.65-66)

Explain how Romeo is involved in Mercutio's death.

Romeo gets between Mercutio and Tybalt. Tybalt reaches through and stabs Mercutio.

What literary device is used in the following lines from Mercutio?

A plague a'both houses! I am sped.

It is an example of foreshadowing when Mercutio says "A plague a'both your houses!" It foretells the terrible price that both families will pay for this feud.

What does Mercutio mean by the following:

Ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man.

Mercutio makes a pun on the word grave. Grave can mean serious but in this case, Mercutio knows he is dying so he means he will be in a grave.

Romeo blames Juliet's beauty for the death of Mercutio. Explain why.

Romeo says that Juliet's beauty made her weak so he couldn't kill Mercutio, her cousin. It made him "effeminate" or like a woman and soft.

Who kills Tybalt?

Romeo kills Tybalt.

Why is Romeo "fortune's fool?" Why is this significant?

When Romeo calls himself "fortune's fool" he means that he is unlucky and at the mercy of fate. He is not responsible for his actions and blames fate for controlling him (robbing him of his free will).

As we know, fate has played a significant role in the play so far and will continue to do so.

What is Romeo's punishment for killing Tybalt?

Romeo's punishment for killing Tybalt is that he is banished (exiled) from Verona.

In Act 1, the Prince said that anyone who disturbed the peace again would be sentenced to death. Why doesn't the Prince sentence Romeo to death?

Romeo wasn't sentenced to death for a couple of reasons. Romeo killed Tybalt but Tybalt had killed Mercutio. Mercutio was related to the Prince. The sentence was reduced due to these circumstances.

What does Juliet mean by the following:

Gallop apace, you fiery-footed steeds,

Toward Phoebus' lodging. Such a wagoner

As Phaeton would whip you to the west

And bring in cloudy night immediately.

Spread thy close curtain, love-performing night,

That runaways' eyes may wink, and Romeo

Leap to these arms, untalked of and unseen.

Juliet wants the day to leave and the night to come. Notice that Romeo and Juliet's relationship takes place at night.

They met at a party at night and they sneak around at night. It is almost like their relationship is like a dream that takes place at night.

This also speaks to the light and dark imagery that runs throughout the play.

The Nurse brings tragic news to Juliet but there is a misunderstanding. Explain.

When the Nurse brings the tragic news to Juliet, there is a misunderstanding. Juliet thinks that Romeo is dead and then thinks that both Romeo and Tybalt are dead. It is only after the Nurse speaks plainly ("Tybalt is gone and Romeo banished") that Juliet understands that Romeo killed Tybalt and has been exiled.

When Juliet realizes that Romeo killed Tybalt and that Romeo is exiled, she pronounces this list of oxymorons. Give examples of these oxymorons. Who reacted this way before?

Here are some oxymorons that Juliet pronounces after she finds out about Romeo's death and Tybalt's exile.

• dragon in a fair cave (3.2.74)

• beautiful tyrant (3.2.75)

-fiend angelical (2.3.75)

-dove-feather'd raven (3.2.76)

-wolfish lamb (3.2.76)

-honourable villain (3.2.79)

Juliet is saying that Romeo fooled her. He appeared noble and good, but in reality he was wicked and cruel.

Romeo reacted much the same way (with listing all these oxymorons) when he described how tormented he was when Rosaline didn't love him back.

Juliet soon changes her mind about Romeo. Juliet says "O what beast was I to chide at him." Why does Juliet change her mind?

When the Nurse says "Shame come to Romeo," Juliet reconsiders immediately. She says that Romeo is her husband and she must support him. If Romeo didn't kill Tybalt, then Tybalt would have killed Romeo. So Romeo didn't have a choice.

Juliet seems quite grown up and logical.

When Juliet tries to defend Romeo, what does the Nurse mean when she says the following to Juliet …

Will you speak well of him that kill'd your cousin?

When the Nurse hears Juliet defend Romeo, she asks Juliet how she can say nice things about Romeo when it is Romeo that killed your cousin Tybalt?

This further shows that the relationship between the Nurse and Juliet is breaking down a bit. At the beginning, they seemed to be very close. However, when the Nurse kept stalling when Juliet wanted to know about the plan with Romeo, it was clear that Juliet was quite frustrated with the Nurse.

This shows that Juliet is maturing and moving away from her childhood relationship with her nurse.

What does the Nurse offer to do for Juliet at the end of Act 3 Scene 2? What does Juliet give the Nurse?

The Nurse offers to go see Romeo at Friar Laurence's cell. Juliet gives the Nurse a ring to pass on to Romeo. Juliet wants Romeo to come to her to say a last farewell.

In Act 3 Scene 3, Friar Lawrence tells Romeo about his punishment (remember Romeo ran away so he didn't know what happened). What is Romeo's response? Why does he respond in this way?

Romeo is very upset when he learns that he is exiled. He says he would rather be dead because he won't be able to see Juliet.

For exile hath more terror in his look,

Much more than death. Do not say 'banishment"!

Romeo says he envies cats, dogs, mice, and even carrion flies. Why?

Cats, dogs, mice and flies are not banished from Verona. They can see Juliet but Romeo cannot because he is banished.

What does Friar Lawrence mean when he says …

O then I see that mad men have no ears.

It means that mad men cannot listen to good advice. The Friar is trying to reason with Romeo saying that banishment is better than death.

But Romeo tells Friar Lawrence that he cannot possibly understand his pain. He is not young like Romeo and Romeo has only been married no more than an hour and he has just killed a man.

When the Nurse sees Romeo, she says "O woeful sympathy!" What does she mean?

When the Nurse says "O woeful sympathy!" she means that both Romeo and Juliet are lying down and crying (Romeo on the ground and Juliet in her room on her bed).

The Friar prevents Romeo from stabbing himself and tells him he has plenty of reasons to be happy. What are they?

The Friar tells Romeo he has many reasons to live. Juliet is alive and still loves him and the Prince could have had him executed but didn't.

What does the Friar suggest Romeo do?

The Friar suggests that Romeo go to Juliet and climb the ladder and comfort her. Then Romeo should go to Mantua and stay there until things get straightened out.

In Act 3 Scene 4, Juliet's father makes an important decision. What is it?

Juliet's father decides that Juliet will marry Paris on Thursday.

"Should I stay or should I go now?"

Who wants Romeo to stay, and who wants him to go? How are their roles reversed?

At first Juliet wants Romeo to stay and Romeo says he must go. Juliet says it is not yet morning and Romeo says fine and he will stay and get caught and killed. Then Juliet says it is morning and Romeo should go.

What does Romeo means when he says …

More light and light, more dark and dark our woes!

When Romeo says "More light and light, more dark and dark our woes!" he means that with daylight coming, all of their dark troubles come back.

This reinforces the fact that Romeo and Juliet's relationship is only safe in the dark.

Like Romeo earlier in the play, Juliet has a foreboding sense of death. Explain.

When Juliet looks down on Romeo descending down the ladder, he looks like he is going into a tomb and is pale.

Lady Capulet has a plan for getting rid of Romeo. What is the plan?

Lady Capulet will send a man to Mantua with poison for Romeo.

How will Juliet "help" with Lady Capulet's plan to send a man to Mantua will poison?

Juliet tells her mother that she wants to add something to the poison to make sure Romeo is killed. Of course, the audience knows that Juliet is trying to protect Romeo so she will probably exchange the poison for something else.

What is the irony in this exchange between Juliet and her mother in Act 3 Scene 5?

Lady Capulet thinks that Juliet is saying bad things about Romeo and that she hates him but really Juliet is trying to be ambiguous and find a way to defend Romeo.

Why does Lord Capulet become angry with Juliet?

Lord Capulet becomes angry with Juliet because she refuses to marry Paris. Lord Capulet insults her and calls her "green-sickness carrion" and "baggage." He says if she doesn't marry Paris that she is banned from his house and disowned.

This shows a very different side of Lord Capulet who just a little while ago was saying that it was Juliet's decision whether she got married or not. Perhaps with Tybalt's death, he feels they need some hope.

Are you surprised at this? What side do you think the audience would take?

What is the Nurse's advice to Juliet in Act 3 Scene 5?

The Nurse tells Juliet she should marry Paris and forget about Romeo.

What does Juliet decide to do at the end of Act 3 Scene 5?

Juliet decides to go to Friar Lawrence for advice. She tells the Nurse to tell her parents she is going to confession. Juliet decides that if all else fails, she will kill herself.

to plan the wedding with Friar Laurence

why is Paris at Friar Laurence's Cell? (scene 1)

Lord Capulet wants them to.

what reason does Paris give for the hasty marriage?(1)

he feels pressured and knows that Juliet will refuse to marry Paris because of her strong love for Romeo.

how does the Friar react to the news of this new marriage?(1)

Juliet is short and sarcastic while Paris is clueless.

characterize the conversation between Paris and Juliet…(1)

she is trying to get rid of Paris.

what is Juliet trying to do with her words?(1)

he does not realize what Juliet is trying to do.

how does Paris react to Juliet in these lines?(1)

he is mad that he agreed to marry them because he realizes if Juliet has to get married to Paris she willl commit suicide.

the Friar is currently the young lovers' only confidant and source for help. How do you think he is feeling about his decision to marry Romeo and Juliet in this moment? Why? Support your answer with specific examples from the text. (1)

Friar and Juliet are desperate for 2 different things. Friar is desperate for the plans for Romeo and Juliet and Juliet is desperate for Romeo.

How does the saying, "desperate times call for desperate measures" apply to this scene? Be specific in your response, citing support from the text. (1)

He gives her potion to fake her death

What plan does the friar come up with to help Juliet in scene 1?(1)

Juliet drinks the potion, fakes her death, gives Romeo the letter, Romeo comes and Romeo and Juliet will leave to Mantua.

What are the specifics of his plan? (1)