Romeo and Juliet Act 1

what are the ways Shakespeare grabs the audience’s attention?

by starting the play with a fight, his pun usage, and using sex jokes

what are the ways Shakespeare keeps the audience’s attention?

introduces Romeo as a lover, finds out Romeo has another love interest (Rosaline), we don’t meet 2nd title character until 3rd scene, and the two title characters don’t meet until end of act 1

what is the equivalent of biting your thumb?

flipping a person off

who has the least amount of power?

servants, they aren’t able to read.

who is Benvolio?

he is a Montague who is kind, well-meaning, thoughtful, and fears the law. his name comes from the word benevolent,

what does benevolent mean?

kind-hearted, well meaning.

who is Tybalt?

he is a Capulet who is bold, hothead, and wants to protect his family’s name. he sets up masculine honor.

how is romeo introduced?

he is introduced as a lover, but we originally don’t know who it is.

why does Shakespeare open R and J with a brawl?

to grab the audience’s attention immediately and show that violence and conflict are central to the society

what does the fight reveal about social hierarchy?

servants have the least power, while the prince holds ultimate authority.

how is Benvolio introduced in act 1?

he is thoughtful and tries to avoid conflict, fearing the consequences of breaking the law.

how is Tybalt introduced in act 1?

he is a hothead who values masculine honor and is ready to fight to defend it

what do Romeo’s first lines reveal about him?

he is lovesick, focused on his love interest (unknown originally), romantic, and emotional rather than action-oriented

why does the audience not know who Romeo loves at first?

to build suspense and foreshadow his meeting with Juliet

what major forces shape the tragedy before Romeo and Juliet meet?

politics, family conflict, and religion are all already influencing events

how is Juliet’s lack of power shown in act 1?

her father can decide who she marries, and she is expected to obey. her father does want her to marry someone she loves.

what does the servant’s inability to read show?

lower-class people have little power or education.

how might Romeo be trapped by his family’s feud?

he could be pulled into conflict simply because he is a Montague

what does Lady Capulet want for Juliet?

she wants Juliet to consider marriage to Paris saying she could be the “cover” to his “book”

how does the Nurse act?

The Nurse is more vulgar, but nurturing acts like a mother figure

what does Juliet’s character show in act 1?

she is obedient, somewhat naïve, but intelligent and capable of making decisions.

what does the Nurse’s story about Juliet’s childhood reveal?

Juliet has been seen as a potential marriage partner and object of sexuality since birth.

how is Mercutio introduced in Act 1?

he is wild, free spirited, and able to mock Romeo in ways others cannot. 

what word does “Mercutio” come from?

Mercurial; Unpredictable and wild

what does Mercutio’s attitude toward love and honor reveal?

he sees both as illusions and is cynical, offering a darker perspective than Romeo or Tybalt

why does Shakespeare delay Romeo and Juliet’s first meeting?

to build tension and foreshadow tragedy

how is their first connection structured?

it forms a sonnet, showing poetic and idealized love. this shows actual love, compared to the lust shown between Romeo and Rosaline

why does Romeo use religious imagery when speaking to Juliet?

to describe their love as pure, sacred, and divine.

what chain reaction starts when Romeo sees Juliet at the party?

He forgets about Rosaline, Tybalt recognizes him and wants to fight, and Capulet restrains Tybalt, foreshadowing conflict.

what is the rhyme scheme of the sonnet formed during their first meeting?

abab cdcd efef gg

what are puns?

words that sound a like but mean different things

what does aside mean?

two of them are having a conversation that those on stage can’t hear, but the audience can.

what does ho mean?

call to action

what does exeunt mean?

multiple people exit stage

what is bawdy humor?

inappropriate humor

what is the summary of queen mab speech?

an adored fairy sends happy, positive dreams, but something switches and then she delivers nightmares and aggressive dreams.

how does Mercutio act while delivering the queen mab speech?

he slowly starts to act more and more crazy, mimicking the story

what does Mercutio prove after the queen mab speech?

that dreams are not real, and they speak of nothing

what is a dichotomy?

two halves that make a whole

how is the queen mab speech a dichotomy?

through both content and delivery 

what is a sonnet?

composed of 3 quatrains and a terminal couplet.

what is the warning that the prince gives the Montagues and the Capulets?

he tells the families that if they fight once more in the streets of Verona, they will be put to death.

Where do R and J meet?

At the Capulet’s party

what is a character foil?

one character’s traits highlights the traits of another character.