Julius Caesar

(Prologue) What is the setting of the play?

Verona, Italy in the 1300s. the play begins at 9:00 Sunday morning.

What is the cause of the original feud?

The background of the families grudges against each other in unknown, but it is said to be a civili dispute that escalated

How many people are involved in the chorus? What is the purpose of the chorus?

The chorus acts as a narrator who explains what will happen in the play. There is only one person in the chorus.

Paraphrase and put in context: "A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life;"

Two people fated to be in love commit suicide. This was said by the chorus when explaining the play.

What does any reference to the "stars, heavens, etc." mean in this play? Define this term.

It relates to the belief that the stars control their destiny.

What will happen to the two lovers?

They will both commit suicide.

(Act 1 Scene 1) What do we learn about the servants from both families in this scene? How does Shakespeare use servants in the play?

We learn that the servants will fight in place of the families that they serve.

Who tries to stop the quarrel between the servants? What family does he side with?

Benvolio, who sides with the Montagues, tries to break up the quarrel.

Who delights in the quarrel and tries to intensify it? What family does he side with?

Tybalt, who sides with the Capulets, tries to intensify the fight.

Define the term "foil". Who are the foils in this scene?

A foil is a literary device designed to illustrate or reveal information, traits, values, or motivations of one character through the comparison and contrast of another character. In this scene, the foils are Benvolio and Tybalt.

Who does succeed in breaking up the fight? What edict does he create?

Prince Escalus successfully breaks up the fight. He declares that if the families ever fight in Verona again, they will be executed.

Who is Romeo?

Son of Montague, friends with Benvolio, in love with Rosaline

Why are the Monatgues worried about Romeo?

They often find him crying in a field early in the morning.

What is Romeo worrying about at the beginning of the play?

The woman he loves does not love him back.

Why is Romeo's love at the beginning of the play so pathetic?

It is unrequited, he only "loves" her because he thinks she is pretty, and he is distraught because she has vowed to chastity.

(Act 1 Scene 2) Who is Paris? Why has he come to talk to Lord Capulet?

Paris is a relative of the Prince who wishes to marry Juliet.

Who is Juliet? How old is she?

Juliet is Capulet's 13 year old daughter.

What do we call it when the parents decide whom their children will marry?

An arranged marriage.

Why does Romeo read the invitation list for the Capulet servant?

1. The Capulet servant is illiterate.

2. Romeo wants to know who is going to the party

Why does Romeo decide to go to the Capulet feast?

Because he wants to see Rosaline, who is he is in love with.

(Act 1 Scene 3) What does Juliet's reply to her mother on line 5 tell us about her character?

It tells us that Juliet is disconnected from her mother and sees her as more of an authority figure.

What does the Nurse's speech tell us about her character?

We learn that she is vulgar, caring, and fun-loving, and that she has lost both her child and her husband.

What time of year is it? What are the implications of this?

It's in the summer (mid-July), which is considered the hottest time of the year. This means that people would be spending more time outside to escape the stuffiness of their homes.

What does 'stinted' mean? What do we call words like 'stinted'?

Stinted means "stopped" in this context. We call words like this "archaic" because it is word we no longer use.

Paraphrase and put in context: "It is an honor that I dream not of."

"It's an act of dignity that I don't currently wish for." Juliet says this in response to her mother asks for her thoughts on getting married.

(Act 1 Scene 4) Why is Romeo worried about going to the Capulet's ball?

He had a dream in which he died an untimely death.

What vocabulary term does Shakespeare use to bring humor to the beginning of this scene?

Pun

Who is Mercutio? What can we tell about him form his language?

Mercutio is another relative of the Prince. We can tell he is upper class/educated because he speaks in iambic pentameter.

What conflicting feelings does Romeo have at the end of the scene?

Romeo is fearful of his death and yet he does not care about what will happen.

(Act 1 Scene 5) Who discovers Romeo at the Capulet's party? How does this person react?

Tybalt discovers them and is filled with rage

How does Lord Capulet react to Romeo being at his party?

Lord Capulet doesn't seem to care because Romeo is being well-behaved and has a good reputation.

Why does Lord Capulet get angry?

Because Tybalt refuses to accept the fact that Romeo is at the party and Capulet is okay with it.

Starting on line 45, what two things does Romeo compare to Juliets beauty?

1. A rich jewel in an Ethiopian's ear

2. A snowy dove amongst crows

Paraphrase and put in context: "My only love sprung from my only hate!"

"The only thing I have loved comes from the only thing I have hated!" This is Juliets response after she learns Romeo's identity

(Act 2 Scene 1) What does the chorus tell us at the beginning of Act II?

Romeo no longer has feelings for Rosaline, and is now in love with Juliet

Where do Benvolio and Mercutio think Romeo has gone?

Mercutio thinks he ran home and went to bed, but Benvolio believes he jumped over the wall into the Capulet's orchard.

What does Mercutio's language tell us about his character?

We can tell that he is upper class/educated because he speaks in iambic pentameter.

What does Benvolio mean when he says, "Go, then, for 'tis in vain/To seek him there that means not to be found."

He means that there is no point in looking for Romeo because he does not want to be found.

(Act 2 Scene 2) Romeo compares Juliet's body to the \_____, which is a form of light.

Sun

Why is Juliet so free in exclaiming her love for Romeo this early in the relationship?

Because she does not know he is listening

Paraphrase and put in context: "O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?"

"Romeo, why did you have to be Romeo?" Juliet says this while pondering the feud between the two families.

What does Juliet say about names (Essentially, what are they?)

Juliet says that they are just names and not anything that the determines the quality of a person.

What does Juliet warn Romeo about three different times in this scene?

How he will be killed if he is found visiting her.

What does Romeo foreshadow in lines 76-78

Romeo foreshadows their deaths.

Starting on line 85, what is Juliet saying?

Juliet is telling Romeo that she will play hard to get for him, but she doesn't want to because he already knows how she feels .

Why shouldn't Romeo swear by the moon?

Because it is a changing variable, and his love might change with it.

Who proposes marriage in this scene? What does this indicate?

Juliet does, indicating that Romeo has failed to fulfill his role as the man in the relationship.

(Act 2 Scene 3) What is Friar Laurence Delivering at the beginning of the scene?

Soliloquy

Paraphrase and put in context: "Virtue itself turns vice, being misapplied,/And sometimes by

action dignified."

"Some poisonous plants are actually good when used correctly" This is said by the Friar during his speech about the power of natural medicine and how it can heal of poison.

With whom does Friar Laurence think Romeo has spent the night with?

Rosaline

What does Friar Laurence say Romeo's problem is concerning love?

That his "love" comes from his eyes and not his heart.

What does the Friar mean in his last line? (ln. 94)

Those who rush into things and don't think them through will inevitably fail.

(Act 2 Scene 2) Why are Benvolio and Mercutio eager to find Romeo?

Because of Tybalt's letter challenging him to a duel

What are Mercutio's conflicting feelings concerning Tybalt?

Mercutio recognizes Tybalt's incredible fighting ability, yet he sees him as a pretentious eccentric who is a slave to fashion.

What are the two reasons Romeo is not prepared to face Tybalt in a duel?

His head isn't in the right place and he is not skilled enough to fight Tybalt

What does Romeo mean when he says, "My business was great, and in such a case as mine a man

may strain courtesy."?

He means that he had to do something of great importance and that allows him to be rude and abandon them.

What kind of mood are the three in at this time?

They are in a very happy and upbeat, joking mood

Why does the Nurse chastise Peter? (What is Peter's role with the Nurse?)

Peter is a servant (like the Nurse) and she is trying to act like a noblewoman

What do Romeo and the Nurse discuss? Where is it to take place?

They discuss Romeo and Juliet getting married at the Friars house in the afternoon.

What is significant, or ironic, about the Nurse mentioning rosemary?

Rosemary symbolizes remembrance, yet she forgot

(Act 2 scene 5) What is Romeo saying lines 6-8?

He is saying that as long as he is married to Juliet, he does not care what happens

Paraphrase and put in context: "These violent delights have violent ends."

"These deeply passionate loves often end in death" This is said after Romeo declares he only wishes to be married to Juliet.

What does Friar Laurence do wrong in this scene?

He does not kiss Juliet back

Why does this scene end at this particular point?

Because typically at this point in the marriage they would kiss, but the actors are two guys.

(Act 3 Scene 1) What does Mercutio say about Benvolio that is highly ironic?

Mercutio says that Benvolio is the kind of person who gets into fights easily

Who do Mercutio and Benvolio meet? Why is this potentially dangerous?

They meet Tybalt in the street. This is dangerous because Tybalt is always looking to pick a fight with the Montagues.

Who does Tybalt want to fight? Why?

Romeo, because he insulted Tybalt by marrying Juliet.

Who essentially starts the fight in this scene?

Mercutio

Who tries to stop the fight? Why?

Romeo does, because of the Prince's warning/he does not want to fight with the Capulets because is married to Juliet

What happens as a result of Romeo stepping between the fighters

Mercutio gets stabbed in the arm

Paraphrase and put in context: "A plague a' both your houses"

"I curse both your families" This is said by Mercutio after Tybalt stabs him and flees.

Who does Romeo blame for his actions? What does he vow (promise)?

Romeo blames himself.

Why is Romeo "fortunes fool"?

Because he has bad luck.

Whom does Benvolio blame? Why?

Benvolio blames Tybalt because he didn't listen to Romeo advising him not to fight

What does the Prince do to Romeo?

He sentences him to exile.

(Act 3 Scene 2) What (not who) is Juliet impatiently waiting for?

She is waiting for the sun to set.

Who does Juliet believe is dead?

Romeo

What does the Nurse say that causes Juliet to speak harshly to her?

"Shame on Romeo"

What internal conflict is Juliet facing in this scene?

Sadness because Romeo has killed her cousin vs. Joy that Romeo is alive and can no longer be killed by Tybalt

What does Juliet give the Nurse as a sign of her love for Romeo?

A ring

(Act 3 Scene 3) What does Friar Laurence tell Romeo? To what does Romeo compare his banishment?

The Friar tells Romeo that he has been banished from Verona, to which Romeo says is "worse than death"

Why is banishment so bad?

Because being banished means he will have to live without Juliet.

What act does Romeo attempt?

Suicide

Why is this act so especially horrifying to Friar Laurence?

Because Romeo attempts in the Friar's cell, in front of the Friar. Suicide was also considered to be a mortal sin in their time.

What three reasons does the Friar give Romeo to convince him that he should be happy?

1. Juliet is alive

2. Tybalt is dead

3. Romeo was not executed

What is the Friar's plan for Romeo at this point?

To have him flee to Mantua until their marriage is made public, when he will then return and beg for forgiveness

(Act 3 Scene 4) What causes Lord Capulet to agree to marry Juliet to Count Paris?

He thinks it will help her get over Tybalt's death

Why does Lord Capulet believe that Juliet will obey his wishes?

Because Juliet has never been disobedient.

What is the original wedding date for Count Paris and Juliet?

Thursday

(Act 3 Scene 5) What two birds are discussed early in the scene? Why are they significant?

The two birds, nightingale and morning lark, symbolize the lovers because it is impossible for them to be together.

Paraphrase and put in context: "Then window, let day in, and let life out."

Juliet is asking Romeo to leave through the window by referring to him as her life.

Lines 54-57 contain examples of what two vocabulary terms?

1. Foreshadowing

2. Verbal irony

Why does Lady Capulet think Juliet is crying?

Because Tybalt is dead