Act 1 Romeo and Juliet

Why does Shakespeare give away the plot in the prolog? Work in pairs to come up with an answer based on your knowledge of Shakespeare and Elizabethan theater.

Act 1 Scene 1 Summary A street fight breaks out between the Capulets and the Montagues. The Prince stops the riot and threatens the death penalty for anyone caught fighting in Verona’s streets again. Romeo’s parents ask Benvolio why Romeo has been behaving strangely. Romeo tells Benvolio that he is in love with a girl who refuses to be won over.

Feuding Families CAPULETMONTAGUE How can you remember which family Romeo and Juliet belong to? Tip! Juliet Capulet

Why might Shakespeare have started this love story with a dramatic fight scene? Consider your prior knowledge of Elizabethan theater, Shakespeare and the audience viewing the play.

Act 1 Scene 1 – 12 Questions What insult does Sampson (Capulet) direct at Gregory (Montague)? What does Benvolio do when he stumbles upon the fight? Where does the brawl take place? What first impression do we get of Tybalt? Who prevents old Montague and Capulet from becoming involved? What threat does the prince make to Montague and Capulet? Why might this threat be important later in the play? What are the first things we learn about Romeo? Why is Romeo so sad and upset? Does Romeo tell Benvolio who he is in love with? What does Benvolio suggest Romeo should do? What relationship exists between Romeo and Benvolio?

Act 1 Scene 2 Summary Count Paris asks Capulet for his permission to woo Juliet. Benvolio persuades Romeo to go to the Capulet feast, where he can see girls who are more beautiful than the one he loves. If you had to list the traits (physical, personality, etc.) of your perfect partner, what would they be? Try to be as specific as you can be.

Act 1 Scene 2 Summary Count Paris asks Capulet for his permission to woo Juliet. Benvolio persuades Romeo to go to the Capulet feast, where he can see girls who are more beautiful than the one he loves. Think about what traits your parents would list if they were choosing the perfect partner for you. Again, try to be specific.

What do we learn about Paris form this scene? On a clean page in your book, draw Paris as you think he would look on stage. Leave space on either side of your drawing for writing. How he meets Capulet’s wishes? How he meets a daughter’s wishes?

Will love blossom? Task: Create a P.E.E. table to explain how Lord Capulet feels about Juliet. How might Lord Capulet’s behavior be unusual for Shakespeare’s time?

Act 1 Scene 2 Summary Count Paris asks Capulet for his permission to woo Juliet. Benvolio persuades Romeo to go to the Capulet feast, where he can see girls who are more beautiful than the one he loves.

Act 1 Scene 3 Summary Lady Capulet tells Juliet that Count Paris wants to marry her. Juliet agrees to consider Paris as a husband.

The gate crashers… Benvolio suggests that Romeo goes to the Capulet ball to take his mind off Rosaline. Romeo agrees to go because he knows that Rosaline will be there. They are joined by the witty Mercutio.

Task 1: Cloze Procedure Using the Romeo and Juliet book, work in groups, to complete the cloze procedure based on Act 1 Scene 3 Be careful….. There are two extra words thrown in just for the fun!

feastsexualNurseJuliet Capuletrepliesnotvaliant daughtercommandsservingmanadvice Romeofeastroomhouse ageloverepliesexcitedly stopsmarriedamusedannounce speakmindParislong Remember, there are two extra words that are not needed!

Act 1 Scene 4 Summary Romeo has had a dream which has made him uneasy about attending the Capulet feast. Mercutio tells him about Queen Mab and declares that dreams are only trivial fantasies. They enter the Capulet house, despite Romeo’s concerns.

eo-and-Juliet-Act-1-Scene-4-Cover Act 1 Scene 4

Act 1 Scene 5 Summary Tybalt is bitterly angry that Romeo has gate-crashed the Capulet feast, and says that he will not forget the insult. Romeo meets Juliet and they quickly begin to fall in love. After the lovers part, each is shocked to find out that they have fallen in love with someone who should be their enemy.

This is the moment we’ve all been waiting for….

Love at first sight… Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight! For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night. Romeo and Juliet are attracted to each other and kiss. When they learn of each others true identity they are equally distraught.

What aspect of Capulet’s personality that we have not seen before is revealed by his behavior in lines

What words and phrases reveal that Romeo is thinking of Juliet’s beauty in terms of brightness in contrast to the surrounding dark? Lines 44-53

diskussion How seriously should we take Romeo’s new found love for Juliet? Does his language suggest that he is now genuinely in love, or is this just another infatuation?

‘I can be your hero, baby. I can kiss away the pain. I will stand by you forever. You can take my breath away’. Pick out the quote which best shows Romeo’s infatuation with Juliet

What do we learn about Tybalt? Keep in mind what we learned about Tybalt in Act 1 Scene 1 If you were a director, how would you ask Capulet to act during their confrontation? Lines 61-68

Performance TYBALT Uncle, this is a Montague, our foe! – A villain that is hither come in spite, To scorn at our solemnity this night. CAPULET Young Romeo is it? TYBALT 'Tis he, that villain Romeo. CAPULET Content thee, gentle coz, let him alone; He bears him like a portly gentleman; And, to say truth, Verona brags of him To be a virtuous and well-govern'd youth.

You should be able to give a brief explanation for your song choice Choose a song you would use as background music for Romeo and Juliet's first meeting

Juliet…. What do we learn about Juliet from this scene? She finds a crafty way to find who the boy she has just met is. What does she do? Why doesn’t she just ask the Nurse outright?