A Summary By Callie Mathis and Brittany Keye.

Two households, both alike in dignity, In fair Verona, where we lay our scene, From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean. From forth the fatal loins of these two foes A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life; Whole misadventured piteous overthrows Do with their death bury their parents' strife. The fearful passage of their death-mark'd love, And the continuance of their parents' rage, Which, but their children's end, naught could remove, Is now the two hours' traffic of our stage; The which if you with patient ears attend, What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend. This summarizes what will happen during the course of the play.

In this Act Romeo and Juliet meet, but first we are introduced to the fighting going on between the Montagues and the Capulets. This starts with scene one being a fight between the servants of each family. Romeo and Juliet meet at a masquerade ball where they dance. They end up kissing after Romeo smooth talks Juliet. Then they find out they are from opposing families. Yet they still find the strength to love each other. This is the introduction to the play where we are introduced to the characters and the fight going on between the Montagues and Capulets.

Now old desire doth in his death-bed lie, And young affection gapes to be his heir; That fair for which love groan'd for and would die, With tender Juliet match'd, is now not fair. Now Romeo is beloved and loves again, Alike betwitched by the charm of looks, But to his foe supposed he must complain, And she steal love's sweet bait from fearful hooks: Being held a foe, he may not have access To breathe such vows as lovers use to swear; And she as much in love, her means much less To meet her new-beloved any where: But passion lends them power, time means, to meet Tempering extremities with extreme sweet. This summarizes the love that Romeo and Juliet have between them.

Romeo climbs over the walls surrounding Capulet's orchard. Benvolio and Mercutio look for him, but do not find him. Romeo overhears Juliet declare her love for him, then they agree to get married. Romeo convinces Friar Lawrence to marry them that day. Romeo meets up with Mercutio and Benvolio. Juliet's Nurse arrives at the appointed time, to learn about the wedding arrangements and convey them to Juliet. Juliet waits for the Nurse to return. The Nurse eventually gives her Romeo's message. Juliet meets Romeo at Friar Lawrence's cell, where they are married. This sets it up for Romeo and Juliet to get married and presents the chance for a fight or obstacle to appear in their marriage (The fight between Mercutio and Tybalt).

Mercutio & Benvolio are talking about the possibility of a fight. Tybalt comes looking for Romeo. Mercutio & Tybalt are about to fight when Romeo appears. Romeo tries to avoid the conflict because he is now married to Juliet (Tybalts cousin). Mercutio cannot stand Romeo coving into Tybalt's rudeness and draws his sword to fight. Romeo and Benvolio try to stop the fight. Tybalt stabs Mercutio under Romeo's arm and leaves, but he did not mean to stab Mercutio. Mercutio ends up dying, but swears a curse upon both the Capulets and the Montagues. Then Tybalt and Romeo fight. Romeo kills Tybalt and then leaves after realizing what he has done. Benvolio tells the story of what happened. Immediately, the Prince exiles Romeo. This is the climax of the story. It sets us up for the suicides and presents the main conflict to us. The main conflict is that Romeo has killed Tybalt and has been banished and can no longer return to Verona to see his beloved Juliet.

Paris tells the Friar that he is marrying Juliet on Thursday of that week. Juliet asks the Friar to help her, and he comes up with a plan. He gives her a potion that will make it appear as if she has died in her sleep. It will last for 42 hours and she will awake in the tomb. He will send a letter to Romeo to let him know what is happening so Romeo can be there to let her out of the tomb. Juliet takes the potion and returns home. Juliet acts as if nothing is wrong and continues to make the others believe she is preparing to marry Paris. While everyone is busy with the wedding preparations, Juliet takes the poison. They find her body the next morning. This tells us of the troubles that well happen and how they think they well over come it. This is the falling action of the play, this will eventually lead to the resolution.

While Romeo waits in Mantua, his servant comes and tells him that he saw Juliet being placed in the Capulet tomb. Romeo does not want believe she is dead and he believes he cannot go on without her so he buys a poison to kill himself and leaves to see if she is really dead. Friar Laurence sends the letter to Romeo, but it is too late. When Romeo gets to the tomb, he meets Paris. The two fight and Romeo kills Paris. He enters the tomb and sees Juliet. Thinking she is dead he drinks the poison and dies instantly. The Friar races to the tomb, but he is too late and sees Romeo dead on the floor beside Juliet. She wakes up to find Romeo dead beside her. Juliet takes Romeos dagger and stabs herself. Montagues, Capulets, and the Prince arrive. The Friar explains everything that has happened. The Montagues and Capulets finally see what their fighting has caused so they decide to end the war between their houses. This tells about the end of the play and how Juliet and Romeo die. Each committing suicide. Romeo kills himself because he fears that Juliet is already dead, not knowing about her s and the Friars plan to fake her death.

Main Characters. Romeo Romeo Juliet Juliet Friar Lawrence Friar Lawrence Nurse Nurse Mercutio Mercutio Benvolio Benvolio Lord &Lady Capulet Lord &Lady Capulet Lord &Lady Montague Lord &Lady Montague Benvolio Benvolio Prince Escalus Prince Escalus Balthasar Friar John Rosaline The Apothecary Tybalt Tybalt Paris Paris Minor Characters.

Sampson & Gregory-Two servants of the Capulets, who hate the Montagues. They successfully provoke some Montague servants into a fight at the very beginning. Abram-Montagues servant, who fights with Sampson and Gregory in the first scene of the play. Peter - A Capulet servant who invites guests to Capulets feast and escorts the Nurse to meet with Romeo.

This story has become one of the most well- known love stories of all time and will be treasured forever.

Next page is works cited By Callie Mathis and Brittany Keye.

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