PLOT AND STRUCTURE DIAGRAM for Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet

Climax: Act 5 Scene 3: Romeo takes the poison; Juliet awakes and kills herself Development of conflict (or rising action): Act 1 Scene 5: The feast, at which Romeo and Juliet meet Act 2 Scene 2: The balcony scene, where the lovers agree to marry Act 3 Scene 1: The fight, where Romeo kills Tybalt and is exiled by the prince Act 3 Scene 5: Juliet is persuaded to marry Paris Act 4 Scene 3: Juliet drinks the potion that will seem to kill her for 42 hours Act 5 Scene 1: Romeo hears of Juliet’s death and buys poison Denouement (or falling action): Act 5 Scene 3: The Prince scolds the families for the tragedy their feud has caused. He asks for peace. Exposition: Act 1 Scene 1: The opening scene, to show the tension and explosive antagonism between the Montagues and Capulets