1. The TRAGEDY OF ROMEO AND JULIET WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
ACT I
The TRAGEDY OF ROMEO AND JULIET
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

2. TACKLING VOCABULARY Pernicious—Causing great injury or ruin.
Adversary—A person who opposes or fights against another.
Augmenting—Increasing or enlarging
Grievance—Injustice; complaint
Oppression—Feeling of being weighed down with worries or problems
Transgression—Wrong-doing
Bliss—Eternal happiness
Despair—Lose of all hope or confidence

3. TACKLING VOCABULARY Endure—Tolerate; put up with Foes—Enemies
Foolish—Small; unimportant
Quarrel—An argument; fight
Quench—Extinguish; put out
Tormented—Inflicted with pain or torture
Valiant—Strong and worthy of honor
Vile—Wicked; disgusting
Woes—Deep sorrows; grief

4. CLOZE READING STRATEGIES
Stay engaged while we read.
Ask questions.
SUMMARIZE EACH SCENE AND MAKE NOTES ABOUT IMPORTANT THINGS WITHIN EACH ACT!

5. Analyzing the prologue
Let’s read the prologue together (that’s what chorus means: everyone)
Decoding Language:
Doth—Do; does
Naught—Nothing
With the person next to you, analyze how the prologue and the conflict foreshadow events to come.
Shall—Should
Thou—You
Art—Are
Tis’—It’s
Hadst—Had

6. Act I Prologue questions
In what poetic form is the Prologue presented?
What is the conflict that is revealed within the Prologue?
What goal does the Chorus have at the end of the Prologue?

7. Act I Prologue questions
In what poetic form is the Prologue presented?
Sonnet
What is the conflict that is revealed within the Prologue?
The long dispute and competition between the Capulets and the Montagues
What goal does the Chorus have at the end of the Prologue?
The chorus hopes that the audience will fill any gaps to the story the Chorus has just told.

8. Act I Scene I Questions What two families are feuding?
In what town is the story set?
Who tries to stop the fight in Scene 1? Who wants to keep fighting?
What background information does the Prince give about the feuding families?
What is the penalty for further fighting? Why do you think he chooses such a harsh penalty?
What do we learn about Romeo’s behavior from the conversation between Benvolio and Romeo’s parents? What does Benvolio vow to do?
Why is Romeo so upset?
When describing his feelings to Benvolio, Romeo uses oxymorons in lines 170—177 and 184—188. Why do you think he speaks this way?
What is Benvolio’s advice to Romeo?

9. Act I Scene I Questions What two families are feuding?
The Montagues and the Capulets
In what town is the story set?
Verona
Who tries to stop the fight in Scene 1? Who wants to keep fighting?
Benvolio = Peace maker
Tybalt = Hates the word “peace”
What background information does the Prince give about the feuding families?
The families have three times disturbed the peace of Verona
What is the penalty for further fighting? Why do you think he chooses such a harsh penalty?
Their lives will pay the penalty Death penalty

10. Act I SCENE I QUESTIONS
What do we learn about Romeo’s behavior from the conversation between Benvolio and Romeo’s parents? What does Benvolio vow to do?
Romeo’s been distant from his family, and Benvolio, his trusted cousin and friend.
Benvolio vows to get the truth out of him.
Why is Romeo so upset?
Romeo’s in love with someone who doesn’t feel the same.
When describing his feelings to Benvolio, Romeo uses oxymorons in lines 170—177 and 184—188. Why do you think he speaks this way?
He’s explaining the feelings of a person in love; experiencing the good, while also knowing and feeling the bad.
What is Benvolio’s advice to Romeo?
Forget about her and check out other girls.

11. Act I Scene II Questions
How old is Juliet?
Why has Paris come to visit Capulet? What is Capulet’s response?
How does Romeo find out about the Capulet party?
Why does Benvolio suggest Romeo go to the party? Why does Romeo finally decide to go?

12. Act I Scene II Questions
How old is Juliet?
13, not yet 14
Why has Paris come to visit Capulet? What is Capulet’s response?
He wants to marry Juliet
Wait two more summers and in the meantime, try to win her heart. Then, Juliet will decide if she wants to marry him.
How does Romeo find out about the Capulet party?
The Capulet’s servant needs Romeo and Benvolio to read the guest list so that he may find the people to invite.
Why does Benvolio suggest Romeo go to the party? Why does Romeo finally decide to go?
They see that Rosaline is invited, so Benvolio challenges Romeo to compare her to other women to see if Romeo still feels the same way about her.

13. Act I SCENE III QUESTIONS
What is Juliet’s response to her mother about the idea of marriage? What does she mean?
What do the Nurse and Lady Capulet want for Juliet?

14. Act I SCENE III QUESTIONS
What is Juliet’s response to her mother about the idea of marriage? What does she mean?
Juliet sees that marriage is an “honor” and she doesn’t think about it at this point in her life because she doesn’t want to be married right now.
What do the Nurse and Lady Capulet want for Juliet?
They both want marriage for Juliet.

15. ACT I SCENE IV QUESTIONS
What kind of mood is Romeo in before the boys go to the party? What is Mercutio’s advice?
How do the boys plan to disguise themselves at the party?
Who is Queen Mab? What is she responsible for? Name three things Mercutio says she does to people when they are asleep?
What problems does Romeo mention immediately before the boys enter the party? What does Romeo decide to do about this? Why is this important?

16. ACT I SCENE IV QUESTIONS
What kind of mood is Romeo in before the boys go to the party? What is Mercutio’s advice?
He’s still depressed, not wanting to be there.
Mercutio tries to cheer him up, saying “borrow cupid’s wings” and to just go to the party to have fun.
How do the boys plan to disguise themselves at the party?
They’re going to wear masks
Who is Queen Mab? What is she responsible for? Name three things Mercutio says she does to people when they are asleep?
She’s the queen of fairyland
She’s responsible for making us dream what we dream; she makes lovers dream of love, makes lawyers dream of money, and makes the soldier dream of being a hero, cutting foreign throats.
What problems does Romeo mention immediately before the boys enter the party? What does Romeo decide to do about this? Why is this important?
He had a feeling that something very bad was going to happen as a result of their evening.
He decides to let fate take over DRAMATIC IRONY because we know this will lead to his death, even while he had an inclination to avoid all of it.

17. ACT I SCENE V QUESTIONS How does Tybalt recognize Romeo?
Why won’t Capulet let Tybalt remove Romeo from the party?
How long does it take before Romeo and Juliet kiss for the first time?
What do you think Juliet means by “You kiss by the book”?
What does Juliet say will be her fate if Romeo is married?
At this point in the play, what do you think is the main plot of the story? What is the sub-plot at this point?

18. ACT I SCENE V QUESTIONS How does Tybalt recognize Romeo?
He recognizes him by his voice
Why won’t Capulet let Tybalt remove Romeo from the party?
He doesn’t want Tybalt to cause a scene in front of the guests.
How long does it take before Romeo and Juliet kiss for the first time?
Less than a minute
What do you think Juliet means by “You kiss by the book”?
Your interpretation; Usually interpreted that he kisses like they do in stories.
What does Juliet say will be her fate if Romeo is married?
Her grave will be her wedding bed
At this point in the play, what do you think is the main plot of the story? What is the sub-plot at this point?
Romeo and Juliet have a forbidden love.
Tybalt hating Romeo and wanting to go after him, also Paris wanting to marry Juliet will cause problems at this point.

19. Act I Reflection questions
The Capulet and Montague boys can be considered gangs. Discuss/journal your ideas about gangs. Why are gangs created? What is the allure? What kinds of things do gangs fight about? Why do gang members fight, even though they may not know why they’re fighting?
Romeo laments being in love with Rosaline, who does not return his feelings. Discuss/journal about a time you had a crush on someone who did not like you back. How did you feel? What did you do about it? How did you get over it, if you ever did? If you have never had this experience, what do you think it would be like to be in this position? How would it be to see this situation from the other side?
Some say that our dreams often reflect our subconscious desires and fears. In Act I, Mercutio claims that Queen Mab influences our dreams. Discuss/journal the concept of dreaming. In the reflections, discuss a troubling or exciting dream and what it may have meant. Also, explore whether the dream was a prediction of something that eventually happened.

20. ACT I SKILLS FOCUS Characterization Using context clues
Direct When the author directly tells the reader what the character is like.
Indirect When the author gives information about a character, allowing the reader to infer and draw his/her own conclusions about the character.
Using context clues

21. Act I Skills Focus Characterization
Read the following excerpts and explain what we learn about the character and why it’s important to the story so far.
Scene I, Capulet describes Romeo:
Many a morning hath he there been seen,
With tears augmenting the fresh morning dew.
Adding to clouds more clouds with his deep sighs;
But all so soon as the all-cheering sun
Should in the furthest east begin to draw
The shady curtains from Aurora’s bed,
Away from the light steals home my heavy son,
And private in his chamber pens himself,
Shuts up his windows, locks far daylight out
And makes himself an artificial night
a. What we learn about Romeo:
b. Why it’s important to the story so far:

22. Act I Skills Focus Characterization
Read the following excerpts and explain what we learn about the character and why it’s important to the story so far.
Scene I, Bevolio recaps the fight at the beginning of the play:
The fiery Tybalt, with his sword prepared,
Which, as he breathed defiance to my ears,
He swung about his head and cut the winds,
Who nothing hurt withal hiss’d him in scorn:
While we were interchanging thrusts and blows,
Came more and more and fought on part and part,
Till the prince came, who parted either part.
a. What we learn about Benvolio:
b. Why it’s important to the story so far:

23. Act I Skills Focus Characterization
Read the following excerpts and explain what we learn about the character and why it’s important to the story so far.
Scene I, Romeo:
Out of her favour, where I am in love.
a. What we learn about Romeo:
b. Why it’s important to the story so far:

24. Act I Skills Focus Characterization
Read the following excerpts and explain what we learn about the character and why it’s important to the story so far.
Scene II, Capulet speaks about Juliet to Paris:
She is the hopeful lady of my earth:
But woo her, gentle Paris, get her heart,
My will to her consent is but a part;
An she agree, within her scope of choice
Lies my consent and fair according voice
a. What we learn about Juliet:
b. Why it’s important to the story so far:

25. Act I SKILLS FOCUS USING CONTEXT CLUES
For each vocabulary word from Act I, indicate the part of speech in which the vocabulary word in bold appears (noun, verb, adverb, pronoun, adjective, conjunction, preposition, article). Then write an original definition for the vocabulary words based upon the clues. Finally, look up the word and write down the dictionary definition. How accurate is your inference?
Many a morning hath he there been seen,
With tears augmenting the fresh morning’s dew (Sc. I)
Part of speech: ____________
Inference: _______________
Definition: ____________________________________________________________

26. Act I SKILLS FOCUS USING CONTEXT CLUES
For each vocabulary word from Act I, indicate the part of speech in which the vocabulary word in bold appears (noun, verb, adverb, pronoun, adjective, conjunction, preposition, article). Then write an original definition for the vocabulary words based upon the clues. Finally, look up the word and write down the dictionary definition. How accurate is your inference?
She is too fair, too wise; wisely too fair,
To merit bliss by making me despair (Sc. I)
Part of speech: ____________
Inference: _______________
Definition: ____________________________________________________________

27. Act I SKILLS FOCUS USING CONTEXT CLUES
For each vocabulary word from Act I, indicate the part of speech in which the vocabulary word in bold appears (noun, verb, adverb, pronoun, adjective, conjunction, preposition, article). Then write an original definition for the vocabulary words based upon the clues. Finally, look up the word and write down the dictionary definition. How accurate is your inference?
O, then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do;
They pray, grant thou, lest faith turn to despair (Sc. iv)
Part of speech: ____________
Inference: _______________
Definition: ____________________________________________________________

28. Act I SKILLS FOCUS USING CONTEXT CLUES
For each vocabulary word from Act I, indicate the part of speech in which the vocabulary word in bold appears (noun, verb, adverb, pronoun, adjective, conjunction, preposition, article). Then write an original definition for the vocabulary words based upon the clues. Finally, look up the word and write down the dictionary definition. How accurate is your inference?
It fits, when such a villain is a guest:
I’ll not endure him (Sc. iv)
Part of speech: ____________
Inference: _______________
Definition: ____________________________________________________________

29. Act I SKILLS FOCUS USING CONTEXT CLUES
For each vocabulary word from Act I, indicate the part of speech in which the vocabulary word in bold appears (noun, verb, adverb, pronoun, adjective, conjunction, preposition, article). Then write an original definition for the vocabulary words based upon the clues. Finally, look up the word and write down the dictionary definition. How accurate is your inference?
From forth the fatal loins of these two foes
A pair of star-cross’d lovers take their life (Pro.)
Part of speech: ____________
Inference: _______________
Definition: ____________________________________________________________