1. PLOT AND STRUCTURE DIAGRAM
for Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet

3. 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