1. Romeo and Juliet
Guide to Acts II-V

2. Act II Scence i Where: Capulet’s Orchard
Who: Benvolio, Mercutio, Romeo
What: Benvolio & Mercutio talk; Romeo leaves (moping again)
What do you learn?

3. Act II Scene ii Where: Capulet’s Orchard Who: Romeo and Juliet
What happens: They declare their love; famous balcony scene. Famous lines: 33, 43.
What do you learn: They are planning a secret marriage

4. Act II Scene iii Where: Friar Lawrence’s cell
Who: Friar Lawrence & Romeo
What happens: They make arrangements for a marriage between Romeo and Juliet

5. Act II Scene iv Where: a street
Who: Romeo, Benvolio, Mercutio, Nurse, Peter (her servant)
What: Romeo tells the nurse about the plans for a wedding; she promises to tell Juliet
What do you learn:

6. Act II: Scene v Where: Capulet’s Orchard Who: Juliet, Nurse,
What happens: the Nurse tells Juliet the plan for the secret wedding, and Juliet agrees

7. Act II Scene vi Where: Friar Lawrence’s cell
Who: Friar Lawrence, Romeo, Juliet
What happens: Romeo and Juliet are married secretly
What do we learn from this:

8. Act III Scene i Where: a public place
Who: Mercutio, Benvolio, Tybalt, Petruccio, Rome, Prince, Lady Capulet
What happens: Mercutio and Tybalt fight. Romeo tries to break it up, but Tybalt stabs Mercutio, who died. Tybalt comes back to fight with Romeo; Romeo kills Tybalt. Romeo is banished as punishment.

9. Act III Scene ii Where: Capulet’s Orchard Who: Juliet, Nurse
What happens: Juliet gives a soliloquy. She has to wait for night for Romeo to come. Nurse tells Juliet about the fight and Romeo’s banishment.

10. Act III Scene iii Where: Friar Lawrence’s cell
Who: Romeo, Friar Lawrence, Nurse.
What happens: Romeo is despairing; Friar Lawrence tells him to leave, and wait for him to make arrangements.

11. Act III Scene iv Where: A room in Capulet’s house
Who? Capulet and Paris
What happens: They set a date for the wedding on Thursday (to help Juliet get over her “grief about Tybalt’s death)
What do you learn: There is going to be a problem . . .

12. Act III Scene v Where: Capulet’s Orchard
Who: Romeo & Juliet; then, Nurse and Lady Capulet
What happens: Romeo comes to see Juliet for the last time before he leaves. Lady Capulet tells Juliet about the wedding, and Juliet refuses to marry Paris. Capulet is very angry with her. They all fight.

13. Act IV: Scene i Where: Friar Lawrence’s cell.
Who: Paris; Friar Lawrence; Juliet.
What happens: Paris and Friar talk about the wedding. The Friar tries to object. Juliet and the Friar make a plan: he gives her a potion to make her appear dead on her wedding day & promises to send a letter to Romeo about it.

14. Act IV: Scene ii Where: Hall in Capulet’s house
Who: Capulet, Nurse, Juliet.
What happens: Juliet tells her father she has changed her mind and will marry Paris. He moves the wedding up to tomorrow.

15. Act IV: Scene iii Where: Juliet’s room
Who: Juliet; Nurse and Lady Capulet come in, but Juliet sends them away.
What happens: Juliet’s soliloquy; she questions whether to take the potion, but finally drinks it.

16. Act IV: Scene iv Where: Hall in Capulet’s house
Who: Lady Capulet, Nurse, Capulet.
What happens: The nurse is sent to wake up Juliet.

17. Act IV: Scene v Where: Juliet’s room
Who: Nurse; Lady Capulet; Capulet; Friar; Paris; musicians
What happens: Nurse discovers Juliet is “dead”; everyone mourns, funeral arrangements are made.

18. Act V: Scene i Where: Street in Mantua
Who: Romeo, Balthasar, Apothecary
What happens: Romeo learns from Balthasar that Juliet is dead; he talks the Apothecary into selling him poison (this is illegal for the apothecary, but he is poor, so he does it for money). Romeo heads to Juliet’s grave to use it.

19. Act V: Scene ii Where: Friar Lawrence’s cell
Who: Friar John, Friar Lawrence
What happens: Friar John explains that he was prevented from giving the letter to Romeo. He and Friar Lawrence head to Juliet’s grave to get her out and keep her until Romeo can be sent for.

20. Vocabulary Words to Know:
Pernicious
Augmenting
Grievance
Transgression
Procure
Vile
Predominant
Intercession
Lamentable
Unwieldy

21. Act V: Scene iii Where: Churchyard, the Capulets’ Monument
Who: Paris, his page; Romeo, Balthasar; Friar Lawrence; Juliet; watchmen; Capulet, Lady Capulet, Prince, Montague

22. What happens: Paris goes to lay flowers on Juliet’s grave
He hears a noise, and hides
Romeo and Balthasar come; Romeo sends Balthasar off, then he goes into the tomb
Paris recognizes Romeo, and tries to stop him.
They fight; Romeo kills Paris.
Romeo gives a long speech; then drinks the poison

23. Friar Lawrence sees Balthasar who tells him Romeo is at the tomb; the Friar hurries there, sees Romeo’s body
Juliet wakes up; sees Romeo
The Friar leaves
Juliet kisses Romeo and stabs herself with Romeo’s dagger
Outside: Watchmen and others gather; the Prince, Capulet, Lady Capulet, Montague, enter

24. Friar Lawrence explains the whole story
Romeo’s letter arrives, and corroborates the Friar’s story
Capulet and Montague agree to end their quarrel and Montague promises to raise a gold statue of Juliet, and Capulet to have one of Romeo made.