Romeo and Juliet Act 1 Questions

An important theme, or message, in Romeo and Juliet is the struggle against fate, or forces that determine how a person’s life will turn out. Explain how Act 1’s Prologue establishes the fate of the main characters and introduces the struggles they will face. Act 1’s Prologue establishes the fate of the main characters and the struggles they will face because it begins with how the two households, or families, have been fighting for years. “From ancient grudge break to new mutiny” (I,1,3).
In Scene 1, Tybalt says, “What, drawn, and talk of peace? I hate the word / As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee. / Have at thee, coward!” (lines 63-65). What can you infer about Tybalt’s personality and his role in the play, based on these words? I can infer that Tybalt’s personality is very straight forward and uptight. I think he also enjoys fighting. Tybalt must be a Capulet because he hates the Montagues.
A foil is a character who highlights, through sharp contrast, the qualities of another character. Which two sets of characters in Act 1 are foils for each other? What do you learn about the characters by seeing them in contrast to one another? The two sets of characters in Act 1 that are foils for each other are Lady Capulet and the Nurse and Tybalt and Benvolio. Lady Capulet is very businesslike and straight forward. She gets straight to the point of marriage during her conversation with Juliet. While the Nurse is more easy going. She’s retelling an old story and can’t stop laughing.Tybalt enjoys fighting while Benvolio is more of a peaceful person.
Romeo and Juliet is a play that deals with serious and tragic events, yet Shakespeare does weave jokes and comical situations into Act 1. One example is the conversation among the servants at the beginning of Scene 5. Identify other examples of humor in the first act. Another example of humor in the first act would be Scene 2. Lord Capulet has given a servant a list of names and tasked him to go out and invite those people. However, the servant can’t read the names on the list, so he stops Romeo and asks for help. Romeo jokes around with the servant, but he doesn’t understand the joke. After Romeo helps, the servant invites him to Lord Capulet’s party and adds “and if you be not the house of Montagues” before leaving.
Foreshadowing is the use of hints or clues to suggest events that will happen later in the story. Explain the foreshadowing in these lines from Act 1:-Scene 4, lines 106-111-Scene 5, line 133 Scene 4, lines 106-111 is foreshadowing because Romeo is worrying that something terrible will happen at the Capulets’ party. The phrase “By some vile forfeit of untimely death” is foreshadowing how Romeo is going to die early.Scene 5, line 133 is foreshadowing because Juliet dies because of her love for Romeo.
Which events in Act 1 seem key to setting up the conflicts that will move the action of the rest of the play forward? Explain your response. The events in Act 1 that seem key to setting up the conflicts that will move the action of the rest of the play forward are the beginning fight scene and Romeo’s conversation with Benvolio. In the beginning of the play, a fight has broken out about the Montagues and the Capulets. Benvolio and Tybalt soon join in. The conflict between the two families is already present and obvious. Romeo, later on, talks with Benvolio about a girl he’s supposedly in love with, but can never be with. Romeo and Juliet are in love (later), but they can’t really be together because of the rivalry between their families.
August 28, 2019