Romeo and Juliet Act I

What city is the setting of the play? Verona
When did the play take place? 1400s
Which words in the prologue point to the influence of fate in the deaths of Romeo and Juliet? “a pair of star-crossed lovers take their life”
What effect will their deaths have on their parents’ quarrel? Their deaths will end it.
What are the family names of the two households mentioned in the first line of the prologue? Capulet and Montague.
What mood does the prologue suggest will be most strongly stressed in the play? List two words from the prologue that make you think so. The prologue suggests the mood will be grave in the words “fatal” and “death-marked.”
Why doesn’t it spoil the play for Shakespeare to tell us in the prologue that Romeo and Juliet kill themselves? The details of the journey are more important than the fact that they kill themselves.
Where does Act I, Scene i take place? Verona in a public place.
What scene of conflict opens the play’s action? Sampson and Gregory of the house of Capulet start a fight with Abraham of the house of Montague.
When does Act I, Scene i take place? Day 1, Sunday
Why do you think that Shakespeare never explains how the quarrel between the Montague’s and the Capulet’s began? The beginning of the quarrel is not important to the story line and they have been fighting for so long that they have forgotten what they are fighting about.
What does the quarrel at the beginning of this scene show about the feud between Montague and Capulet? The feud even includes the servants.
How long has the feud been going on? Longer than any of the members have been alive.
What lines let you know that this is not the first time there has been public fighting between the families? “Three civil brawls, bred of an airy word,By thee, old Capulet, and Montague,Have thrice disturb’d the quiet of our streets.”
What does the Prince think started the brawl? An airy word.
How does the Prince intend to punish anyone who disturbs the peace again? The Prince will kill them.
Do you think that the Prince’s threat will end the fighting between the families? No.
What character in this scene do you expect to cause more trouble? Tybalt
Describe Romeo’s mood when he first enters. Sad and dejected.
How, according to Benvolio, might Romeo change that mood? Examining other beauties.
Who is Tybalt? Juliet’s cousin.Capulet.
Who is Benvolio? Romeo’s cousin.Montague.
Who is Romeo? Montague’s son.
Who is Escalus? Prince of Verona.
When does Act I, Scene ii take place? Day 1, Sunday
In this scene, Paris has come to Capulet to ask for his daughter’s hand in marriage. Why is Capulet reluctant to accept Paris’s offer? Capulet thinks Juliet is too young to be married.
What do you learn about Capulet’s feelings for his daughter, Juliet? He loves her very much because she is his only daughter.
Capulet says that he will give his consent to the match if Paris can succeed in gaining Juliet’s consent. He then invites Paris to a feast to be held that night at his house. What do you think Shakespeare’s purpose was in having the Capulet’s throw a party that night? So Romeo could meet Juliet.
How does Romeo learn about the party at the Capulet’s? The servant Lord Capulet sent to tell people about the party cannot read, so he asked Romeo to read the guest list to him.
For what reason does Benvolio urge Romeo to attend Capulet’s party? So Romeo can find another girl.
Why does Romeo want to go? Rosaline will be there.
When does Act I, Scene iii take place? Day 1, Sunday
Where does Act I, Scene iii take place? A room in Capulet’s house.
What subject does Lady Capulet want to discuss with Juliet? Marriage
What interrupts their conversation for a considerable time? The nurse, reminiscing.
How does Juliet feel about marriage? She has not thought about it.
How would you describe Juliet’s behavior toward her mother? She does not share her mother’s enthusiasm for marriage but is willing to check Paris out to please her mother. She feels closer to the Nurse than to her mother.
What impression do you get of Lady Capulet? She is cold towards Juliet.
What do you learn about the Nurse’s character in this scene? She likes to talk and has cared for Juliet her entire life.
When does Act I, Scene iv take place? Day 1, Sunday
Where does Act I, Scene iv take place? On a street.
Although Mercutio and Romeo are close friends, they differ strongly in their attitudes towards life. How are their different attitudes brought out in this scene? Mercutio is light-hearted while Romeo is dejected. Mercutio thinks Romeo should be happy because he is a lover, while Romeo is sad because he cannot be with Rosaline.
How does Mercutio try to cheer Romeo up in this scene? By making jokes out of all his sayings about love and by talking about Queen Mab.
What is Mercutio’s purpose in describing Queen Mab? To tell Romeo it is foolish to think going to the feast is a bad idea.
Does Mercutio actually believe in the fairy queen? No
When does Act I, Scene v take place? Day 1, Sunday
Where does Act I, Scene v take place? A hall in Capulet’s house.
What is the general atmosphere as scene v opens? Busy and excited.
Which of the Capulet’s becomes furious when he recognizes Romeo at the ball? Tybalt
How is Tybalt’s behavior consistent with his behavior in scene i? He sees a Montague and asks for his sword.
What happens when Tybalt refuses to heed Capulet’s warning to keep the peace? Capulet threatens him.
In scene i, Capulet calls for a sword when he sees Montague, yet when Tybalt wishes to attack Romeo, Capulet restrains him. Why? The prince’s punishment of death for anyone who breaks the peace again.
Having fallen deeply in love, Romeo and Juliet kiss and part. They discover that each is a member of the enemy house. How does this discovery affect each of them? It makes them distraught and hopeless.
Who first tells both Romeo and Juliet who the other is? Nurse
Would the obstacle of having a family feud be more likely to lessen or increase their affection for each other? Increase
List seven important events that have taken place in Act I. 1. The prologue outlines the story.2. The Capulet’s and Montague’s get in a fight.3. The Prince says the punishment for the next fight is death.4. Paris asks Capulet if he can marry Juliet.5. Juliet has not thought about marriage.6. Benvolio, Mercutio, and Romeo crash the party.7. Romeo and Juliet fall in love.
July 19, 2019