| Act I, scene i, lines 150-232 | o Romeo’s “lovesickness,” use of unoriginal, “cheesy” languageo Unrequited love – love felt by one, not returned by the othero Benvolio’s promise to help (“Examine other beauties,” etc.) |
| Act I, scene iii, lines 70-100 | o Lady Capulet encourages Juliet to marry – believes she is getting too old to remain singleo The Nurse encourages Juliet to marry – associates marriage with happiness, wants Juliet to be happyo Double entendre – a word, phrase, or longer passage that has a second, often sexual meaning |
| Act I, scene iv, lines 106-113 | o Intuition tells Romeo that attending the Capulet party will lead directly to his deatho In spite of this, he embraces Fate and enters the Capulet home |
| Act I, scene v, lines 43-140 | Romeo sees Juliet, falls immediately in loveo This love is nothing like the “love” Romeo felt for Rosaline; it is true, spiritual, ordained by Fate; Romeo’s language suggests thiso Light imagery – used throughout the play to remind us that Romeo and Juliet’s love is true, spiritual, ordained by Fateo Tybalt’s reaction, Capulet’s response |
| Act II, scene ii, all | o The famous “balcony scene”o Juliet confesses her deep feelings for Romeo before she realizes that Romeo is present, listening to her every wordo Light imagery continueso The scene ends with the promise of immediate marriage |
| Act II, scene iii, all | o Friar Lawrence explains his philosophy of life: nothing is so good that it cannot be used for ill; nothing can be so bad that it cannot be used for good. The friar is dedicated to the concept of balanceo Romeo arrives, immediately asks the friar to marry him to Julieto The friar criticizes Romeo harshly, then abruptly changes his mind, agreeing to perform the wedding ceremony that day |
| Act II, scene iv, lines 147-155 | The Nurse again demonstrates her love for Juliet, urging Romeo not to “deal double” with her, “for the gentlewoman is young” |
| Act II, scene vi, all | o The wedding scene; Friar Lawrence, Romeo, and Juliet are the only characters presento Friar Lawrence again raises the importance of balance: “love moderately, long love doth so” |
| Act III, scene I, lines 53-132 | o Tybalt seeks a confrontation with Romeoo Tybalt and Mercutio duel; Romeo’s intervention leads to Mercutio’s deatho Romeo seeks vengeance, killing Tybalto “O, I am fortune’s fool!” |
| Act III, scene 2, lines 64-100 | o Juliet learns that Tybalt is dead and Romeo is banishedo Her first reaction is very negative (“O serpent heart hid with a flow’ring face!”o Her second reaction is more positive – and, arguably, more mature (“O what a beast was I to chide at him”) |
| Act III, scene iii, lines 1-51 ; 84-158 | o Romeo learns that he is banished, reacts badly (“There is no world without Verona walls”)o Friar Lawrence harshly criticizes Romeo’s reaction, then proposes a plan that makes Romeo feel better |
| Act III, scene v, lines 158-242 | o Capulet threatens Juliet, promising to disown her if she does not marry Pariso Lady Capulet rejects Juliet’s plea for helpo Nurse advises Juliet to marry Paris, suggesting that Paris is the most reliable option |
| Act IV, scene i, lines 46-126 | o Juliet begs Friar Lawrence for assistanceo Friar Lawrence tells Juliet that he has a plan: she will drink an herbal potion, fall into a coma-like state, and be buried in the Capulet crypt; two days later, Romeo will meet her there, and the two young lovers will run away together |
| Act IV, scene iii, lines 14-58 | o Just before she drinks the poison, Juliet explores all the possible outcomes of the Friar’s plan: she may be poisoned, or she may wake up prematurely and go mad, etc. |
| Act V, scene i, lines 12-57 | “Then I defy you, stars!” |
| Act V, scene ii, all | o Friar John never made it to Manchua |
| Act V, scene iii, lines 45-120; 148-172 | o Romeo approaches the crypt, kills Pariso Romeo dies, Juliet wakes then dies |
Romeo and Juliet important passages
September 9, 2019