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Romeo and Juliet Acts I-V Discussion Questions

The document contains a series of discussion questions related to Acts I, III, IV, and V of 'Romeo and Juliet.' It explores themes such as the role of fate, identity, love, and family conflict, while prompting analysis of character motivations and literary elements. The questions encourage a deeper understanding of the play's events and character dynamics.

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12 views7 pages

Romeo and Juliet Acts I-V Discussion Questions

The document contains a series of discussion questions related to Acts I, III, IV, and V of 'Romeo and Juliet.' It explores themes such as the role of fate, identity, love, and family conflict, while prompting analysis of character motivations and literary elements. The questions encourage a deeper understanding of the play's events and character dynamics.

Uploaded by

choclatechipzzz123
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Romeo and Juliet: Discussion Questions (Act I)

Prologue:
1. What purpose does the prologue serve?

2. What events are foreshadowed in the prologue?

Act I: Scene I-II


3. How successful is the law in preventing and managing violence, as seen in this scene?

4. What does “purple fountains” refer to?

5. What literary element is used to describe the sun? Find the quote and explain.

6. Find the quote where Romeo describes love, what does his narrative of love tell you
about Romeo and his feelings?

7. Capulet tells us Juliet’s age and his plans for her future to Paris, what are they? At this
point in the play what is Capulet’s attitude toward Juliet?

Act I: Scene III:


8. Through the dialogue between Juliet and her mother, what can you gather about Juliet?

9. The Nurse reminisces about stories from Juliet’s childhood, what does this tell the reader
about the Nurse?

10. Compare Juliet’s thoughts on marriage with that of the Nurse.


Act I: Scenes IV-V
11. Romeo says, “Is love a tender thing? Is it too rough,/ Too rude and boisterous, and it
pricks like thorn” tell us about Romeo? Do these lines show the reader that Romeo is
more aware of his own love or the person he loves? Explain.

12. Tybalt and Lord Capulet react differently to Romeo’s attendance to their party. Compare
their responses. What does this exchange between the two show the reader about the feud
between the two families?

13. What does Romeo’s reaction to seeing Juliet for the first time tell us about his character?

14. Juliet weeps and says, “My only love, sprung from my only hate/ Too early seen
unknown, and known too late!” What does this quote mean? What idea is being portrayed
here?

2.1-2.2
1. Quote and restate Romeo’s metaphor involving Juliet. Explain

2. In this scene the play begins to explore the meaning of identity. Explain how?

3. When Juliet speaks about “light love” or her “light” behavior, what does she mean by the
word “light”?
4. What “stony” limits besides the orchard wall, separate Romeo and Juliet? How do they
dismiss these obstacles?

5. What troubles/upsets Juliet about the arrangement she makes with Romeo?

2.3
6. What is the significance of the Friar talking about the herbs? What comparisons is he making?

7. Why does the Friar say Romeo is fickle (inconsistent)?


8. Why does the Friar agree to marry Romeo and Juliet even though he holds these viewpoints
about Romeo?

2.4-2.5
9. What do we learn about Tybalt in this scene through Mercutio?

10. What is the setting of scene V? What effect does this short varied scene have on the play?

11. Why do you think Shakespeare delayed the plans of the Nurse?
12. How do the Friar’s and Romeo’s viewpoints on love differ? What do you think
Shakespeare’s message is here?

13. What does the Friar’s warning about the intensity of their feeling foreshadow?

Romeo and Juliet Discussion Questions: Act III


1) Look to Benvolio and his role throughout the play, what has been consistent about him and
behavior?

2. How does Romeo respond to Tybalt’s provoking? Explain what he means?

3. Why does Mercutio get involved in the dispute? What is ironic about what happens to him?

4. A few of Mercutio’s last words were a pun, identify the pun.

5. Describe Romeo’s character in this scene, what changes do we see in him? Are his hopes
realistic? Why or why not?

6. When Romeo cries out, “O, I am fortune’s fool” is he just succumbing to his fate or is he
instigating everything that is happening. Explain with evidence.

7. Juliet has mixed emotions concerning Tybalt’s death and Romeo’s part in it, but what bothers
her most?

8. When the Friar protests that banishment is a merciful sentence, what is Romeo’s response?
9. How does Shakespeare continue to explore the idea of identity in this scene, pay close
attention to the lines, “what vile part of this anatomy/ Doth may lodge?”

10. When the Nurse arrives bearing news of Juliet’s grief, what does Romeo attempt? How is the
gesture characteristic of him?

11. How do we see the stereotypical gender roles being exhibited in this scene?

12. What difference do we see in Lord Capulet’s personality?

13. What is ironic in Juliet’s response to her mother when she informs her of her father’s plans
for her marriage to Paris?

14. Juliet says “Well, thou hast comforted me marvelous much.” To whom is she speaking, and
what does the tone of this passage reveal about her words?

15. What is foreshadowed about Juliet’s statement about Romeo as he lowers himself down her
balcony?

16.Juliet says something to the Nurse after she exits, what does she say and what are the
implications of what she says?

Romeo and Juliet Discussion questions: Act IV and V


Act IV:
1. How does fate create problems again for Romeo and Juliet in this act?

2. Pick a quote from this act that foreshadows Juliet’s death?


3. How do we see a contrast in Juliet’s attitude from the first scene of this act?

4. Compare Juliet’s isolation to Romeo’s banishment. Does her self-imposed “exile” require
more or less courage than his banishment?

5. How does Capulet’s response to seeing Juliet’s body reveal that the Friar’s plan is
working?

6. What’s the significance of the wedding musicians?

7. Look at Paris’s and Lord Capulet’s display of grief over Juliet. Would you describe them
as sincere and heartfelt or insincere? Support your answer

Act V:
8. In the beginning of Act V what decision does Romeo make? How is this typical Romeo?

9. What prevents Friar John from delivering Friar Laurence’s letter to Romeo?

10. How does Paris respond to seeing Juliet’s body in the tomb?
11. Why does Paris think Romeo has come to the tomb?

12. What does the Prince mean when he says, “All are punished?”

13. At the conclusion of the play, what happens between the Capulets and Montagues?

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