ACT 1 OUTLINE

Romeo and Juliet

by William Shakespeare

By Erin Salona

Act 1Prologue

Prologue

Summary of the play Setting: Verona, Italy Old argument between two

families causes fights/riots There are two “star-crossed

lovers”- ill-fated - not meant to be together

Only the deaths of Romeo and Juliet can end the argument

- They are the “star-crossed” lovers

The play should take two hours to perform

Verona, Italy

From forth the fatal loins of these two foesA pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life;

Act 1 Prologue: Why?

Why does Shakespeare tell us the fate of Romeo and Juliet in the first 14 lines?

A great storyteller can do this; the details of the story are more important than the ending.

The audience will watch in anticipation of the deaths, making each action of the characters more strongly felt.

Act 1, Scene 1

A. Capulet servants boast about fighting Montagues (enemy)

B. They want to provoke the Montague servants without getting themselves in trouble with the law

C. A Capulet servant insults/ bites his thumb at Montague servant which starts a fight (riot)

Bite Your Thumb = Insult

Act 1, Scene 1

C. Benvolio arrivesand tries to breakup fight

D. Tybalt provokesBenvolio intofighting

Tybalt

Benvolio: Part, fools!Put up your swords; you know not what you do.

Tybalt: What, drawn, and talk of peace! I hate the word,As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee:Have at thee, coward!

Act 1, Scene 1

E. Prince Escalus arrives, stops fight, and sentences the family that starts the next fight/riot to death.

F. Lord Montague and wife and Lord Capulet both appear at the scene- Lord Capulet is most interested in fighting - Lady Montague & Lady Capulet encourage their husbands not to fight Romeo & Gang

Prince: If ever you disturb our streets again,Your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace

Act 1, Scene 1: Why?

Why does a play about forbidden love begin with Capulet & Montague servants fighting?

Immediately love & violenceare intertwined

The servants behavior reflects their masters’ ridiculous attitudes (holding a violent grudge against another family without knowing the reason of their hate)

The feud affects citizens of all classes in Verona.

Act 1, Scene 1

G. Romeo’s parents (theMontagues) and Benvoliodiscuss Romeo’s mood.

1. Lord Montague points out that Romeo is staying in his room all day.2. Benvolio has seen Romeo wandering around.3. He sees that Romeo

wants to be left alone; so, he doesn’t bother him.

Sad Romeo

Lord Montague: Away from the light steals home my heavy son,And private in his chamber pens himself,Shuts up his windows, locks far daylight outAnd makes himself an artificial night:

Act 1, Scene 1

H. Romeo tells Benvolio

that he is depressed

1. Romeo loves Rosaline. (Romeo is obsessed with her.)

2. Rosaline wants nothing to do with him; she has sworn off love and men to become a nun

3. Benvolio wants Romeo to look at other girls to date

Rosaline

Act 1, Scene 2

A. Count Paris, who is 21, asks Lord Capulet if he can marry Juliet.

B. Capulet would like Paris to wait 2 years

C. [All of Juliet’s siblings are dead]

D. Capulet will agree to the marriage only if Juliet also agrees. He tells Paris to begin wooing her

Lord Capulet: But woo her, gentle Paris, get her heart,My will to her consent is but a part;An she agree, within her scope of choiceLies my consent and fair according voice.

Act 1, Scene 2

D. Benvolio and Romeo find out about the Capulets’ party.

1. Romeo reads the guest list for an illiterate servant.

2. Rosaline is invited to the party. Romeo is interested in going now!

Act 1, Scene 2

E. Benvolio talks Romeo into crashing the party. 1. Benvolio wants

Romeo to compare Rosaline to other girls.

2. He thinks Romeo will realize that there are other women in the world.

Romeo in Mask

Benvolio: Go thither; and, with unattainted eye,Compare her face [Rosaline’s] with some that I shall show,And I will make thee think thy swan a crow.

Act 1, Scene 3

A. Lady Capulet goes to see Juliet about marrying Count Paris & encourages her to marry him.

B. Nurse rambles on and on; says Juliet will be 14 in 2 weeks. She speaks crude comments about Juliet, showing her lower class

Juliet, Nurse, Lady Capulet

Lady Capulet: Well, think of marriage now; younger than you,Here in Verona, ladies of esteem,Are made already mothers: by my count,I was your mother much upon these yearsThat you are now a maid. Thus then in brief:The valiant Paris seeks you for his love.

Act 1, Scene 3

C. Juliet says that she hasn’t thought about marriage at all. It does not appear she wants

to marry Paris

but she is obedient to her mother’s wishes.

D. Nurse thinks that marrying Paris would be a good idea.

E. Juliet agrees to meet Paris at the party and consider his offer of marriage.

Juliet to Lady Capulet: I'll look to like, if looking liking move:But no more deep will I endart mine eyeThan your consent gives strength to make it fly.

Act 1, Scene 4

A. Romeo, Benvolio, Mercutio, and friends are on their way to crash the masquerade party.

1. Romeo doesn’t want to go as he is still depressed.2. Says he will not dance.3. The guys are wearing masks at the party to hide their identities.

The Capulet Ball3 August 1570

All are invitedUnless you be

from the house of Montagues

Act 1, Scene 4

B. Mercutio tries to cheer Romeo up by talking about his dream.

C. Romeo fears that something bad is going to come of this night; i.e. he might die. Romeo: I fear, too early: for my

mind misgivesSome consequence yet hanging in the starsShall bitterly begin his fearful date With this night's revels and expire the termOf a despised life closed in my breastBy some vile forfeit of untimely death. FORESHADOWING

Act 1, Scene 4

Mercutio’s Queen Mab Monologue:

Queen Mab = an imaginary fairy who brings dreams of people’s fantasies & fears to them as they sleep

Romeo says he listens to his dreams Mercutio uses the Queen Mab

speech to tell Romeo to ignore his dreams; dreams are nonsense– he gives many examples

Mercutio is NOT romantic like Romeo but rather a passionate joker/master of puns. Mercutio is a FOIL to Romeo. Mercutio is a FOIL to Tybalt: he

does not believe in fighting for family honor. Queen Mab

Act 1, Scene 5

A. Lord Capulet welcomes all to his party.

B. Romeo sees Juliet across the room and falls in ‘love’ with Juliet. (Rosaline who?) Romeo: O, she doth teach

the torches to burn bright!It seems she hangs upon the cheek of nightLike a rich jewel in an Ethiope's ear

The Capulet Ball

Act 1, Scene 5

C. Tybalt, who is a hothead, overhears Romeo talking about Juliet and instantly wants to kill him. Tybalt: Uncle, this is a Montague,

our foe,/ A villain that is hither come in spite,To scorn at our solemnity this night FORESHADOWING

D. Lord Capulet stops Tybalt from fighting in his house and warns him to calm down or to leave the party. Lord Capulet reminds Tybalt

that Romeo is behaving Tybalt vows to seek revenge

at some point in the futureTybalt

Act 1, Scene 5

E. Romeo and Juliet meet but do not exchange names.

F. They instantly fall in love. Romeo worships Juliet with

religious devotion Saints and prayers are

referenced in their dialogue They kiss!

G. As people are leaving, Romeo asks who Juliet is. Nurse explains: She is a Capulet and his enemy. Romeo to Nurse: Is she a Capulet?

O dear account! my life is my foe's debt. Juliet & Romeo

Act 1, Scene 5

H. Nurse also identifies Romeo for Juliet. He is a Montague and her enemy. Juliet to Nurse: My only love

sprung from my only hate!Too early seen unknown, and known too late!Prodigious birth of love it is to me,That I must love a loathed enemy.

I. Both Romeo and Juliet are depressed at these discoveries.

J. What will happen in Act 2?

Juliet to Nurse: Go ask his name: if he be married.My grave is like to be my wedding bed.

Works Cited

Chichester, Karen. “Romeo and Juliet Outlines by

Act.” Jefferson High School: Livonia, Michigan.

SlideShare.net. SlideShare Inc. Sept. 2008. Web.

18 May 2010.

“Romeo and Juliet.” Google Images. Google. 2010. Web. 18

May 2010.

Shakespeare, William. Romeo and Juliet. The Complete

Works of William Shakespeare. Michigan Institute

of Technology. 2010. Web. 18 May 2010.