Romeo and Juliet Act I

Scene iii – Juliet with her mother and nurse

• Juliet is being counseled by her nurse and mother about marriage

• On Lammastide (Aug 1) she will be 14o This is her coming of ageo She will be expected to have

been married by this point

• They ask how she feels about marriageo Her mother lets her know that

Paris will be at the party, and that he is a gentleman

o Everyone wants Juliet to Marry Paris, but she will only consent to get to know him better

Scene iv – Outside the Capulets’ party

• Romeo and his friends arrive at the partyo They are trying to figure out how

to get in since there are so many of them

o They bring ‘torchbearers’ who act as servants

• Romeo tells them that he will be a torchbearer and not have fun

• Mercutio tries to cheer him up and asks him not to be so dreamyo Basically, he tells him to get his

head out of the clouds and enjoy the real world

Scene v – The Party• Lord Capulet welcomes his

guests• Romeo first sees Juliet and

immediately falls in loveo He moves to go to speak with her,

not knowing who she is

• Tybalt recognizes Romeoo Being hot-tempered, he wants to kill

Romeo . . . In the middle of the party

• Lord Capulet recognizes Romeoo He tells Tybalt to, “Let him alone,” as

he doesn’t want violence at the partyo An argument ensues between Tybalt

and his uncle as Tybalt feels disgraced by Romeo’s presence

Scene ii Study Questions

• Why does Capulet think it will be easy for Montague to keep the peace?o But Montague is bound as well as i./In

penalty alike. And ‘tis not hard, I think,/For men so old as we to keep the peace.• Capulet is not saying that they’re

too old to fight. He says that they are bound – well, bound by what?

• What does Paris ask about Capulet?o In the same scene, Paris changes the

subject and asks Capulet, “what say you to my suit?”• Paris isn’t literally asking about

his suit . . . So what does it mean to suit another person?

Scene ii Study Questions

• What is Capulet’s first answer?o What is Lord Capulet

concerned about in the marriage of Juliet to Paris?

• A bit later Capulet appears to change his mind about Paris’ question. What does he then tell Paris?o What is meant by Capulet

telling Paris, “But woo her, gentle Paris, get her heart?”

o Is Capulet telling Paris that he will not allow Juliet to be married?

Scene ii Study Questions

• What problem does the servant have?o Lord Capulet hands the servant

an invitationo The servant is hesitant to find the

names and seeks help, saying, “But I am sent to find those persons whose names are here writ, and can never find what names the writing person hath here writ. I must to the learned in good time!”

• What does Romeo learn about the Capulet party?o Having read the invitation, what

does Romeo find out/what does he intend to do?

Scene ii Study Questions

• What does Benvolio hope will happen when Romeo sees Rosaline at the party?o Benvolio has been listening to

Romeo’s lamenting over his love for Rosaline

o What has been his advice, and how is his advice altered when he tells Romeo, “Go thither, and with unattainted eye/Compare her face with some that I shall show,/And I will make thee think thy swan a crow.”

• In your opinion, is it wise for Romeo and Benvolio to attend the party? Why or why not?o “Because” is not an answer – so don’t

write it

Scene v Study Questions

• What does Romeo think of Juilet the first time he sees her?o He’s been hung up on Rosaline . . .

Yet when he sees Juliet he says, “O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!”

o What is it about this girl that makes him think, “Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight! For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night.”

• How does Tybalt recognize Romeo?o It’s a masquerade ball – so how

does he know that Romeo has crashed the party/how does he react?

Scene v Study Questions

• When Tybalt is read to seize Romeo and throw him out of the party, what does Capulet say to Tybalt?o What is it about Romeo that makes Lord

Capulet say, “Content thee, gentle coz, let him alone?”

o How does Tybalt react to Lord Capulet telling him that Romeo, “. . . Shall be endured?”

• Do you agree with Capulet’s decision?o Is it good for Capulet and/or Verona

when he tells Tybalt, “Show a fair presence and put off these frowns,/An ill-beseeming semblance for a feast?”

o What do you think is in Lord Capulet’s mind when that possesses him to say, “You’ll make a mutiny among my guests!” to his own nephew?

Scene v Study Questions

• What is Romeo’s reason for kissing Juliet? How does he explain his second kiss?o What does Romeo hope to

accomplish by telling Juliet, “My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand/To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss?”

o Juliet returns his flirtation, saying, “Then have my lips the sin that they have took.” So how does he explain stealing his second kiss?

Scene v Study Questions

• How does Romeo find out Juliet’s last name?o Juliet’s nurse parts the two

lovers, but what does she accomplish in telling Romeo, “Marry, bachelor,/Her mother is the lady of the house?”

o Why, then, does Romeo reply, “O dear account! My life is my foe’s debt?”

• How does Juliet find out that Romeo’s last name? What lines reveal her reaction to this news?

Scene v – The Party (cont.)

• Romeo meets and speaks with Julieto He tries to sweet-talk her and steal

a kisso She returns his flirtations and they

kiss

• Juliet’s nurse steps interruptso She informs Juliet that her mother is

looking for hero Romeo is told that her mother is

the, “. . . Lady of the house,” and he understands that she is a Capulet

• Juliet’s nurse tells her who Romeo is and that he is a Montague