Act II Scene I
1. What kind of poem is the Chorus?
2. Rhyme Scheme?
3. How is Mercutio being humorous?
4. Explain: Lines 8-16
5. What is ironic about these lines: 17-21?
6. Line 32 – What is meant by the popular saying – “love is blind”?
7. Back to the Chorus – What has happened to Romeo’s old love?
8. What is his new problem?
9. Which line in the chorus suggests that Romeo fell in love with Juliet at first sight?
10. Write your own Shakespearian Sonnet. Remember that it has to be 14 lines long. The Rhyme Scheme goes: ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. Every other line rhymes. The last two lines are a couplet. Try and make it a love poem (it doesn’t have to be). If you want to pretend you are Romeo/Juliet you can. If you want to write to a classmate you can. If you want to write to a family member you can.
Act II scene II
1. Lines 1-9: How does Romeo use “light” when referring to Juliet?
2. What does Romeo say about the moon in these lines? The moon is traditionally a symbol of chastity.
3. Line 1 – Romeo has heard all of the joking. Whom is he referring to here, and what kind of “wound” is he talking about?
4. Line 2 – Romeo’s soliloquy begins the balcony scene – one of the most famous and most beautiful in all dramatic literature – in which the two lovers woo and win each other. What is Juliet doing while Romeo is speaking aloud to himself?
5. Lines 25-32 – What images does Romeo use to express his love?
6. Put lines 43-49 in your own words:
7. 49-51 – Are you surprised by Romeo’s immediate willingness to give up being a Montague?
8. Line 37 – Juliet does not know that Romeo is standing beneath her balcony. What has Romeo now learned about her feelings for him?
9. What is a soliloquy?
10. What is a monologue?
11. Lines 53-57 – How has Romeo continued the religious wordplay they started at the party?
12. 71-73 – What complications threatens the lovers’ happiness?
13. Which one of them seems to take this threat more seriously?
14. Explain –75-78 – translate this speech:
15. Line 74 – Juliet is practical. She fears Romeo will be murdered. What is Romeo’s tone – is he also fearful and cautious, or is he reckless and elated?
16. Line 78 – The two lovers will repeatedly remind us that they prefer death to separation. What does this speech tell us of Romeo’s intentions?
17. Do you think he is seriously thinking of death here, or is he being impulsive and exaggerating – behaving as many people do when they’ve fallen head over heels in love?
18. Line 109- Why is Juliet afraid of having Romeo swear by the moon?
19. Lines 117 – 120 – How does Shakespeare use images of light and darkness here to hint at dangers to come?
20. Lines 131-136 – What does Juliet’s response to Romeo reveal about her character?
21. Line 174 – When Juliet first discovers that Romeo is in the garden, she urges him to leave for his own safety. Why does she now want him to stay?
Act II Scene III
1. Line 43 – How close a friendship do Romeo and Friar Laurence seem to have?
2. How can you tell?
3. Lines 57-66 – What does Romeo want immediately?
4. What is Friar Lawrence’s reaction?
5. Lines 79 and 80 – What does Friar Lawrence’s statement suggest about his view of men and women?
6. Lines 85-87 – Paraphrase Romeo’s reply in language a teenager might use today.
7. Lines 57-64 – As we have seen, the play is mostly written in blank verse, but Shakespeare varies his verse forms from time to time. The prologues are written in sonnet form. The endings of scenes are marked by rhymed couplets. What is the rhyme scheme of this dialogue?
8. Lines 65-80 – In the early part of the play, Shakespeare keeps Romeo’s intense love in perspective by letting us see how others regard him. We have heard Mercutio’s sarcastic “The ape is dead”. How does Friar Lawrence continue with this scolding and ridicule?
9. Line 92 – In Shakespeare’s time it was not unusual to form alliances and settle disputes by arranging marriages. How does this explain Friar Lawrence’s decision to help the young couple? Why do the Friar’s last words leave us with a sense that danger is ahead?
Act II scene IV
1. For the past two scenes, we have been swept along with Romeo and Juliet’s love story. Now we are reminded of another plot complication – Who has an angry grudge against Romeo that could doom the couple’s love. Line 6
2. Now that the play’s love story seems to be heading toward a marriage, Shakespeare turns again to the feuding families. Why is Tybalt looking for Romeo? Line 8
3. Lines 19-26 – When Mercutio speaks, it’s usually more important to catch the tone, tempo and rhythm of his speeches rather than worry about the meaning of every word. Who do you think of when you think of Mercutio?
4. What is his role in the play?
5. Lines 37-45 – A lover is the Renaissance was expected to proclaim his lady superior to women in classical literature who were famous for their beauty, such as Petrarch’s Laura, Dido, Cleopatra, Helen of Troy, and Hero. How is Mercutio mocking Romeo?
6. Pretend you are Mercutio: Write your own witty response to make fun of Romeo:
7. Lines 19-26 – What is Mercutio acting out here?
8. Although he is being funny, does he fear for Romeo’s life?
9. Lines 83-87 – Mercutio doesn’t understand why Romeo is in a better mood all of a sudden. Why is Romeo in a better mood?
10. Line 111- Why has the nurse come for Romeo?
11. Line 139-141 – Mercutio was disrespectful to the Capulet’s nurse. Romeo wants to “save face”. What does he say to the nurse about Mercutio?
12. Lines 176-182 – What is Romeo talking about here? What does he need on the night he marries Juliet?
13. Line 160 – What warning does the nurse give to Romeo?
14. Lines 194-195 – The herb rosemary can be associated both with weddings and with funerals. What might this foreshadow?
15. Line 193 – Who does the nurse say is the proper man and why? Is Juliet a dutiful daughter anymore? Who is Juliet’s accomplice? Who is Romeo’s accomplice? What has been arranged?
Act II Scene V and VI
1. Line 12 – How does Juliet’s speech here extend the theme of youth versus age?
2. Contrast the passion that Juliet can feel versus what the nurse can feel.
3. Line 15-16 – Do you think this is how most teenagers view older generations?
4. Lines 31-37 – What does this line of reasoning show about Juliet?
5. Lines 38-35 – The nurse is teasing Juliet saying that she made a bad choice – but then she is really only saying positive comments about Romeo. Why does the nurse support the marriage of Juliet and Romeo?
6. Lines 48-52 – which of these lines indicates that Juliet has tried to humor the nurse by rubbing her back?
7. The plot continues to develop; Romeo and Juliet’s wedding plans are completed. List some of the possible complications that could interfere with their happiness:
8. Scene VI, Lines 8-15 – What is the Friar comparing Romeo and Juliet’s love to?
9. How is this foreshadowing?
10. Interpret line 7:
11. What warning does the friar give about passionate love?
12. What fear does he express for the future? – Line 15
13. Line 28 and 29 – What is Romeo asking Juliet to do here?
14. Line 34 – what is Juliet’s response?
Wrap-Up-Questions
Why do Mercutio and Benvolio stop looking for Romeo in the opening scene of Act II?
What does Juliet mean when she says Montague is not a hand, foot, arm, or face?
Why doesn’t Juliet want Romeo swearing his love by the moon?
Why is Friar Laurence skeptical of Romeo’s feelings for Juliet?
Romeo and Juliet Act II Quiz
Name________________
1. In Act II scene I Mercutio still thinks that Romeo is heart-broken over_____
Juliet
Rosaline
the nurse
2. Benvolio says, “Blind is his love…” referring to Romeo; A possible interpretation might be:
Romeo can’t see any imperfections because he is in love
Romeo is wearing a mask and cannot see
It’s hard for Romeo to see because it is dark outside
3. What has happened to Romeo’s old love?
Rosaline still loves Romeo, but Romeo loves Juliet now
Rosaline got married to Paris
Romeo realizes that he never loved Rosaline
4. What is Romeo’s new problem?
He loves a Capulet, and he is a Montague
He loves a Montague, and he is a Capulet
He loves Rosaline, and she doesn’t love him back
5. “Alike bewitched by the charm of looks” In other words:
A witch cast a spell on Romeo
A witch cast a spell on Juliet
Romeo and Juliet fell in love at first sight
6. “But soft! What light through yonder window breaks? It is the East, and Juliet is the sun!” Why does Romeo use light when referring to Juliet?
Light may symbolize warmth
Light may symbolize truth
All above
7. Romeo’s soliloquy begins the balcony scene in which the two lovers woo and win each other. What is Juliet doing while Romeo is speaking aloud to himself?
She is listening
Juliet is standing outside her window on her balcony.
She is talking to the nurse.
8. During a soliloquy:
The audience hears only
Characters nearby hear
a character is whispering
9. A monologue:
The audience hears only
Is directed towards other characters on stage
Is a funny joke
“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell so sweet.”
Romeo says this
Juliet says this
Mercutio says this
10. “I take thee at word. Call me buy love, and I’ll be new baptized; Henceforth I never will be Romeo.”
Romeo is saying that his love for Juliet is more important than his name – Montague
Romeo does not like his name
Juliet wants Romeo to change his name to Paris
11. What complications threaten the lover’s happiness?
Juliet is to marry Paris
Tybalt saw Romeo at the party and is outraged.
All of the above
12. Which character takes these threats to be more serious during the balcony scene?
Romeo
Juliet
Nurse
13. “My life were better ended by their hate than death prorogued, wanting of thy love.”
In other words;
Romeo wishes that he was dead
He hopes that Juliet will not die
Romeo would rather die than be separated from Juliet.
14. Why is Juliet afraid of having Romeo swear by the moon?
The moon is constant
The moon is scary
The moon is inconsistent – and she wants Romeo’s love to be true.
15. “Parting is such sweet sorrow that I shall say good night till it be morrow.”
Romeo says this
Juliet says this
Benvolio says this
16. Friar Laurence
knew about Romeo’s love for Rosaline
is not as good of friend to Romeo as Benvolio
refuses to marry Romeo and Juliet
17. What is Friar’s reaction to Romeo’s confession? Act II scene III
“Holy Saint Francis! What a change is here!”
He says that he is willing to marry Romeo to Rosaline
He refuses immediately
18. “I pray thee chide me not. Her I love now Doth grace for grace and love for love allow. The other did not so.”
Romeo says this to Juliet
Romeo says this to Mercutio
Romeo says this to the Friar
19. The play is written
as one long Shakespearian Sonnet
mostly in blank verse – the endings of scenes marked by rhymed couplets
in French - originally
20. What is the determining factor when the Friar decides to marry Romeo and Juliet
He can easily spot true love
He thinks that the marriage might stop the violence
The Friar believes that Juliet is better than Rosaline
21. “Wisely and slow. They stumble that run fast”
The Friar’s words foreshadow doom
The Friar’s words are humorous
These are Romeo’s words
22. Tybalt has sent a letter
to Juliet confessing his love for her
to challenge Romeo to a duel
to tell Romeo to stop going to Capulet parties
23. “One, two and the third in your bosom!”
Benvolio is acting out a duel with Tybalt
Mercutio is acting out a duel with Tybalt
The Nurse is acting out a duel with Juliet
24. Mercutio
is a serious character
is a humorous character
is glad that Tybalt wants to fight Romeo
25. Mercutio doesn’t understand why Romeo is in a better mood all of a sudden. Why is Romeo in a better mood?
Rosaline has started to like him
He had a fun time dancing at Capulet’s party
He is in love with Juliet
26. Why does the nurse come for Romeo?
to plan out the details for the wedding
to give Tybalt’s letter to Romeo
She would never talk to Montagues
27.“A gentleman, nurse, that loves to hear himself talk and will speak more in a minute than he will stand to in a month”
Mercutio says this to Romeo
Mercutio says this to the nurse
Romeo says this about Mercutio – to the nurse
28.“And bring thee cords made like a tackled stair”
Romeo tells Juliet to bring a ladder for after the wedding
Romeo tells the nurse to bring a ladder for after the wedding
Juliet pushes the ladder over while Romeo is climbing up
29. “If you should deal double with her, truly it were an ill thing to be offered to any gentlewoman”
The Nurse warns Romeo
Romeo warns the nurse
Juliet warns Romeo
30. “Doth not rosemary and Romeo begin with a letter?”
Rosemary is found at weddings
Rosemary is found at funerals
All of the above
31. “I anger her sometimes, and tell her that Paris is the proper man”
Juliet is still a dutiful daughter
Juliet is not obeying her parent’s wishes
The nurse will not let Juliet marry Romeo
32. Who is helping Romeo and Juliet with their scheme?
The Friar and the nurse
Benvolio and Mercutio
Tybalt and Rosaline
33. “Had she affections and warm youthful blood”
Juliet speaks this about her mother
The nurse speaks this about Juliet
Juliet speaks this about the nurse
34. “But old folks, many feign as they were dead Unwieldy, slow, heavy, and pale as lead.”
Juliet is frustrated because the nurse is running late
Juliet is frustrated because Romeo is a Montague
Juliet is frustrated with Tybalt
35. “These violent delights have violent ends and in their triumph die, like fire and powder”
The Friar is talking about the Montagues and the Capulets
The Friar is talking about Romeo and Juliet
Tybalt is talking
36. “Then love – devouring death do what he dare it is enough I may but call her mine”
Romeo talks about how marrying Juliet will be full of happiness for him, even if “love-devouring death” then claims his life
Romeo is talking to Tybalt here
Juliet is talking here
37. “Therefore love moderately: long love doth so; Too swift arrives as tardy as too slow.”
The Friar warns that passionate love is so intense that may wear itself out quickly
He fears that love without moderation is all-consuming and volatile.
All of the above
38. Women parts were played
byGrown men
Boys
Women
39. King Charles II
allowed women to play women roles in 1550.
allowed women to play women roles in the 1700’s.
Allowed women to play women roles in 1660.
