Act III Scene i

Romeo and Juliet

1. Why does Benvolio want to go inside?

• It is hot outside and he fears a brawl (fight) will happen if the Montagues run into the Capulets.

2. What does Tybalt try to get Romeo to do?

• Tybalt wants Romeo to draw his sword and fight him.

3. Why won’t Romeo fight Tybalt?

• Romeo is now Tybalt’s relative and Romeo won’t fight someone who is related to him. Romeo says that he has good reason to love Tybalt.

4. Why does Mercutio fight Tybalt instead?

• Mercutio will not let Tybalt get away with saying offensive remarks. If Romeo will not fight, Mercutio will fight in his place.

5. What happens to Mercutio?

• Tybalt stabs Mercutio under Romeo’s arm as Romeo tries to break up the fight.

6. What does Mercutio mean by “A plague o' both your houses!”

• May a plague curse both your families. He is wishing for something bad to happen to the Montagues and Capulets.

7. Why does Romeo blame himself for Mercutio’s death?

• Romeo thinks his love for Juliet has made him weak and womanly. He thinks he should have fought Tybalt instead of Mercutio.

8. How does Romeo avenge(get back at Tybalt for) Mercutio’s death?

• When Tybalt comes back upon the scene, Romeo draws out his sword to fight Tybalt and Romeo stabs and kills Tybalt.

9. Why doesn’t Lady Capulet believe Benvolio’s explanation of the fight?

• She thinks Benvolio is lying to protect the Montagues.

10. What does the Prince say is Romeo’s punishment?

• Romeo will be banished to Mantua forever. If he enters Verona, he will be killed.

11. How is the idea of the honor and manliness of men portrayed in the fight scene?

• Mercutio and Tybalt display “manliness” by fighting and not backing down. Romeo thinks himself womanly because he did not fight at his first chance.

Act III Scene ii

Romeo and Juliet

1. Because the Nurse has trouble telling Juliet news of the fight, what does Juliet believe has happened?

• Juliet thinks Romeo has been killed.

2. Why does Juliet grow upset at the Nurse?

• The Nurse criticizes Romeo and says shame should be brought upon him.

3. Where is Romeo hiding?

• He is hiding in Friar Lawrence’s cell.

4. What will the Nurse do regarding Romeo?

• The Nurse will make sure Romeo comes to Juliet’s bedroom for their wedding night.

Act III Scene iii

Romeo and Juliet

1. To Romeo, why is banishment a punishment worse than death?

• Romeo will still be alive but he will be without Juliet, so he will miss her with his entire being.

2. Romeo is worried that Juliet might think he is a what? Because of this, what does he threaten to do?

• Romeo is worried Juliet will think he is a murderer.• He threatens to stab himself.

3. What is the Friar’s temporary solution to the problem of Romeo’s banishment?

• Romeo will spend the night with Juliet and then escape to Mantua. He will stay there until the news that he and Juliet are married can be spread and he can come back to Verona.

4. What makes Romeo feel a bit better?

• The Nurse gives Romeo a ring from Juliet.

Act III Scene iv

Romeo and Juliet

1. What will Lord Capulet do to speed up Paris and Juliet’s love?

• He promises Paris that he will talk to Juliet and tell her to marry Paris later that week.

2. What will happen on Thursday of that week?

• Paris and Juliet will be married.

Act III Scene v

Romeo and Juliet

1. How does Shakespeare use the theme of light/dark and night/day in this scene?

• As day approaches, Juliet tries to convince Romeo that the bird he hears is not a lark but a nightingale. Just as Romeo thought Juliet turned dark into light (“Juliet is the sun”), Juliet is trying to turn light into dark. She wants to postpone day so they can be together longer.

2. The following lines are an example of what literary device:

O God, I have an ill-divining soul!

Methinks I see thee, now thou art below,As one dead in the bottom of a tomb:

Either my eyesight fails, or thou look'st pale.

• Juliet thinks Romeo looks pale, as though he has already died.• This is foreshadowing – hinting that

Romeo will eventually be dead.

3. How is Juliet’s speech to her mother about hating Romeo a pun (play on words)?

• Juliet convinces her mother that Juliet would like to see Romeo, the villain, dead.

• “I never shall be satisfiedWith Romeo, till I behold him--dead—

• Is my heart.”• I will not marry yet; and, when I do, I swear,

It shall be Romeo, whom you know I hate,Rather than Paris.

4. What is Juliet’s reaction to the news that she will marry Paris? How does she try to delay the marriage?

• Juliet is shocked.• She says she is not ready to be

married.

5. How does Lord Capulet react when Juliet tells him about her thoughts on marriage to Paris?

• He is outraged. He says he will disown Juliet if she will not marry Paris.• “I tell thee what: get thee to church

o' Thursday,Or never after look me in the face”

6. What is the Nurse’s solution to the Paris-Romeo problem?

• Juliet should forget Romeo and marry Paris.

7. What does Juliet tell the Nurse she’ll do? What does she really plan to do? What is her last resort option?

• She really will go meet with Friar Lawrence and never trust the Nurse.• As a last resort, she can kill herself.