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Week 3: Romeo & Juliet: Act 2: Balcony Scene!

Learning Targets (What I should know): Week 3 Focus: Act 2 - Balcony Scene Week 3 - Learning Goals:

● Students will understand the main events that take place in Act 2 of Romeo & Juliet ● Students will be able to describe how Shakespeare portrays main characters.

Week 3 Packet Due Tuesday 4/28 due to the 4-day holiday weekend (4/24 &

4/27).

English 9

Romeo and Juliet – Act II Reading Activity Directions: Use the provided readings of Act II to respond to the questions/prompts on this handout. Be careful to provide textual evidence where needed. Prologue – The Chorus tells the audience that Romeo’s old love (Rosaline) is dead and replaced by Juliet. Romeo and his new love are taken with each other’s looks. Romeo must now confess his love to his enemy whom he may not be able to see. Juliet has even less freedom to meet Romeo and so they must be patient to find the right time to be together. Act II, scene 1 – The night has gotten late and the partygoers are going home. Romeo ditched his friends at the end of Act I as he was talking with Juliet. He now avoids them as they are teasing him about being lovesick and climbs over a wall to hide from them. Act II, scene 2 – Read through scene 2. In the margins, you will find reading questions. Answer questions on a separate document – complete sentences – and submit to Turn It In. Note that the text on the left is Shakespeare’s original text and the text on the right is No Fear’s “translation” of the lines.

ACT II, scene 2 continues on next page

ACT II, scene 2 continues on next page

Act II, scene 2 – At this point, it is the wee hours of the morning. The young lovers have talked the night away. As dawn arises, Romeo and Juliet profess their love to each other and make plans to sneak away and get married later that day. FINISH READING THE REST OF THE ACT ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE. Act II, scene 3 – Romeo leaves Juliet’s house and heads straight to see Friar Lawrence, his friend and mentor. When Friar Lawrence first sees Romeo, he thinks Romeo has been with Rosaline all night. However, the Friar quickly learns that Romeo is in love with Juliet, and he wants the Friar to marry them in secret later THAT day. The Friar agrees thinking the marriage may help end the feud between the families. Act II, scene 4 – Benvolio and Mercutio are talking about what possibly happened to Romeo last night, since he didn’t come home. They think he spent the night with Rosaline and begin bad-mouthing her. Benvolio mentions that Tybalt sent a letter to Romeo’s challenging him to a duel. Mercutio says Tybalt is a good swordsman but thinks Romeo can handle him. Romeo shows up – remember, he is coming from the Friar’s office. His friends give him a hard time about ditching them the night before. Then Juliet’s nurse shows up to see Romeo. Romeo gives her a message to take back to Juliet: She is to come to confession later that afternoon, and the Friar will marry them. Act II, scene 5 – Juliet waits impatiently for the Nurse. When the Nurse finally shows up, she stalls on telling the news to Juliet to tease her for being so impatient. The Nurse finally reveals the plan to Juliet, who is happy as can be. Act II, scene 6 – Romeo and Juliet meet at the Friar’s office at the church where he marries them in secret.

 

 

Answer the following questions using complete sentences & textual evidence:  

 

1. Romeo sees Juliet on her balcony and talks to himself about her beauty. What does Romeo

compare her to? What might he mean by his comparison?

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2. In your own words, explain what Juliet is saying about names. (Response should be 2-3

sentences)

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3. Juliet asks Romeo how he got there and fears for his life. Read his responses and explain

what they tell us about Romeo’s character. Include textual evidence from Shakespeare’s

original text to support your response.

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4. Explain why Juliet is embarrassed.

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5. After you read the summaries for the rest of Act 2, answer this question: Approximately

how long after meeting have Romeo & Juliet gotten married?

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Balcony Scene Comparison

Director Zeffirelli (old version) Director Luhrman (new version)

Juliet is day dreaming and expressing her love out on the balcony for Romeo.

Romeo spies on Juliet up in the balcony. Juliet finds Romeo listening in the bushes. Romeo & Juliet decide to meet and get married the following day.

Juliet leaves the party and goes to day dream

about Romeo by the pool.

Juliet continues to express her love about

Romeo, not knowing he is in the room.

Romeo sneaks up on Juliet where she turns

around and finds him.

They both fall into the pool and plan when

they will run off and get married.

 After looking at the 2 versions of this scene, write one paragraph in which you 

discuss: 5 sentence minimum.  

- Which director do you think was the most faithful or accurate to the text? 

Explain why. Please use at least 2 examples from the film that support your 

answer. 

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