Romeo and Juliet

1
Romeo and Juliet

• Act I Group Questions

2
Reading Check

• What does the prologue say ends the rage between
  two families?
• Who is Tybalt? What does he do that is dangerous?
• What warning does Prince Escalus give the street
  brawlers in Scene 1?
• Where do Romeo and Juliet first meet?

3
Thinking Critical

• Scene I (and others) shows how information can be
  conveyed through dialogue, or conversation
  between characters. Look at the dialogue and
  interactions of the following characters
• Benvolio
• Tybalt
• Lord Montague
• Gregory and Sampson

• Write down adjectives and adverbs that describe
  each of these characters (4 minimum) based on
  their dialogue and actions.
• These descriptive words should also be written
  down on your character description sheet.

4
Thinking Critically

• Before Romeo and Juliet meet in Scene 4,
  Shakespeare must set up obstacles to their love
  so that when they do meet, we will groan at the
  problems they are going to face. What problem, or
  complication, is presented in Scene 2 and 3?

5
Thinking Critically

• Mercutio is used as a character foil to Romeo. In
  drama a character foil is a character who sets
  off another character by strong contrast. In what
  way is Mercutio a foil to Romeo?

6
Thinking Critically

• The title of this play tells us that it is a
  tragedya play in which the main characters come
  to an unhappy end. How do Romeos and Juliets
  reactions in Scene 5, when they learn each
  others identity, foreshadow, or give clues to,
  their tragic end?

7
Thinking Critically

• Shakespeare usually inserts comic elements into
  his tragedies. His servants and workers, for
  example, often tell funny stories, make puns, and
  kid around. List three examples of scenes from
  Act I that show comic elements.

8
Extending and Evaluating

• Although the action of this play takes place in
  Italy in the fourteenth century, we can recognize
  similarities between the culture of that time and
  that of our own. Which conflicts in Act I could
  you imagine taking place today? What details
  would have to change, if any?