Romeo and Juliet

1
Romeo and Juliet

• Revision Guide

2
Act One Scene I

• What happens?
• There is a brawl between Capulets and Montagues.
• It is started by the servants, Benvolio attempts
  to stop it and Tybalt reignites it.
• The Prince orders peace on pain of death
• Romeo complains to Benvolio about his broken
  heart and love for Rosaline.

3
Act One Scene I

• Why does it matter?
• Verona is not a place of peace. The play opens in
  a world filled with hate.
• BUT people are starting to become tired of the
  violence.
• Romeos love and romance is in contrast to the
  hatred and conflict in Verona.

4
Act One Scene II

• What happens?
• Paris asks for Juliets hand in marriage.
• Capulet says she is still too young.
• Romeo and Benvolio decide to gate-crash the
  Capulet party.
• Romeo is hoping to see Rosaline.

5
Act One Scene II

• Why does it matter?
• Capulet seems to be open to the idea of peace.
• Capulet shows that he cares for his daughter.
• Romeo is still preoccupied with Rosaline.

6
Act One Scene III

• What happens?
• The Nurse, Lady Capulet and Juliet discuss the
  possibility of Juliet marrying Paris.
• The Nurse tells stories of Juliets childhood.

7
Act One Scene III

• Why does it matter?
• Juliet and the Nurses close relationship is
  clear. The Nurse raised Juliet.
• The distant relationship between Lady Capulet and
  Juliet is revealed.
• Juliet is a respectful, obedient daughter who is
  mature for her age.

8
Act One Scene IV

• What happens?
• Romeo, Benvolio and Mercutio prepare for the
  Capulet party.
• Mercutio tries to cheer Romeo up by teasing him
  but Romeo is still miserable.
• Romeo is nervous about going to the party as he
  had an ominous dream.

9
Act One Scene IV

• Why does it matter?
• Mercutios liveliness and imagination contrasts
  with Romeos misery.
• Romeo has an idealistic, romantic view of love.
  Mercutio is more cynical. However, Mercutio is a
  loyal friend to Romeo.
• Romeos dream emphasises the tragic nature of the
  play.

10
Act One Scene V

• KEY SCENE
• Listen to the scene
• again and discuss.

11
Act One Scene V (Key Scene)

• Why does it matter?
• Romeos love is love at first sight. It is as
  if Romeo has come back to life.
• Juliets love is just as sudden. However, Juliet
  keeps cool and calm, her love is down-to-earth
  and realistic. Meanwhile Romeo is extravagant,
  idealistic and romantic.
• In the middle of the merriment of the party
  Tybalt attempts to revive the feud by challenging
  Romeo to fight.

12
Act One Scene V (Key Scene)

• Why does it matter?
• Capulet stops him, however, Tybalt intends to get
  revenge on Romeo and this outbreak of hate
  threatens Romeos new love.
• Love and hate, peace and violence struggle for
  supremacy in this scene and we are ready for a
  crisis.
• Tragic consequences are also foreseen by Juliet.

13
Over to You!

• This is a key scene in the play so you should
  know it very well.
• When studying it, try to think about what this
  scene shows us about the key characters and the
  key themes.
• Are there are any important quotes in this scene?
• Be able to refer to this scene in detail and its
  meaning when answering an exam question!

14
Act Two Scene I

• What happens?
• Romeo does not want to leave the Capulet house
  because Juliet is there.
• As Benvolio and Mercutio search for him, he
  climbs a wall into Capulets orchard.
• Mercutio and Benvolio go home without him.

15
Act Two Scene I

• Why does it matter?
• This scene allows Romeo to escape his friends so
  that he can be alone with Juliet.

16
Act Two Scene II

• KEY SCENE
• Listen to the scene
• again and discuss.

17
Act Two Scene II (Key Scene)

• Why does it matter?
• This famous balcony scene captures the
  atmosphere of love and romance.
• It is night time and the moon and stars light up
  Romeo and Juliets meeting. It is as if the night
  itself sympathises with them and is protecting
  their love.
• The depth and intensity of the love becomes clear.

18
Act Two Scene II (Key Scene)

• Why does it matter?
• Romeo is totally committed to Juliet and nothing
  else matters. Juliet is more practical but she
  loves Romeo deeply.
• The light of true love is isolated from the
  darkness of a hate-filled society.
• The lovers are allowed a brief moment to enjoy
  their exchanges of love.

19
Act Two Scene II (Key Scene)

• Why does it matter?
• However, the hostile world around them is never
  far from Juliets mind. While Romeo is lost in a
  poetic world of romance, Juliet worries about
  what her kinsmen could do to Romeo.
• We are reminded, even in the midst of this
  beautiful love scene, that the lovers are alone
  against a hostile world.
• Juliets premonitions of disaster remind the
  audience that tragedy will be the result of this
  love.

20
Over to You!

• This is a key scene in the play so you should
  know it very well.
• When studying it, try to think about what this
  scene shows us about the key characters and the
  key themes.
• Are there are any important quotes in this scene?
• Be able to refer to this scene in detail and its
  meaning when answering an exam question!

21
Act Two Scene III

• What happens?
• Friar Laurence is gathering herbs to make
  medicine he is skilled in making poisons.
• The Friar discovers Romeo is no longer in love
  with Rosaline and has fallen for Juliet.
• Romeo appeals to the Friar to marry them that
  very day. The Friar agrees to help, hoping to
  being about the end of the feud. However, he
  warns Romeo not to act too hastily.

22
Act Two Scene III

• Why does it matter?
• Practical plans are being made to organise
• the marriage.
• Romeo has no second thoughts about the
  relationship.
• The Friars advice not to be hasty is ironic
  given the fact that he agrees to marry Romeo and
  Juliet almost immediately. He is not following
  his own advice.
• Though he has the best intentions, the Friar is
  not very sensible.

23
Act Two Scene IV

• What happens?
• Benvolio and Mercutio are still searching for
  Romeo.
• Tybalt has issued a challenge to Romeo which
  Benvolio believes Romeo will accept.
• Romeo arrives and joins in with Benvolio and
  Mercutios fun. He seems like a new man and is
  very happy and sociable.
• The Nurse arrives, leading to more joking, to act
  as Juliets messenger.
• Juliet is to makes excuses and go to the Friars
  cell that evening to be married.

24
Act Two Scene IV

• Why does it matter?
• Romeos impending marriage fills him with
  happiness, however, trouble is on the horizon.
  Tybalt has issued a challenge which Romeo must
  answer, even though his chances of winning are
  slim.
• Love and hate yet again come into conflict.
• The gaiety and laughter of the scene relieve the
  tension caused by Tybalts challenge and the
  increasing danger Romeo is in.

25
Act Two Scene V

• What happens?
• Juliet waits impatiently for news from Romeo.
• The Nurse arrives and teases Juliet, delaying in
  telling her the news.
• When the Nurse finally tells her she is relieved
  and delighted.

26
Act Two Scene V

• Why does it matter?
• The scene tests Juliets resolve to marry Romeo.
• Her soliloquy shows how real her love is.
• The Nurses delaying tactics highlight how eager
  Juliet is to marry Romeo.

27
Act Two Scene VI

• What happens?
• The Friar and Romeo wait for Juliet to arrive at
  the Friars cell.
• The Friar anxiously prays that the marriage will
  not be a cause for regret.
• Romeo is confident their love will overcome all
  but the Friar urges moderation in love.
• Juliet arrives and the two are married.

28
Act Two Scene VI

• Why does it matter?
• The Friars speech warns us here of the tragedy
  that is to follow this scene of love.
• The lovers declare their youthful and mutual
  love, each in their own individual manner.

29
Act Three Scene I

• KEY SCENE
• Listen to the scene
• again and discuss.

30
Act Three Scene I (Key Scene)

• Why does it matter?
• This scene is the turning point of the drama.
• Up to now the relationship of the lovers has run
  relatively smoothly. Now Romeo is banished on the
  very day of his wedding and the marriage seems
  doomed.
• The hate and rivalries of Verona begin to close
  in on their love from this point. Romeo is put in
  an impossible situation he reacts honourably to
  his friends death by challenging Tybalt but in
  doing so puts himself and his love at risk.

31
Act Three Scene I (Key Scene)

• Why does it matter?
• Romeos choice was noble but now he must suffer
  for it.
• In hate-filled Verona even an honourable deed
  brings disastrous consequences.
• From this point on events move swiftly towards
  tragedy.

32
Over to You!

• This is a key scene in the play so you should
  know it very well.
• When studying it, try to think about what this
  scene shows us about the key characters and the
  key themes.
• Are there are any important quotes in this scene?
• Be able to refer to this scene in detail and its
  meaning when answering an exam question!

33
Act Three Scene II

• What happens?
• Juliet waits for her wedding night with joy and
  anticipation, blissfully unaware of the violence
  of the previous scene.
• When the Nurse tells her the news Juliet is
  filled with confusion and despair.
• By the end of the scene Juliet,
• though heartbroken, grimly steels
• herself to deal with the situation,
• even if it means death.

34
Act Three Scene II

• Why does it matter?
• This scene is important because it reveals so
  much about Juliets character.
• When the Nurse abuses Romeo Juliet recovers her
  composure and sees her first loyalty must be to
  her husband.
• Juliets happiness comes to a cruelly abrupt end.
• The scene shows Juliet coping with the tragedy in
  a mature and dignified manner.
• She shows a heroic courage in her acceptance of
  the tragedy and in dealing with the stress of the
  banishment.

35
Act Three Scene III

• What happens?
• The Friar tells Romeo he is to be banished.
• Romeo is distraught since it means separation
  from Juliet and so is worse than death.
• The Nurse is disgusted at his pitiful behaviour
  when Juliet needs him to be strong.
• Romeo is filled with guilt and tries to stab
  himself but the Friar stops him.
• After receiving Juliets ring Romeo feels
• calmer and the Friar promises to try to
• sort out the problems so Romeo can return from
  exile.

36
Act Three Scene III

• Why does it matter?
• Under stress Romeo, unlike Juliet, goes to pieces
  and attempts suicide.
• Romeo loses his self-control under stress
• but his love for Juliet saves him.
• Like Juliet, separation is worse than death
• for Romeo but he pulls himself together at the
  Nurse and Friars urging.
• In her scene Juliet wins our sympathy and
  admiration, while Romeo only earns our sympathy
  in this scene.

37
Act Three Scene IV

• What happens?
• Capulet tells Paris that Juliet will marry him.
• He feels confident that it will cheer Juliet up
  after Tybalts death and that she will be happy
  to obey his wishes.

38
Act Three Scene IV

• Why does it matter?
• Ironically, just as Romeo and Juliet enjoy their
  wedding night together, more events outside their
  control are taking place.
• Unintentionally Juliets loving father has placed
  her in an extremely difficult situation, adding
  to her existing problems.
• Tragedy is moving closer.

39
Act Three Scene V

• KEY SCENE
• Listen to the scene
• again and discuss.

40
Act Three Scene V (Key Scene)

• Why does it matter?
• This scene is the last time we see the lovers
  alive together.
• They are loathe to end their blissful night
  together for a brief moment their happiness
  knows no bounds.
• This contrasts with the rest of the scene which
  is filled with violence and anger.
• Juliet foresees Romeos death and though he tries
  to be optimistic it is clear tragedy is
  approaching swiftly.

41
Act Three Scene V (Key Scene)

• Why does it matter?
• Juliet is caught between loyalty to Romeo and
  loyalty to her family.
• Capulet is disappointed at his daughters
  disloyalty to him and furiously disowns her.
• Juliet, without any hope, sees no way out but
  death.

42
Over to You!

• This is a key scene in the play so you should
  know it very well.
• When studying it, try to think about what this
  scene shows us about the key characters and the
  key themes.
• Are there are any important quotes in this scene?
• Be able to refer to this scene in detail and its
  meaning when answering an exam question!

43
Act Four Scene I

• What happens?
• Paris arranges his marriage to Juliet with the
  Friar, who tries to hide his shock.
• Juliet arrives and confesses to the Friar her
  desperation. If he doesnt find a solution she is
  determined to kill herself.
• The Friar invents a plan to fake Juliets death
  until Romeo can take her away with him.

44
Act Four Scene I

• Why does it matter?
• This scene highlights Juliets desperation.
• We are presented with an emergency situation
  calling for desperate remedies.
• The Friar wants to help her but he is under
  pressure and his plan has many flaws.
• He doesnt stop to think of the more direct
  approach of telling both families the truth and
  attempting to reconcile them.

45
Act Four Scene II

• What happens?
• Capulet makes preparations for the wedding.
• When Juliet asks for forgiveness he is so happy
  he moves the wedding forward to the next day.

46
Act Four Scene II

• Why does it matter?
• Juliet carries out the first step of the Friars
  plan successfully.
• Fate closes in on her and Romeo when the wedding
  is moved forward.
• There is far less time now to inform Romeo of the
  plan.
• This scene emphasises the complete isolation of
  Juliet.

47
Act Four Scene III

• What happens?
• Juliet sends her mother and the Nurse away so she
  can take the Friars drug.
• Her worst fears come to mind as she prepares to
  drink it.
• Finally, for Romeos sake, she swallows the
  potion and falls asleep.

48
Act Four Scene III

• Why does it matter?
• This scene shows that Juliet trusts absolutely to
  the power of her love.
• She is determined to die rather than betray that
  love and has a dagger at hand in case the potion
  does not work.
• She faces all of her terrible fears and still
  takes the drug.
• Juliet confronts forces greater than herself and
  trusts to the power of love to save her.

49
Act Four Scene IV

• What happens?
• The Capulet household is in a happy and festive
  mood preparing for the wedding.
• The Nurse is sent to wake Juliet up for the
  wedding.

50
Act Four Scene IV

• Why does it matter?
• This light-hearted scene provides temporary
  relief from the terror of the previous scene.
• Juliet has taken the potion and we have yet to
  discover whether it has worked or not.

51
Act Four Scene V

• What happens?
• The Nurse is horrified to find Juliet dead.
• The Capulets lament their daughters death in
  extravagant exclamations of grief.
• The Friar pretends to be calm, assuring the
  Capulets that Juliet is happy in heaven.

52
Act Four Scene V

• Why does it matter?
• The Capulets grief is more conventional than
  sincere, highlighting that the real tragedy is
  yet to unfold.
• The Friar makes clear to the audience that events
  are happening according to his plan.

53
Act Five Scene I

• What happens?
• Romeo is expecting good news from the Friar when
  Balthasar arrives with the shocking news that
  Juliet is dead.
• Devastated, Romeo decides he will lie with Juliet
  that night in death.
• He buys poison from a poor apothecary and leaves
  for Verona.

54
Act Five Scene I

• Why does it matter?
• Romeo is against the odds in this scene news of
  Juliets death arrives before the Friars
  letter reaches him.
• Plunged into despair Romeo decides to join Juliet
  in death.
• Romeo is no longer an impractical idealist, he
  makes up his mind quickly and acts decisively.
• Fate is closing in on the lovers and only one
  hope seems to remain will Juliet wake up before
  Romeo takes the poison?

55
Act Five Scene II

• What happens?
• Friar John explains to Friar Laurence that he
  could not deliver the message to Romeo.
• Friar Laurence decides to go to the Capulet vault
  since Juliet will awaken soon.
• He plans to hide Juliet until he can call Romeo
  from Mantua.

56
Act Five Scene II

• Why does it matter?
• An unhappy accident leads to a race against time
  to prevent disaster.
• Romeo has already left Mantua and Juliet is about
  to awaken.
• Can the Friar arrive in time to prevent tragedy?
• So many fateful accidents have already happened
  disaster seems imminent.

57
Act Five Scene III

• KEY SCENE
• Listen to the scene
• again and discuss.

58
Act Five Scene III (Key Scene)

• Why does it matter?
• Tragic forces finally close in in this scene
• Romeo hasnt been told that Juliet is not really
  dead
• The Friar arrives too late to prevent Romeos
  death
• Juliet awakens too late to save Romeos life
• The Friar is too slow to realise that Juliet
  intends to die and escapes without her.

59
Act Five Scene III (Key Scene)

• Why does it matter?
• Yet it is not just fate to blame, the long
  standing hatred of the feud made it impossible
  for Romeo and Juliets love to thrive.
• When the lovers were faced with great problems to
  solve they found themselves isolated.
• Society and fate combine to cause the tragedy.
• Romeo is a tragic hero in this scene he
  realises there is no turning back and faces death
  without flinching.
• Juliets death shows heroic courage as stabbing
  herself, a far more painful death than poison.

60
Act Five Scene III (Key Scene)

• Why does it matter?
• However, the play does not end in total despair.
• It presents a new beginning and we look forward
  to better things in the future in Verona.
• The lovers sacrifice has not been in vain since
  the Capulets and Montagues are reconciled.
• Sadly it took the deaths of their children to
  bring peace to Verona.
• In death the lovers are together and so their
  love transcends death.

61
Over to You!

• This is a key scene in the play so you should
  know it very well.
• When studying it, try to think about what this
  scene shows us about the key characters and the
  key themes.
• Are there are any important quotes in this scene?
• Be able to refer to this scene in detail and its
  meaning when answering an exam question!