Analysis of Act One - Summary

Question 1

Briefly summarise the key events of Act One

Answer 1

A fight between the Montagues and the Capulets is stopped by the Prince. Romeo, who is in love with Rosaline, agrees to sneak into the Capulets’ party. Juliet is at the same party, where she is supposed to be looking out for Paris, who wants to marry her. Romeo and Juliet meet at the party and fall in love, before learning they belong to rival families.

Question 2

True or false? Friar Lawrence does not appear in Act 1 if the play.

Answer 2

True. He doesn’t appear until Act 2, Scene 3

Question 3

Which character shows the most aggression in Act 1?
A. Mercutio
B. Benvolio
C. Tybalt
D. Capulet

Answer 3

C. Tybalt shows the most aggression in Act 1. He joins the fight in Scene 1 and then wants to fight Romeo in Scene 5. The other characters mentioned either don’t fight (Mercutio) or actively try to stop the fighting (Benvolio and Capulet).

Question 4

Shakespeare uses comedy at several points in Act 1.
What effect does this have? Give reasons for your answer.

Answer 4

The comic moments in Act 1 lighten the mood and entertain the audience. For example, Romeo and Mercutio’s clever wordplay creates comedy — Mercutio uses puns to tease Romeo about his love for Rosaline, which encourages the audience to take Romeo’s despair and heartbreak less seriously.

Question 5

Do you think Romeo has changed by the end of Act 1?
Explain your answer.

Answer 5

Romeo has changed in that he no longer loves Rosaline and has fallen in love with Juliet instead. However, some aspects of his character don’t seem to have changed. He is still prone to falling in love very suddenly, which could suggest he remains immature and shallow at the end of the act.