Romeo and Juliet Act 1, Scene 1

Question 1

Describe how the Prince feels about the feud. Find a word or a phrase to justify your answer.

Answer 1

The Prince is furious. He sees the feud as pointless. It disturbs the peace of Verona and the fighting is unnecessary - bred of an airy word

Question 2

Why is it significant (later in the play) that whoever starts the next argument will be condemned to death?

Answer 2

This makes the Prince’s words very significant. Later in the play, Romeo is involved in the fight in which Tybalt and Mercutio die. However, as Romeo did not start the fight, he is not put to death. Rather his sentence is commuted to banishment.

Question 3

What is the significance of Romeo walking under the sycamore tree?

Answer 3

The sycamore tree is associated with lovesickness.

Question 4

Romeo is the picture of the courtly lover. What does this mean?

Answer 4

Romeo follows the picture of the courtly lover in the Elizabethan tradition. He is melancholic, isolates himself, cannot sleep, doesn’t eat or drink, and suffers because of his unanswered love.

Question 5

Do Montague and his wife understand the cause of Romeo’s depression? To what theme does this point?

Answer 5

No. They send Benvolio to investigate. It points to the theme of the generation gap.

Question 6

What is the relationship between Romeo and Benvolio?

Answer 6

They are cousins and friends.

Question 7

Romeo describes his love as a brawling love and a loving hate. Give reasons.

Answer 7

Rosaline is actually a Capulet. The oxymorons stress that Romeo is in love when he shouldn’t be (loving hate). Also, the Montagues fight the Capulets (brawling love).

Question 8

Do you believe Romeo has a realistic picture of love? (Examine lines 176-180)

Answer 8

No. His view seems very idealistic. He seems more in love with being in love, than with Rosaline herself.

Question 9

Why is Romeo’s love unrequited?

Answer 9

Rosaline intends to join a convent and will not give herself to any man.

Question 10

What is Bevolio’s advice to Romeo?

Answer 10

Benvolio suggests that Romeo tries to find someone else to admire because then he will quickly forget Rosaline.

Question 11

For question 11-13, refer to lines 1-32:

To which household do Sampson and Gregory belong?

Answer 11

They belong to the Capulet Household.

Question 12

What does the word “choler” mean in line 3?

Answer 12

It means anger.

Question 13

Why would Sampson and Gregory be ready to fight a Montague?

Answer 13

The ancient quarrel between the Capulet and Montague households caused constant fights, which could occur at any time.

Question 14

For question 14-15, refer to lines 58-65:

Why does Benvolio want to stop the fight?

Answer 14

Benvolio knows that there is no good reason for the quarrel between the Capulets and the Montagues and he does not want anyone to die. If Sampson and Abraham fight, it will not be long before all the men of the two families are fighting.

Question 15

What does the name ‘Benvolio’ mean?

Answer 15

It means peace-loving.

Question 16

For questions 16-20, refer to lines 66-72:

What does Tybalt mean by “heartless”?

Answer 16

Cowardly.

Question 17

What does Benvolio ask Tybalt to do?

Answer 17

Benvolio asks Tybalt either to put his sword back in its sheath and so stop fighter, or to use his sword to help him stop Sampson and Abraham from fighting.

Question 18

What do we learn about Tybalt’s character?

Answer 18

He is proud and quarrelsome. He has a quick temper. He hates the Montagues.

Question 19

With whom is Tybalt contrasted in the play?

Answer 19

Benvolio (and Romeo, particularly when he becomes peace-loving after marrying Juliet.)

Question 20

Do you think Tybalt is right to call Benvolio a coward?

Answer 20

Not at all. Benvolio, in fact, shows more courage and intelligence than Tybalt does.

Question 21

For questions 21-25, refer to lines 73-80:

Why do the citizens dislike both the Caoulets and the Montagues?

Answer 21

The two houses cause constant disturbance and violence in Verona.

Question 22

What does Lord Capulet feel about the fighting that is going on?

Answer 22

He wants to join the fighting to try to gain his revenge on Montague.

Question 23

What does Montague feel?

Answer 23

Montague hates Capulet and is also eager to join the fight against his old enemy.

Question 24

What will be contrasted with all this fighting and violence?

Answer 24

The love between Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet.

Question 25

What does Lady Montague feel about the fighting?

Answer 25

Lady Montague does not want her husband to join in the fighting and go looking for trouble.

Question 26

For question 26-32, refer to lines 81-103:

What are the “purple fountains” (l.85) that the Prince talks about?

Answer 26

The blood that flows from the wounds caused by swords.

Question 27

What would you say is the tone of the Prince’s speech?

Answer 27

The Prince’s tone is angry, but also sad.

Question 28

How many fights between the Montagues and the Capulets have there been in the streets of Verona recently?

Answer 28

Three fights.

Question 29

Who are the “ancient citizens” (l.92) to whom the Prince refers?

Answer 29

The Prince refers to old Caplet and Montague.

Question 30

Whose lives will, in fact, “pay the forfeit of the peace” (L.97)?

Answer 30

The lives of Mercutio, Tybalt, Paris, Romeo, Juliet and Lady Montague will all die.

Question 31

Why does the Prince tell old Montague and Capulet to come to his Palace?

Answer 31

The Prince wants them to hear his instructions for the keeping of the peace and the punishment if his commands are not obeyed.

Question 32

What will be the penalty for disobeying the Prince?

Answer 32

Death will be the penalty.

Question 33

For questions 33-36, refer to lines 104-115:

What relation is Benvolio to old Montague?

Answer 33

Benvolio is Montague’s nephew.

Question 34

Who is Benvolio talkig about when he refers to Montague’s “adversary” (l.106)?

Answer 34

Benvolio is talking about Capulet.

Question 35

Why did Benvolio draw his own sword?

Answer 35

He wanted to try to stop the servants of Montague and Capulet from fighting.

Question 36

What does Benvolio mean when he calls Tybalt “fiery” (l.109)?

Answer 36

Tybalt has a passionate nature and is very quick-tempered ad quarrelsome.

Question 37

For questions 37-43, refer to lines 116-155:

Why is Lady Montague glad?

Answer 37

She is glad that Romeo was not involved in the fight with the Capulets.

Question 38

Why was Benvolio walking outdoors so early in the morning?

Answer 38

He was worried about something and wanted to be alone.

Question 39

What did Romeo did when he saw Benvolio?

Answer 39

Romeo hid himself in the forest.

Question 40

What did Benvolio think was the reason for Romeo’s behaviour?

Answer 40

Benvolio thought that, like himself, Romeo was sad and worried and did not want the company of anyone else.

Question 41

Montague fears that Romeo’s behaviour is a sign that something disastrous will happen in the future (“Black and portentous must his humour prove”). In what way will his fears come true?

Answer 41

Although at this stage Romeo is not in love with Juliet, but with Rosaline, it will be because of love that he will die.

Question 42

What is the reason for Romeo’s behaviour?

Answer 42

He is love-sick for Rosaline.

Question 43

What is the significance of Montague’s words about Romeo: “Is to himself - I will not say how true”(l.148)

Answer 43

Romeo is more in love with the idea of being in love that really being in love. The words also suggest that Romeo doesn’t usually behave this way. Romeo learns to be true to the best part of his nature during the play.

Question 44

For questions 44-47, refer to lines 156-200:

What question will Bevolio ask Romeo?

Answer 44

He will asks Romeo what is making him so sad.

Question 45

What reason does Romeo give for being so sad?

Answer 45

Rosaline doesn’t love him.

Question 46

What “fray”(l.173) is Romeo talking about?

Answer 46

The fray is the fight in the streets that has taken place between the servants of Montague and Capulet.

Question 47

What will be the opposite of the hate between the Montagues and the Capulets?

Answer 47

The love between Romeo and Juliet is the opposite of the hate caused by the feud.

Question 48

For questions 48-51, refer to lines 201-241:

What do you think is the main difference between Romeo’s relationship with Rosaline and his love for Juliet?

Answer 48

Romeo’s feelings for Rosaline are very superficial. His feelings for Juliet are based on a deep and genuine love.

Question 49

What advice does Benvolio give?

Answer 49

Romeo should look at other beautiful girls.

Question 50

What does Romeo say he will feel if he looks at other beautiful girls?

Answer 50

It will only make him realise that Rosaline is far more beautiful than any other girl.

Question 51

Romeo says that Bevolio cannot make him forget Rosaline. What will make him forget her?

Answer 51

Romeo’s genuine love for Juliet will make him forget Rosaline.