The fifteenth part of this unit is an extensive review of Act I of Romeo and Juliet. Use the following information for classroom instruction.
Use the text Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. Any edition will work. The text can be found online here or may be downloaded for free here.
Have students—individually—review the following vocabulary from Act I:
- Buckler, Collier, Choler, Partisans, Pernicious
- Augmenting, Importuned, Portentous, Languish, Ladybird
- Lammas, Wormwood, Mantua, Disposition, Lineament
- Margent, Endart, Prolixity, Reverence, Marchpane
- Knaves, Fleer, Solemnity
Next, divide the class into small groups and have them review the following questions:
Prologue
Romeo and Juliet Part Fifteen
Photo credit:
Navarre Simpson, PowerPoint, Clip Art
- How does the prologue, which is in sonnet form, make you—the reader—aware of the nature of the play? Provide examples.
- What are the differences between the Montagues and Capulets? Where does fate apply here?
- What does the prologue say about the children of the two feuding families?
- Does the prologue reveal the theme of the play? If so, what is it?
Act I, Scene I
- How does the first scene capture the audience?
- What is the purpose of the street brawl? Provide examples.
- Who serves as the peacemaker?
- What is a quarrel? Does the scene depict or quarrel or something more? Explain.
- How is Romeo characterized when first introduced in the play? Is he a romantic? Why or why not?
Act I, Scene II
- What do you—the reader—learn about Juliet in this scene? Provide examples.
- Find evidence that supports the claim that each family—the Montagues and Capulets—love their children.
- How is Paris characterized? How is he different than Romeo?
- Where does the idea of fate begin to work in this scene? Provide examples.
Act I, Scene III
- How is Juliet characterized when first introduced in the play? Provide examples.
- Does Juliet appear completely obedient? Why or why not?
- Compare and contrast the idea of marriage between Juliet and the Nurse. Support your findings with examples from the text.
Act I, Scene IV
- How is Mercutio characterized when first introduced in the play? How does he compare to Romeo? Provide examples.
- What is the significance of Mercutio’s Queen Mab speech? Explain.
- Even though Mercutio creates a lighthearted mood in this scene, does there seem to be an implication of doom here? In other words, could Romeo’s mood be foreshadowing future events? Explain.
Act I, Scene V
- How is Tybalt characterized when first introduced in the play? Provide examples.
- How does this scene contrast age and experience with youth and inexperience?
- Describe the irony of this scene. What is its purpose? Draw on examples from the text.
Finally—as a class—go over the slideshow (included in this article with more elaborate points) which provides more items for review. It is titled “Romeo and Juliet Part Fifteen.”
- Slide 1 (Title Page)
- Slide 2 (Prologue Review Questions)
- Slide 3 (Act I, Scene I Review Questions)
- Slide 4 (Act I, Scene II Review Questions)
- Slide 5 (Act I, Scene III Review Questions)
- Slide 6 (Act I, Scene IV Review Questions)
- Slide 7 (Act I, Scene V Review Questions)
- Slide 8 (Act I Mini Quiz)
- Slide 9 (Act I Mini Quiz Continued)
- Slide 10 (Act I Mini Quiz Continued)
- Slide 11 (Act I Mini Quiz Continued)
- Slide 12 (Act I Mini Quiz Continued)
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