PLOT AND STRUCTURE DIAGRAM

for Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet

Exposition: Act 1 Scene 1: The opening scene, to show the tension and explosive antagonism between the Montagues and Capulets

Climax: Act 5 Scene 3:Romeo takes the poison; Juliet awakes and kills herself

Denouement (or falling action): Act 5 Scene 3: The Prince scolds the families for the tragedy their feud has caused. He asks for peace.

Development of conflict(or rising action): Act 1 Scene 5: The feast, at which Romeo and Juliet meetAct 2 Scene 2: The balcony scene, where the lovers agree to marryAct 3 Scene 1: The fight, where Romeo kills Tybalt and is exiled by the princeAct 3 Scene 5: Juliet ispersuaded to marry ParisAct 4 Scene 3: Juliet drinks the potion that will seem to kill her for 42 hoursAct 5 Scene 1: Romeo hears of Juliet’s death and buys poison