The Capulet and Montague boys can be considered gangs. Discuss your concept/ideas about gangs. Why are gangs created? What is the allure? What kinds of things do gangs fight about? Why do gang members fight, even though they may not know why they are fighting?

JOURNAL 11/8/12

Act I Information and Reading Questions

ROMEO & JULIET

1. Augmenting (v.)

2. Bliss (n.)

3. Despair (v.)

4. Endure (v.)

5. Foes (n.)

6. Foolish (adj.)

ACT I VOCABULARY

7. Quarrel (n.)

8. Quench (v.)

9. Tormented (v.)

10. Valiant (adj.)

11. Vile (adj.)

12. Woe (n.)

1. Augmenting (v.): adding to; increasing

2. Bliss (n.): eternal happiness

3. Despair (v.): lose all hope or confidence

4. Endure (v.) : tolerate; put up with

5. Foes (n.): enemies; opponents

6. Foolish (adj.): small; unimportant

ACT I VOCABULARY7. Quarrel (n.): an argument

8. Quench (v.): extinguish;

put out

9. Tormented (v.): inflicted

with pain or torture

10. Valiant (adj.): strong and

worthy of honor

11. Vile (adj.): wicked;

disgusting

12. Woe (n.): deep sorrow;

grief

1. Take out a sheet of paper.2. Label one side “Act I

Comprehension Check”3. Label the other side “Act I

Characterization”

DIRECTIONS

Comprehension Check Questions

ACT I, SCENE 1

1. What two families are feuding?

COMPREHENSION CHECK

2. Who tries to stop the fight in Scene 1? Who wants to keep fighting?

COMPREHENSION CHECK

3. What background information does the Prince give about the feuding families?

COMPREHENSION CHECK

4. What is the penalty for further fighting? Why do you think he chooses such a harsh penalty?

COMPREHENSION CHECK

5. What do we learn about Romeo‘s behavior from the conversation between Benvolio and Romeo‘s parents? What does Benvolio vow to do?

COMPREHENSION CHECK

6. Why is Romeo so upset?

COMPREHENSION CHECK

7. When describing his feelings to Benvolio, Romeo uses oxymorons in lines 170-177 and 184-188. Why do you think he speaks this way?

COMPREHENSION CHECK

8. What is Benvolio‘s advice to Romeo?

COMPREHENSION CHECK

Characterization Questions

ACT I, SCENE 1

Many a morning hath he there been seen,

With tears augmenting the fresh morning dew.

Adding to clouds more clouds with his deep sighs;

But all so soon as the all-cheering sun

Should in the furthest east begin to draw

The shady curtains from Aurora's bed,

Away from the light steals home my heavy son,

And private in his chamber pens himself,

Shuts up his windows, locks far daylight out

And makes himself an artificial night

SCENE 1, CAPULET DESCRIBES ROMEO:

A. What we learn about Romeo: Romeo has been depressed, hiding away from everyone, even locking himself alone in his room.

B. Why it is important to the story so far: We learn about Romeo‘s lovesickness, and how depressed he got when Rosaline refused his love.

The fiery Tybalt, with his sword prepared,

Which, as he breathed defiance to my ears,

He swung about his head and cut the winds,

Who nothing hurt withal hiss'd him in scorn:

While we were interchanging thrusts and blows,

Came more and more and fought on part and part,

Till the prince came, who parted either part.

SCENE 1, BENVOLIO RECAPS THE FIGHT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PLAY

A. What we learn about Tybalt:B. Why it is important to the story so far:

Out of her favour, where I am in love.

SCENE 1, ROMEO

A. What we learn about Romeo:B. Why it is important to the story so far:

Comprehension Check Questions

ACT I, SCENE 2

1. How old is Juliet? COMPREHENSION CHECK

2. Why has Paris come to visit Capulet? What is Capulet‘s response?

COMPREHENSION CHECK

3. How does Romeo find out about the Capulet party?

COMPREHENSION CHECK

4. Why does Benvolio suggest Romeo go to the party? Why does Romeo finally decide to go?

COMPREHENSION CHECK

Characterization Questions

ACT I, SCENE 2

She is the hopeful lady of my earth:

But woo her, gentle Paris, get her heart,

My will to her consent is but a part;

An she agree, within her scope of choice

Lies my consent and fair according voice

SCENE 2, CAPULET SPEAKS ABOUT JULIET TO PARIS

A. What we learn about Juliet:B. Why it is important to the story so far:

1. What is Juliet‘s response to her mother about the idea of marriage? What does she mean?

COMPREHENSION CHECK

2. What do the Nurse and Lady Capulet want for Juliet?

COMPREHENSION CHECK

Comprehension Check Questions

ACT I, SCENE 3

1. What kind of mood is Romeo in before the boys go to the party? What is Mercutio’s advice?

COMPREHENSION CHECK

2. How do the boys plan to disguise themselves at the party?

COMPREHENSION CHECK

3. Who is Queen Mab? What is she responsible for? Name three things Mercutio says she does to people when they are asleep.

COMPREHENSION CHECK

4. What problem does Romeo mention immediately before the boys enter the party? What does Romeo decide to do about this? Why is this important?

COMPREHENSION CHECK

Characterization Questions

ACT I, SCENE 4

O, then, I see Queen Mab hath been with you. She is the fairies' midwife, and she comes In shape no bigger than an agate-stone On the fore-finger of an alderman, Drawn with a team of little atomies Athwart men's noses as they lie asleep; Her wagon-spokes made of long spiders' legs, The cover of the wings of grasshoppers, The traces of the smallest spider's web, The collars of the moonshine's watery beams, Her whip of cricket's bone, the lash of film, Her wagoner a small grey-coated gnat, Not so big as a round little worm Prick'd from the lazy finger of a maid; Her chariot is an empty hazel-nut Made by the joiner squirrel or old grub, Time out o' mind the fairies' coachmakers.

(SCENE 4, LINES 53-61) MERCUTIO:

A. What we learn about Mercutio:B. Why it is important to the story so far:

Comprehension Check Questions

ACT I, SCENE 5

1. How does Tybalt recognize Romeo?

COMPREHENSION CHECK

2. Why won‘t Capulet let Tybalt remove Romeo from the party?

COMPREHENSION CHECK

3. How long does it take before Romeo and Juliet kiss for the first time?

COMPREHENSION CHECK

4. What do you think Juliet means by ―You kiss by the book‖?

COMPREHENSION CHECK

5. What does Juliet say will be her fate if Romeo is married?

COMPREHENSION CHECK

6. At this point in the play, what do you think is the main plot of the story? What is the sub-plot at this point?

COMPREHENSION CHECK

Characterization Questions

ACT I, SCENE 5

This, by his voice, should be a Montague. Fetch me my rapier, boy. [Exit boy]

What dares the slave

Come hither, cover'd with an antic face,

To fleer and scorn at our solemnity?

Now, by the stock and honour of my kin,

To strike him dead, I hold it not a sin.

TYBALT

A. What we learn about Tybalt:B. Why it is important to the story so far: