MTG EFAL P2 Romeo and Juliet

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Study Guide 12
© Department of Basic Education 2015
This content may not be sold or used for commercial purposes.
Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) Grade 12 English First Additional
Language Mind the Gap study guide for the play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
ISBN 978-1-4315-1946-0
This publication has a Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial Sharealike license.

You can use, modify, upload, download, and share content, but you must acknowledge the
Department of Basic Education, the authors and contributors. If you make any changes to the
content you must send the changes to the Department of Basic Education. This content may not
be sold or used for commercial purposes. For more information about the terms of the license
please see: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/.
Copyright © Department of Basic Education 2015

222 Struben Street, Pretoria, South Africa
Contact person: Dr Patricia Watson
Email: [email protected]
Tel: (012) 357 4502
http://www.education.gov.za
Call Centre: 0800202933
The first edition of the series published in 2012 for the Revised National Curriculum Statement
(RNCS) Grade 12 Mind the Gap study guides for Accounting, Economics, Geography and
Life Sciences; the second edition of the series, published in 2014, aligned these titles to the
Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) and added more titles to the series,
including the CAPS Grade 12 English First Additional Language Mind the Gap study guide for the
play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare.
Mind the Gap team

Series managing editor: Dr Patricia Watson
Production co-ordinators for CAPS edition: Gill McDowell, Radha Pillay and Rachel Adatia
Authors: Harriet Davis, Santie Gildenhuys, Jeanne Hambsch and Joanna Parmenter
Editor: Julia Grey
Expert readers: Willem Ros, Bulara Monyaki and Roselet Netshilata
Proof reader: Pat Tucker
Designer: Adam Rumball
Illustrators: Michele Dean, Ivan Keir, Vusi Malindi, Khosi Pholosa and Kenneth Tekane
Series cover illustration: Alastair Findlay
Onsite writers’ workshop support: Wayne Cussons
Ministerial foreword
The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has pleasure in releasing the
second edition of the Mind the Gap study guides for Grade 12 learners.
These study guides continue the innovative and committed attempt by the
DBE to improve the academic performance of Grade 12 candidates in the
National Senior Certificate (NSC) examination.
The study guides have been written by teams of exerts comprising
teachers, examiners, moderators, subject advisors and coordinators.
Research, which began in 2012, has shown that the Mind the Gap series
has, without doubt, had a positive impact on grades. It is my fervent wish
that the Mind the Gap study guides take us all closer to ensuring that no
learner is left behind, especially as we celebrate 20 years of democracy.
The second edition of Mind the Gap is aligned to the 2014 Curriculum and
Matsie Angelina Motshekga, MP
Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS). This means that the writers have Minister of Basic Education
considered the National Policy pertaining to the programme, promotion
requirements and protocols for assessment of the National Curriculum
Statement for Grade 12 in 2014.
The Mind the Gap CAPS study guides take their brief in part from the 2013
National Diagnostic report on learner performance and draw on the Grade
12 Examination Guidelines. Each of the Mind the Gap study guides defines
key terminology and offers simple explanations and examples of the
types of questions learners can expect to be asked in an exam. Marking
memoranda are included to assist learners to build their understanding.
Learners are also referred to specific questions from past national exam
papers and examination memos that are available on the Department’s
website – www.education.gov.za.
The CAPS editions include Accounting, Economics, Geography, Life
Sciences, Mathematics, Mathematical Literacy and Physical Sciences.
The series is produced in both English and Afrikaans. There are also nine
English First Additional Language (EFAL) study guides. These include EFAL
Paper 1 (Language in Context); EFAL Paper 3 (Writing) and a guide for each
of the Grade 12 prescribed literature set works included in Paper 2. These
are Short Stories, Poetry, To Kill a Mockingbird, A Grain of Wheat, Lord of
the Flies, Nothing but the Truth and Romeo and Juliet. Please remember
when preparing for Paper 2 that you need only study the set works you did
in your EFAL class at school.
The study guides have been designed to assist those learners who
have been underperforming due to a lack of exposure to the content
requirements of the curriculum and aim to mind-the-gap between failing
and passing, by bridging the gap in learners’ understanding of commonly
tested concepts, thus helping candidates to pass.
All that is now required is for our Grade 12 learners to put in the hours
required to prepare for the examinations. Learners, make us proud – study
hard. We wish each and every one of you good luck for your Grade 12
examinations.
Matsie Angelina Motshekga, MP

Minister of Basic Education
2015
Table of contents
Dear Grade 12 learner..........................................................................................................ix
How to use this study guide.................................................................................................ix
Top 7 study tips.......................................................................................................................x
On the exam day....................................................................................................................xi
Overview of the English First Additional Language Paper 2: Literature Exam............xii
What are the examiners looking for?...............................................................................xiii
Question words....................................................................................................................xiv
Vocabulary for Romeo and Juliet......................................................................................xvi
Back to the Past comic.................................................................................. xx
Overview............................................................................................................. 1
Introduction........................................................................................................................1
1. Background....................................................................................................................2
Elizabethan society ......................................................................................................2
Shakespeare’s English ...............................................................................................2
Shakespeare’s theatre ..............................................................................................3
2. How the play is told.......................................................................................................3
2.1 Setting ....................................................................................................................3
2.2 Characters ..............................................................................................................3
2.3 The plot ...................................................................................................................6
2.4 Themes .................................................................................................................11
3. Style...............................................................................................................................13
3.1 Poetry and prose..................................................................................................13
3.2 Diction and figurative language.........................................................................14
3.3 Stage directions...................................................................................................15
3.4 Tone and mood....................................................................................................15
Act by Act......................................................................................................... 17
Prologue........................................................................................................... 18
What happens?................................................................................................................18
Activity 1.......................................................................................................................19
Act 1.................................................................................................................. 20
Act 1, Scene 1................................................................................................. 20

What happens?............................................................................................................... 20
Activity 2.......................................................................................................................21
Act 1, Scene 2................................................................................................. 23

What happens?............................................................................................................... 23
Activity 3.......................................................................................................................24
Act 1, Scene 3................................................................................................. 27

What happens?................................................................................................................27
Activity 4...................................................................................................................... 28
Act 1, Scene 4................................................................................................. 30

What happens?............................................................................................................... 30
Activity 5.......................................................................................................................31
Act 1, Scene 5................................................................................................. 33

What happens?............................................................................................................... 34
Activity 6...................................................................................................................... 34
Act 2.................................................................................................................. 36
Prologue........................................................................................................... 36
Act 2, Scene 1................................................................................................. 38

What happens?............................................................................................................... 38
Act 2, Scene 2................................................................................................. 39

What happens?............................................................................................................... 40
Activity 7...................................................................................................................... 40
Act 2, Scene 3................................................................................................. 43

What happens?............................................................................................................... 43
Activity 8...................................................................................................................... 44
Act 2, Scene 4................................................................................................. 46

What happens?............................................................................................................... 46
Activity 9...................................................................................................................... 46
Act 2, Scene 5................................................................................................. 48

What happens?............................................................................................................... 48
Activity 10................................................................................................................... 48
Act 2, Scene 6................................................................................................. 51

What happens?............................................................................................................... 52
Activity 11................................................................................................................... 52
Act 3.................................................................................................................. 54
Act 3, Scene 1................................................................................................. 54

What happens?............................................................................................................... 55
Activity 12................................................................................................................... 55
Act 3, Scene 2................................................................................................. 59

What happens?............................................................................................................... 59
Activity 13................................................................................................................... 59
Act 3, Scene 3................................................................................................. 61

What happens?................................................................................................................61
Activity 14................................................................................................................... 62
Act 3, Scene 4................................................................................................. 64

What happens?............................................................................................................... 64
Act 3, Scene 5................................................................................................. 65

What happens?............................................................................................................... 65
Activity 15................................................................................................................... 66
Act 4.................................................................................................................. 69
Act 4, Scene 1................................................................................................. 69

What happens?............................................................................................................... 69
Activity 16................................................................................................................... 70
Act 4, Scene 2................................................................................................. 74

What happens?................................................................................................................74
Activity 17................................................................................................................... 75
Act 4, Scene 3................................................................................................. 76

What happens?................................................................................................................76
Activity 18....................................................................................................................76
Act 4, Scene 4................................................................................................. 79

What happens?............................................................................................................... 79
Activity 19................................................................................................................... 79
Act 4, Scene 5................................................................................................. 81

What happens?................................................................................................................81
Activity 20....................................................................................................................81
Act 5.................................................................................................................. 84
Act 5, Scene 1................................................................................................. 84

What happens?............................................................................................................... 84
Activity 21................................................................................................................... 85
Act 5, Scene 2................................................................................................. 88

What happens?............................................................................................................... 88
Activity 22................................................................................................................... 89
Act 5, Scene 3................................................................................................. 91
Act 5, Scene 3: Part 1.................................................................................... 92

What happens?............................................................................................................... 92
Activity 23................................................................................................................... 93
Act 5, Scene 3: Part 2.................................................................................... 96

What happens?............................................................................................................... 96
Activity 24....................................................................................................................97
Act 5, Scene 3: Part 3.................................................................................... 99

What happens?............................................................................................................. 100
Activity 25................................................................................................................. 102
Dear Grade 12 learner

This Mind the Gap study guide helps you to prepare for the end-of-year
Grade 12 English First Additional Language (EFAL) Literature exam.
There are three exams for EFAL: Paper 1: Language in Context; Paper 2:
Literature; and Paper 3: Writing.
There are nine great EFAL Mind the Gap study guides which cover Papers
1, 2 and 3.
Paper 2: Literature includes the study of novels, drama, short stories and
poetry. A Mind the Gap study guide is available for each of the prescribed
literature titles. Choose the study guide for the set works you studied in
your EFAL class at school.
This study guide focuses on William Shakespeare’s play, Romeo and Juliet,
one of the set works in Paper 2: Literature.
How to use this study guide

In the introduction to the guide (pages 1 to 15), you find out about the
author and the current events that influenced him. There is also an
overview of how the story is told.
From page 17 to 103 you can work through each act in the play to
understand:
• The characters;
• What happens and who is involved;
• The themes;
• The symbols; and
• Diction and figurative language.
You can test your understanding of each act by completing the activities,
and using the answers to mark your own work. The activities are based on Look out for
these icons in the
exam extracts.
study guide.
Activities with
NB Pay special attention questions for you
to answer
Hints to help you remember

a concept or guide you in
hint solving problems

Mind the Gap English First Additional Language: Paper 2 Romeo and Juliet INTRODUCTION ix
Try these
Top 7 study tips
study tips to
make learning 1. Break your learning up into manageable sections. This will help
easier.
your brain to focus. Take short breaks between studying one
section and going onto the next.
2. Have all your materials ready before you begin studying a

section – pencils, pens, highlighters, paper, glass of water, etc.
3. Be positive. It helps your brain hold on to the information.
4. Your brain learns well with colours and pictures. Try to use them
whenever you can.
5. Repetition is the key to remembering information you have to

learn. Keep going over the work until you can recall it with ease.
6. Teach what you are learning to anyone who will listen. It is

definitely worth reading your revision notes aloud.
7. Sleeping for at least eight hours every night, eating healthy food
and drinking plenty of water are all important things you need to
do for your brain. Studying for exams is like exercise, so you must
be prepared physically as well as mentally.
Use this
study guide as a workbook.
Make notes, draw pictures
and highlight important
ideas.

x INTRODUCTION Mind the Gap English First Additional Language: Paper 2 Romeo and Juliet
On the exam day

1. Make sure you bring pens that work, sharp pencils, a rubber
and a sharpener. Make sure you bring your ID document and
examination admission letter. Arrive at the exam venue at least an
hour before the start of the exam.
2. Go to the toilet before entering the exam room. You don’t want to
waste valuable time going to the toilet during the exam.
3. You must know at the start of the exam which two out of the four
sections of the Paper 2 Literature exam you will be answering.
Use the 10 minutes’ reading time to read the instructions
carefully.
4. Break each question down to make sure you understand what is

being asked. If you don’t answer the question properly you won’t
get any marks for it. Look for the key words in the question to
know how to answer it. You will find a list of question words on
page xiv of this study guide.
5. Manage your time carefully. Start with the question you think
is the easiest. Check how many marks are allocated to each
question so you give the right amount of information in your
answer.
6. Remain calm, even if the question seems difficult at first. It will be

linked with something you have covered. If you feel stuck, move
on and come back if time allows. Do try and answer as many
questions as possible.
7. Take care to write neatly so the examiners can read your answers
easily.

Mind the Gap English First Additional Language: Paper 2 Romeo and Juliet INTRODUCTION xi
Overview of the English First

Additional Language Paper 2:
Literature Exam
In the Paper 2 Literature exam, you need to answer questions from two
sections. Choose the two sections that you know best:
• Section A: Novel
• Section B: Drama
• Section C: Short stories
• Section D: Poetry
A total of 70 marks is allocated for Paper 2, which means 35 marks for

each section you choose.
You will have two hours for this exam.
Here is a summary of the Paper 2 Literature exam paper:

Question Title of novel Type of Number of
number question marks
Section A: Novel If you choose Section A, answer ONE question. Choose the
question for the book you have learnt.
1 To Kill a Mockingbird Contextual 35
2 Lord of the Flies Contextual 35
3 A Grain of Wheat Contextual 35
Section B: Drama If you choose Section B, answer ONE question. Choose the
question for the play you have learnt.
4 Romeo and Juliet Contextual 35
5 Nothing but the Truth Contextual 35
Section C: Short stories If you choose Section C, answer BOTH questions. You
will not know exactly which short stories are included until the exam. TWO
stories will be set. Answer the questions set on BOTH short stories.
6.1 Short story Contextual 17 or 18
6.2 Short story Contextual 17 or 18
Section D: Poetry If you choose Section D, answer BOTH questions. You will not
know exactly which poems are included until the exam. TWO poems will be set.
Answer the questions set on BOTH poems.
7.1 Poem 1 Contextual 17 or 18
7.2 Poem 2 Contextual 17 or 18
• You don’t have to answer all the sections in Paper 2.

• Before the exam starts you must know which two sections you are going to answer.
• When the exam starts, find your two chosen sections.
• Make sure to number your answers correctly – according to the numbering system
used in the exam paper – for the two sections you’ve chosen.
• Start each section on a new page.

xii INTRODUCTION Mind the Gap English First Additional Language: Paper 2 Romeo and Juliet
What is a contextual question?

In a contextual question, you are given an extract (about 25–30 lines)
from the novel. You then have to answer questions based on the extract.
Some answers you can find in the extract. Other questions will test your
understanding of other parts of the novel: its story, characters, symbols
and themes. Some questions ask for your own opinion about the novel.
What are the examiners

looking for?
Examiners will assess your answers to the contextual questions based on:
• Your understanding of the literal meaning of the play. You need to
identify information that is clearly given in the play.
• Your ability to reorganise information in the play. For example, you
may be asked to summarise key points, or state the similarities or
differences between two characters.
• Your ability to provide information that may not be clearly stated in the
text, using what you already know about the play. This process is called
inference. This may include explaining how a figure of speech affects
your understanding of the play, explaining themes or comparing the
actions of different characters.
• Your ability to make judgements about aspects of the play, and make
your own opinions based on information given in the play. This process
is called evaluation. For example, you may be asked if you agree with a
statement, or to discuss a character’s motive for doing something.
• Your ability to respond to the characters in the play and how it is written
on an emotional level. This is called appreciation. For example, you may
be asked how you think a certain character feels, or what you would
have done if you were in their situation. You may be asked to discuss
how the writer’s style helps to describe what a character is feeling.

Mind the Gap English First Additional Language: Paper 2 Romeo and Juliet INTRODUCTION xiii
Question words
Here are examples of question types found in the exam.
Question type What you need to do

Literal: Questions about information that is clearly given in the text or extract from the text
Name characters/places/things ... Write the specific names of characters, places, etc.
State the facts/reasons/ideas … Write down the information without any discussion or
comments.
Give two reasons for/why … Write two reasons (this means the same as ‘state’).
Identify the character/reasons/theme … Write down the character’s name, state the reasons.
Describe the place/character/what happens when … Write the main characteristics of something, for
example: What does a place look/feel/smell like? Is a
particular character kind/rude/aggressive …
What does character x do when … Write what happened – what the character did.
Why did character x do … Given reasons for the character’s action according to
your knowledge of the plot.
Who is/did … Write the name of the character.
To whom does xx refer … Write the name of the relevant character/person.
Reorganisation: Questions that need you to bring together different pieces of information in an organised way.
Summarise the main points/ideas … Write the main points, without a lot of detail.
Group the common elements … Join the same things together.
Give an outline of ….. Write the main points, without a lot of detail.
Inference Questions that need you to interpret (make meaning of) the text using information that may not
be clearly stated. This process involves thinking about what happened in different parts of the text; looking
for clues that tell you more about a character, theme or symbol; and using your own knowledge to help you
understand the text.
Explain how this idea links with the theme x … Identify the links to the theme.
Compare the attitudes/actions of character x with Point out the similarities and differences.
character y …
What do the words … suggest/reveal about /what State what you think the meaning is, based on your
does this situation tell you about … understanding of the text.
How does character x react when …. Write down the character’s reaction/what the character
Describe how something affected … did/felt.
State how you know that character x is …
What did character x mean by the expression … Explain why the character used those particular words.
Is the following statement true or false? Write ‘true’ or ‘false’ next to the question number. You
must give a reason for your answer.
Choose the correct answer to complete the following A list of answers is given, labelled A–D. Write only the
sentence (multiple choice question). letter (A, B, C or D) next to the question number.
Complete the following sentence by filling in the Write the missing word next to the question number.
missing words …
Quote a line from the extract to prove your answer. Write the relevant line of text using the same words
and punctuation you see in the extract. Put quotation
marks (“ ” inverted commas) around the quote.

xiv INTRODUCTION Mind the Gap English First Additional Language: Paper 2 Romeo and Juliet
Evaluation Questions that require you to make a judgement based on your knowledge and understanding of the
text and your own experience.
Discuss your view/a character’s feelings/a theme ... Consider all the information and reach a conclusion.
Do you think that … There is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ answer to these questions,
but you must give a reason for your opinion based on
information given in the text.
Do you agree with …
In your opinion, what …
Give your views on …
Appreciation Questions that ask about your emotional response to what happens, the characters and how it is
written.
How would you feel if you were character x when … There is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ answer to these questions,
but you must give a reason for your opinion based on
information given in the text.
Discuss your response to …
Do you feel sorry for …
Discuss the use of the writer’s style, diction and To answer this type of question, ask yourself: Does the
figurative language, dialogue … style help me to feel/imagine what is happening/what
a character is feeling? Why/why not? Give a reason for
your answer.

Mind the Gap English First Additional Language: Paper 2 Romeo and Juliet INTRODUCTION xv
words to know
Vocabulary for Romeo and Juliet

Understanding Shakespeare’s This sounds very complicated, but do not worry;
Language as you read the play, you will get used to it.
Shakespeare wrote his plays in the English that
was spoken over 400 years ago. No wonder it Verbs
is sometimes difficult for us to understand! A reminder: verbs are the ‘doing’ or ‘being’ words
Many of the unfamiliar words in the play will be in a sentence, like sit, stand, walk, be, have.
explained in the notes, or glossary, in your copy
The Elizabethans often put ‘st’ or ‘t’ at the end
of the play.
of verbs:
It is also very important that you have a dictionary
Elizabethan: I hadst; Modern: I had
and that you use it to look up unfamiliar words
which may not be in the glossary. Elizabethan: Wouldst thou?;
Modern: Would you?
But there are some typical words, used every
day by the Elizabethans in Shakespeare’s time, Elizabethan: He wilt; Modern: He will
which may not be explained. We have given you
They also often inserted the verb ‘do’ in front of
an alphabetical list of many of these words,
a verb, where we would not:
below. You may notice that some words which we
use now had different meanings in Elizabethan Elizabethan: “I do remember ...” (Act V, Scene 1,
times. Do not worry – you will get used to many l.38); Modern: I remember
of these words, as you read the play.
Elizabethan: “Where the infectious pestilence
First of all, some of the basic differences did reign.” (Act V, Scene 2, l.10);
between Shakespeare’s English and ours: Modern: “Where the infectious disease reigned
(or was widespread).”
Order of Words
Sometimes the Elizabethans put their words in Thee/thou/thy/thine and you
a different order from the order we use today. You
For example: In modern English, we use the word ‘you’ when
Elizabethan: ‘Hold me not...’ (Act 1, Scene 1, speaking directly to someone else, or when
line 68) speaking to many people.
Modern: ‘Do not hold me.’ (Notice addition The Elizabethans used ‘you’ when speaking to
of ‘do’ and position of ‘not’ and verb ‘hold’, someone older, higher in society or rank: in other
swapped around.) words, it was more formal than thee/thou. It was
also used when speaking to several people.
Another example is:
For example: Apothecary: “Put this in any liquid
Elizabethan: ‘Why call you for a sword?’ (Act 1, thing you will ...” (Act 5, Scene 1, l.78) The
Scene 1, l.63) Apothecary is speaking to Romeo, his social
Modern: ‘Why are you calling for a sword?’ ‘superior’.
(Notice addition of ‘are’ and ‘you’ and ‘calling’
swapped around.) Thee/thou
And another example: The Elizabethans used ‘thou’ when speaking to
one person who was either a friend, a child, or
Elizabethan: ‘...tell me not ...’ (Act 1, Scene 1, to someone of lower social rank. In other words,
l.161) it was more informal. ‘Thou’ was used when the
Modern: ‘Do not tell me.’

xvi INTRODUCTION Mind the Gap English First Additional Language: Paper 2 Romeo and Juliet
words to know
person was the subject (the person ‘doing’ the Some common Elizabethan words
verb) of the sentence: A
Gregory: “Thou art moved ...” (Act 1, Scene 1, aye: yes
l.9) Gregory is speaking to Sampson, his social art: are
‘equal’. alas or alack: how sad
If the person they were speaking to was the apparelled: dressed
object (the person the verb is being ‘done to’) of anon: soon
the sentence, they would have used ‘thee’: at odds: enemies with
“I will back thee.” adieu: good-bye
anon: in a moment
Another example, is when Romeo is speaking
to Balthazar, his servant towards the end of the
B
play, at the tomb:
be (I/he/she/we/you/they): am, is, are
Balthazar: “I will be gone, sir and not trouble bid/bade: ask/tell/asked
you.” bliss: happiness
Romeo: “So shalt thou show me friendship ...” behold: see
(Act V, Scene 3, l.40-41) beseech: ask, beg
beget: get
Thy/thine b’yr lady: by mary (mother of jesus)
These were the Elizabethan’s possessive befits: suits
pronouns (our modern day ‘yours’). They would bawd: brothel-keeper
have used ‘thy’ before a word beginning with a beshrew: a curse
consonant, and ‘thine’ before a vowel. bosom: usually means heart
“Turn thy back and run.” (Act 1, Scene 1, l.30)
“Were not I thine only Nurse ...” (Act 1, Scene C
3, l.54) coz: cousin
cheerly: enthusiastically
Elizabethan contractions cock-a-hoop: fight
You will notice many words such as ’tis, e’en, choler: anger
ne’er, is’t, th’, stol’n, oe’r. crave: want
chinks: money, wealth
These are simply Elizabethan contractions. Just
as we say ‘don’t’ instead of ‘do not’ and ‘I’ll’ conjure: create, as in conjure up
instead of ‘I will’, they too left out certain letters clout: dishcloth
and used an apostrophe ( ’ ) to show where the commend me to ... : remember me to ...
missing letter was. So, ‘’tis’ mean ‘it is’, ‘e’en’
means ‘even’, ‘oe’r’ means ‘over’. If you say D
these words out loud, and in context, you will get dignity: social rank/standing
their meanings. drave: drove
For example: “...’tis not hard, I think...’ (Act 1, doth: does
Scene 2, l.2) doff: cast off
And: ‘The all-seeing sun/Ne’er saw her match...’ divers: several
(Act 1, Scene 2, l.93-4)

Mind the Gap English First Additional Language: Paper 2 Romeo and Juliet INTRODUCTION xvii
words to know
E L
ere: before list: listen or like
e’en: even or evening lest: in case
even so?: is it true? livery: uniform
F M
fray: fight mutiny: fight
fled: ran away marry: indeed, well. (refers to mary, mother of
forsworn: have taken an oath jesus)
forth: out of marred: spoilt
faith: in truth mine: my
foe: enemy maidenhead: virginity
fair: beautiful mark: give, notice, listen to
fain: willing misgive: worry
forsaken: given up measure: dance
fie!: exclamation of disapproval matched: compared
fiend: devil mickle: great, much
forbear: be patient methinks: i think
G N
grudge: quarrel nought: nothing
go to!: let it go! ne’er: never
gall: vinegar nay: no
H O
hadst: had of an age: the same age
hath: has oft: often
heavy: sad orisons: prayers
hence: away, go there
how now?: what’s going on? P
humours: Elizabethans believed that fluids, or pray: ask
humours, in the body, affected your personality. peace: be quiet
hie: go princox: cheeky person
profane: disrespect something sacred, holy
I purged: removed
ill: bad or wrong posterity: future generations
i’faith: truthfully prolixity: long speeches
prate: chatter
K perchance: perhaps
knave: a cheeky young man pray: ask
kin: relations perforce: by force
privy: to know a secret

xviii INTRODUCTION Mind the Gap English First Additional Language: Paper 2 Romeo and Juliet
words to know
Q W
quoth: said wilt: will
withal: with or by
R ware: aware
rood: Christ’s cross or crucifix whence: where
rude: rough wert: were
rite: ceremony would: wish
whereto: to which or to where
S writ: written
strive: try whither: from where
shalt: shall wit: intelligence
shun: avoid warrant (verb): guarantee
sought: looked for wanton: loose woman
shrift: Christian confession weal: good fortune
soft: be quiet (verb) woe: sadness
suit: request what ho!: hey!
sirrah: young man
slain: killed Y
sojourn: stay ye: you (polite)
yea: yes
T yonder (or yond): over there
traffic: performance
toil: work
’tis: it is
thrice: three times
tut or tush: shows impatience
thither: there
tetchy: cross, angry
’twas: it was
trow: think, believe
twain: two
U
unto: up to or into
V
vault: tomb
vial: a small bottle used for medicine or poison
visage: face
visor: mask
vexed: annoyed

Mind the Gap English First Additional Language: Paper 2 Romeo and Juliet INTRODUCTION xix
Hey, dude! I don’t have

Katlego took her the faintest idea where I am.
Science Expo Must be in a city somewhere in
experiment a bit South Africa, because I think I
too far and before recognise the soccer
stadium there...
she could figure
out what was
happening, she
was standing in
a street in London,
Soccer? What is soccer?
in the year 1600. That building is the Globe Theatre.
She approached It can seat 3 000 people. Our main
a boy of her own playwright is William Shakespeare. He
age... has staged so many plays there, he
practically owns the place.
Wow! That’s awesome! Is this guy

still alive? I read that he was born in
April 1564 and died in 1616. He wrote
38 plays and over 150 poems.
Ben Jonson was right

to call Shakespeare a
writer for all times.
Who are you? And

why are you wearing that
surgical instrument over your
ears? And yes, Shakespeare is
very much alive. This is London
in the year 1600. I’m Edward,
welcome to my world!

xx INTRODUCTION Mind the Gap English First Additional Language: Paper 2 Romeo and Juliet
Incredible! I am Katlego and

I am from the 21st century. I
live on the tip of Africa.
You won’t believe this, but we

I hope that you enjoy
still study the plays of Shakespeare for our
your studies. Remember, Shakespeare
final matric exams. After all these years!
always wanted his audiences to have
These are headphones. I use them to
FUN! His plays replaced cock-fighting
listen to music on my MP3 player.
and bear-baiting which were very
cruel and deadly serious.
We are studying Romeo Yes, it is a tragedy, but there

and Juliet. It is a tragedy, so is still a lot of comedy in the
aren’t we supposed to cry play, especially in the role
while watching it? of the Nurse.
Shakespeare’s clever
puns and his unmistakeable
wit in his plays keep audiences
at the Globe roaring
with laughter.
That’s great! Is it true

that only male actors are Yes, acting is no job
allowed to perform for a woman! Young boys
in plays? play the parts written
for ladies.
People from all levels

of society attend plays. It can
get chaotic because the audience
openly show there enjoyment or
dislike of what they see on stage.
Even Queen Elizabeth 1 loves
watching Shakespeare’s
plays.

Mind the Gap English First Additional Language: Paper 2 Romeo and Juliet INTRODUCTION xxi
That sounds familiar.

Back in South Africa, fans also
go wild when a famous celebrity performs.
Is it true that people in Shakespeare’s time
are very superstitious? Do you have
any strange beliefs?
Ha, what is strange

to you is not strange to us!
We believe that ‘humours’, which are
substances in the body, control one’s
character. The position of the stars
at one’s birth also determines one’s
life. Most people are Catholics
and go to church to confess
their sins.
Gee whizz! I didn’t

Edward, do you know that know he would become
Shakespeare is helping to develop that famous.
the English language through his
plays?
You perhaps don’t realise it

now, but he invented over 2 000
English words. These expressions were
all used by him for the first time: “tower
of strength,” “cruel to be kind”, “vanish
into thin air”, “flesh and blood”...
We still use those expressions
today!
We don’t even study

English as a subject at school. Only
a privileged few learners are able to
have private teachers who teach a bit
of English. Our subjects are
all taught in Latin.

xxii INTRODUCTION Mind the Gap English First Additional Language: Paper 2 Romeo and Juliet
Edward, there is
In Romeo
something I want
and Juliet there are
to ask.
different classes of characters –
the nobility (who were rich and
mostly inherited their wealth and
position); the commoners (who
didn’t inherit a title or wealth and
could not read or write) and
the clergy (who lived a simple life
in service of the community,
like the friars).
Yes, our society is still

Do these very unequal. It’s a hard life. Diseases
class differences like the plague kill thousands of people.
still exist? Not many people live to the age
of 40.
Gosh! I have so much to be

thankful for! Don’t despair, Edward,
things can only get better... But now, my friend,
do you think Friar Lawrence will be able to help
me with a potion to get me back to the
21st century?
You mean the actor who plays Friar
Lawrence? Yes, I think he will. But you’ll
have to assist him with your scientific
knowledge... Let’s go!

Mind the Gap English First Additional Language: Paper 2 Romeo and Juliet INTRODUCTION xxiii

xxiv INTRODUCTION Mind the Gap English First Additional Language: Paper 2 Romeo and Juliet
Overview
Romeo
and
Juliet
Introduction
Romeo and Juliet was written by William Shakespeare. He was born in
1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon, a small town in England.
His plays were written about 400 years ago, but they are still popular today.
They have been performed in hundreds of countries and translated into
nearly every language. By the time he died in 1610, he had written about
38 plays and over 150 poems.
Hey, Shakespeare!
You wrote Romeo and
Juliet hundreds of
years ago! What has it
got to do with
my life?
Well, for a start, it’s
about two young people
in love – a forbidden
love. That still happens
in the 21st century.

Mind the Gap English First Additional Language: Paper 2 Romeo and Juliet PLAY 1
Romeo and Juliet
1. Background
Shakespeare’s
London sounds like Four hundred years ago the world was very different from today. For
cities in South Africa example, in 1564 in South Africa, many African groups had only recently
today –people from moved southwards to join the San and Khoi-Khoi in the area that was
around the world
lived there.
to become South Africa. London, where Shakespeare mostly lived and
worked, was also very different from the city it is today. Knowing what life
was like in Shakespeare’s time helps us to understand his plays.
For most of Shakespeare’s life, Elizabeth I was Queen of England. During
the Elizabethan times, English explorers sailed to countries that they had
not known about before, bringing back new types of fruit, vegetables, spices
and other resources. During this time, London was the fastest-growing city
in the world. People from rural areas in England as well as from other
countries went to London to find work. Shakespeare met different types of
people from many places and he wrote about them in his plays.
Elizabethan society
In Shakespeare’s time, England had a very unequal society. Some people
were very rich, but most were poor, although a middle class was developing.
The powerful people were wealthy landowners. Mostly these were the
nobles, with titles like ‘Lord’ and ‘Lady’. They inherited their wealth and
high position in society. There was no democracy, like we have today, and
ordinary people could not vote for their rulers.
Women did not have equal rights to men. They could not inherit titles from
their fathers, and there were restrictions about women inheriting money.
Only women from very wealthy families were educated. Women were
usually expected to be domestic servants or housewives. Unlike many
poor people, rich men were usually educated and could read and write.
Most people were Christians and attended church regularly. The Church
played an important part in people’s lives.
People did not live as long then as they do today – a person was old at
Languages change
40. Terrible diseases were common, like the plague, which was spread
all the time. We use
many words today by rats and killed thousands of people. Doctors did not have the skills or
that Shakespeare had knowledge to cure many diseases.
never heard of. Like cell
phone, internet
or bling!
Shakespeare’s English
Four hundred years ago the English language was very different from what
it is today. For example, a person would refer to a good friend or child as
“thee” rather than “you”, as we do today.
In Shakespeare’s time, the English language was mostly spoken, not
written down. Most books were written in Latin. There were no English
dictionaries and no one studied English in schools. By writing his popular
plays in English, Shakespeare helped to develop the language.

2 PLAY Mind the Gap English First Additional Language: Paper 2 Romeo and Juliet
Overview
Shakespeare’s theatre
In Shakespeare’s time, people went to the theatre like people today go to To understand this
play, we need to know
the movies or a soccer match. It was popular entertainment for both poor about Shakespeare’s
and rich people. Even Queen Elizabeth I went to see Shakespeare’s plays. world, what is the same
The plays were performed in different theatres around London. A famous and what is different in
our world today.
theatre was the Globe Theatre. It could seat 3000 people.
The audience did not watch quietly, they showed how they felt about the
play. They cheered and clapped at what they liked, and shouted and threw
rotten vegetables if they didn’t like it! Plays were also used to comment on
issues in society.
People enjoyed listening to clever, funny language in the theatre. Often
this language was poetic and sometimes it was sexual, which would have
delighted, not shocked, the audience. Just as people today enjoy comedy
shows and television soaps, so would people in Shakespeare’s time have
loved the jokes and drama in his plays.
2. How the play is told

2.1 Setting
The setting is where and when the story in the play takes place. The story Did you know?
of Romeo and Juliet took place in a town called Verona in Italy during the
1400s (fifteenth century). Italy wasn’t a united country at the time. It was Three thousand English words
were first written down by
divided up into small city-states which would fight between themselves for
Shakespeare. About 1 700
control of cities like Verona. The people were governed by nobles, such as
of these words were used for
a prince.
the first time by Shakespeare!
Most people in Italy at that time were Roman Catholic and attended church Some of Shakespeare’s new
regularly. There are many references to religious images and symbols in words include: bedroom;
the play, for example, shrines, saints and pilgrims. excitement; champion;
gossip; and lonely.
2.2 Characters
There is a large cast of characters. The main characters appear most
often and are known as the protagonists. In this play, the protagonists are
Romeo and Juliet, as the play mainly involves them – their actions and the
decisions they make.
Other characters in the play take the role of antagonists – they stand
in opposition to the main characters. One of the roles of the antagonist
characters is to help create tension or conflict in the plot and to keep the
action of the play going. Examples of antagonists in the play are Paris and
Tybalt.
The play has many minor characters, who appear less often. Their role is
often to support the protagonists and to give us more information about
them. For example, Mercutio often teases and mocks Romeo about his
romantic love of Rosaline.

Romeo and Juliet
Classes of characters
There are also different classes of characters, as Shakespeare placed his
play in a social setting that the Elizabethan public would recognise.
The nobility
The nobility were rich people whose wealth and position in society was
inherited. They had political power and owned most of the land. The nobles
in the play include the Prince, Count Paris and the Montague and Capulet
families.
The commoners
People who had no inherited title or wealth were called commoners. Most
of them had little chance of improving their social status and could not
read or write. Many worked as servants for a noble family. Juliet’s nurse
and the servants of the Montague and Capulet families would be known
as commoners.
The servant characters are often used to provide humour and to comment
on things the other characters are doing.
Clergy
The clergy in Elizabethan times was given a special role in society.
Representing the church, they were not commoners and were often in the
service of the nobility.
In the play, the clergy is represented by the friars. Friars belong to the
Catholic church and are like priests. They lived a simple life, in service
to the community. People would make their “confessions” to a friar. This
follows the Catholic belief that if you confess your sins, God will forgive you.
The clergy is represented in the play by Friar Lawrence and Friar John.
Friar Lawrence has many dealings with the nobility. He is a friend to both
Romeo and Juliet, and has a good reputation with Prince Escalus. His role
in the play is complex as his well-meaning involvement with Romeo and
Juliet’s problem is, unfortunately, partly responsible for their deaths.
Important characters
The nobles: These were rich people whose wealth and position in society
was inherited. They had political power and owned most of the land.
Prince Escalus, ruler of Verona: He is a stern and strict ruler. He is able
to take charge and stop the street fighting between the Montagues and
Capulets. He is also merciful and just. For example, even though he says
the next person caught fighting will be executed, when Romeo kills Tybalt
he only exiles him, as he understands that Tybalt killed Mercutio.
The Montagues
Lord Montague, Romeo’s father: He is a nobleman in a feud with the
Capulet family. He is stubborn and not willing to forgive.
Lady Montague, Romeo’s mother: She does not like violence. She does
not seem close to Romeo, but she dies of grief after Romeo’s death.

4 INTRODUCTION to ROMEO AND JULIET Mind the Gap English First Additional Language: Paper 2 Romeo and Juliet
Overview
Romeo Montague: He thinks he is in love with Rosaline at the beginning

of the play, and appears to be very immature. His love for Juliet seems to
make him more mature. Although he is sensitive and romantic, he can
be over-dramatic about his feelings. He has a good reputation in Verona
(even Lord Capulet thinks he is virtuous and well disciplined). However, he
makes decisions too quickly and can be aggressive and quick to fight. It is
because of this that he kills Tybalt and Paris. vocab
Mercutio, Romeo’s friend: He is clever with words and is very energetic Cynical: Distrustful of
and lively. He often makes fun of Romeo’s romantic passions. He loves human kindness.
an argument and is quick to get angry and fight. He is also cynical and
melancholic.
Benvolio, Romeo’s cousin: He always tries to keep the peace and often
tries to keep Romeo’s thoughts away from Rosaline, even after Romeo is
in love with Juliet. He is kind and gentle.
Friar Lawrence: He is a secret advisor to both Romeo and Juliet. He is a
kind man who preaches self-control. He tries to help the couple, but his
plans fail and end in tragedy. He is not only a victim of fate; the lies he tells
are partly the cause of the tragic fate of the lovers.
The apothecary: This is a person who prepared and sold medicines and
drugs. The apothecary in the play lives in Mantua, where Romeo was
exiled. He is a poor man, and eager to sell poison to Romeo for money,
despite the consequences.
Commoners on Montague side: These include Balthasar (Romeo’s
servant) and Abram.
The Capulets
Lord Capulet, Juliet’s father: He is a nobleman whose family hates the
vocab
Montague family. Juliet is his only child. He is a controlling father. He gets Hypocritical: Behaving
angry easily, especially when he cannot have his own way or when his in a way that suggests
wishes are opposed. He is moody, hypocritical and selfish. one has higher standards
or more noble beliefs
Lady Capulet, Juliet’s mother: She is only about 28 years’ old! She has than is the case.
not been very involved with her daughter and shows little understanding
of Juliet.
Juliet Capulet: She is a privileged, sheltered young woman. Although she is
only 13, she shows bravery, determination and more maturity than Romeo.
She is practical and reasonable and often recognises the challenges of
their situation. Sometimes, though, she shows her immaturity by making
decisions too quickly.
Tybalt, Juliet’s cousin: He is arrogant and a troublemaker. He picks a fight
with Mercutio and Romeo. Tybalt kills Mercutio, Romeo’s friend. Romeo
kills Tybalt in revenge, and because of that Romeo is exiled from Verona.
Juliet’s nurse: She is over-talkative and often uses coarse language.
She has looked after Juliet since she was born and is closer to her than
Juliet’s mother. She is a faithful friend and confidante to Juliet but doesn’t
understand Juliet’s love of Romeo.
Count Paris, relative of Prince Escalus: He is a very polite nobleman and
does seem to love Juliet. Paris’s role in the play helps to create conflict in

Mind the Gap English First Additional Language: Paper 2 Romeo and Juliet INTRODUCTION to ROMEO AND JULIET 5
Romeo and Juliet
the plot, because Juliet’s parents want him to marry her, but Juliet marries
Feud: A long and violent Romeo.
argument between two
groups, such as two
families. 2.3 The plot
ACT 1
Romeo and Juliet meet and fall in love. Two things stand in the way of their love: the feud between their families; and
Juliet’s parents’ wish for her to marry Paris.
PROLOGUE SCENE 1 SCENE 2 SCENE 3 SCENE 4 SCENE 5
The Chorus Sunday morning Sunday Sunday morning Sunday Sunday
tells us that A street in morning The Capulet evening evening
there is a feud Verona The Capulet mansion A street A hall in
between the There is a fight mansion Lady Capulet outside the the Capulet
families of the between young Paris asks and the nurse Capulet mansion
Montagues and Montagues Lord Capulet encourage mansion The Capulet
the Capulets. and Capulets if he can Juliet to marry Romeo and his party: Tybalt
The Chorus in the streets marry Juliet. Paris because friends are on wants to
tells us that two of Verona. The Lord Capulet “he is a fine and their way to the fight the
young lovers will Prince stops is planning a worthy young Capulet party. Montagues
die and the feud the fight and party that night. man”. Romeo feels but is stopped
will end. threatens to He invites Paris. uneasy. by Lord
execute anyone Capulet.
who fights again. Romeo sees
Romeo thinks he Juliet and is
loves Rosaline. attracted to
her. Romeo
and Juliet
meet and
speak of their
love.
ACT 2
The lovers marry secretly with the help of Juliet’s nurse and Friar Lawrence
PROLOGUE SCENE 1 SCENE 2 SCENE 3 SCENE 4 SCENE 5 SCENE 6
The Chorus tells Sunday night Sunday night Monday Monday Monday Monday
us that Romeo Outside the The Capulet morning morning morning morning
and Juliet are Capulet orchard orchard Friar A street in The Capulet Friar
now in love – Romeo hides Juliet appears Lawrence’s cell Verona garden Lawrence’s cell
despite the feud in the Capulet on her balcony. Romeo visits Romeo’s Juliet waits Friar Lawrence
between their garden while his Unaware of Friar Lawrence. friends make impatiently is worried
families. friends look for Romeo’s Friar Lawrence fun of him and for news about Romeo
him. They make presence, she is also a Juliet’s nurse. of Romeo. and Juliet’s
fun of his love for declares her herbalist, Romeo and the The nurse rush to marry.
Rosaline. love for him. gathering Nurse discuss eventually tells He warns
Later she and herbs and the secret Juliet she will against
Romeo declare flowers to make marriage. marry Romeo unchecked
their love and medicines. that afternoon. passion (their
their intention Friar Lawrence wild, fiery
to marry. agrees to help emotions), but
Romeo to marry still marries
Juliet in the them.
hope of ending
the feud.

Overview
ACT 3
Romeo kills Tybalt and is banished from Verona. A date is set for Juliet to marry Paris; Juliet refuses to marry him.
SCENE 1 SCENE 2 SCENE 3 SCENE 4 SCENE 5
Monday Monday Monday Monday Tuesday
afternoon afternoon afternoon afternoon morning
A street in The Capulet Friar The Capulet The Capulet
Verona mansion Lawrence’s cell mansion orchard
Tybalt (Juliet’s Juliet waits Romeo is Paris asks Lord After spending
cousin) fights impatiently. desperate Capulet about the night
Mercutio. The Nurse tells and attempts his marriage to together,
Romeo tries her the bad suicide. Romeo Juliet. Capulet Romeo and
to stop them, news about asks Friar decides the Juliet must
but Mercutio is Tybalt and Lawrence for wedding part. He must
killed. Romeo Romeo. The help. The nurse should take go to Mantua.
kills Tybalt in nurse agrees tells them place on Lady Capulet
revenge. The to arrange for that Juliet is Thursday. says she
Prince orders Romeo and very sad. Friar will avenge
Romeo to leave Juliet to spend Lawrence says Tybalt’s death.
Verona. one night that Romeo can She then
together before go to Juliet, but tells Juliet of
he leaves he must leave the plans for
Verona. for Mantua her marriage
before dawn. to Paris.
After being Juliet tells
pardoned, he her parents
could perhaps she will not
return to Verona marry Paris.
in the future. Her father
threatens to
reject her as
his daughter.
ACT 4
Friar Lawrence suggests a plan for Juliet but it is destined to fail. Juliet’s marriage to Paris is brought forward by a day.
SCENE 1 SCENE 2 SCENE 3 SCENE 4 SCENE 5
Tuesday morning Tuesday Tuesday Wednesday Wednesday
Friar Lawrence’s morning evening morning morning
cell The Capulet Juliet’s The Capulet Juliet’s
Juliet is in mansion bedroom mansion bedroom
despair. She Juliet goes Juliet drinks The Capulets The nurse
goes to Friar home and the potion and prepare cannot wake
Lawrence, who pretends to falls into a deep for Paris Juliet up. She
suggests a plan: apologise to sleep. and Juliet’s thinks Juliet is
he gives Juliet a her father. wedding. dead and calls
potion to drink Lord Capulet the Capulets.
to make her says that the
seem dead. Friar marriage to
Lawrence will Paris will now
write a letter to happen on
Romeo to tell Wednesday – a
him to fetch day earlier than
Juliet from the planned!
tomb.

Romeo and Juliet
ACT 5
The plan fails: Romeo thinks Juliet is dead so he kills himself with poison. She wakes and kills herself when she sees
Romeo is dead. The Prince blames their deaths on the family feud.
SCENE 1 SCENE 2 SCENE 3
Thursday Thursday night Thursday
morning Friar night / Friday
A street in Lawrence’s cell morning
Mantua Friar John was The churchyard
Romeo waits supposed to and Capulet
in Mantua for deliver Friar tomb in Verona
news. He does Lawrence’s Romeo goes
not receive the letter to Romeo to Juliet’s
letter from Friar explaining tomb. Paris
Lawrence to that Juliet is confronts him.
say that Juliet not dead, but They fight and
has taken a he did not Paris is killed.
sleeping potion. deliver it. Friar Romeo drinks
His servant, Lawrence the poison and
Balthasar, tells writes another dies. Juliet
him that Juliet letter to Romeo, wakes, sees
is dead. Romeo and goes to Romeo is dead
believes him Juliet’s tomb. and stabs
so he gets herself. The
poison from the Prince tells the
apothecary. He Montagues
will use it to kill and Capulets
himself when he they have each
goes to Juliet’s lost a child and
tomb. must agree to
reconcile and
end their feud.
Two golden
statues are to
be erected in
memory of their
children.

Overview
The play in one page

Act 1, Prologue
Act 1, Scene 1: A street in Verona
Act 1, Scene 2: Capulet mansion
Act 1, Scene 4: Street outside the Capulet mansion
Act 1, Scene 5: Hall in the Capulet mansion
Act 2, Prologue
Act 2, Scene 1: Outside the Capulet orchard
Act 2, Scene 2: Capulet orchard
Act 2, Scene 3: Friar Lawrence’s cell
Act 2, Scene 4: A street in Verona
Act 2, Scene 5: Capulet garden
Act 3, Scene 1: A public place in Verona

Act 3, Scene 6: Capulet orchard

Act 4, Scene 3: Juliet’s bedroom
Act 4, Scene 5: Juliet’s bedroom
Act 5, Scene 1: A street in Mantua

Act 5, Scene 3: The churchyard and Capulet tomb in Verona

Romeo and Juliet
Time in the play

Sunday morning: Fighting in streets (Act 1:1); the Prince says that the
next to cause a fight will die.
Mid-afternoon Sunday: Paris asks Lord Capulet for Juliet’s hand in
marriage (Act 1:3).
Before supper Sunday: Lady Capulet informs Juliet of Paris’s marriage
proposal (Act 1:3).
Early Sunday Evening: Romeo goes to Capulet’s party (Act 1:4).
Sunday evening, after supper: Romeo and Juliet fall in love; Tybalt
swears revenge (Act 1:5).
Sunday night, after feast: Romeo is confused about his new love (Act
2:1).
Late Sunday night: The balcony scene; Romeo and Juliet arrange their
marriage (Act 2:2).
Monday, at daybreak: Romeo goes to Friar Lawrence to ask him to marry
Juliet and himself (Act 2:3).
Later, Monday morning: Tybalt challenges Romeo (Act 2:4).
After 12 o’clock Monday: Nurse gives Juliet Romeo’s message (Act 2:5).
Monday afternoon: Romeo and Juliet get married (Act 2:6).
Monday afternoon, after the wedding: Mercutio and Tybalt are killed in
a fight; Romeo is banished (Act 3:1).
Mid-afternoon, Monday: Juliet hears about the fighting (Act 3:2).
Later afternoon, Monday: Friar criticises Romeo; Romeo will visit Juliet
that night (Act 3:3).
Late Monday evening: Arrangements are made for Juliet’s marriage to
Paris (Act 3:4).
Tuesday, daybreak: Romeo leaves for Mantua (Act 3:5).
Early Tuesday morning: Juliet goes to Friar Lawrence for help (Act 4:1).
Late Tuesday afternoon: The wedding date of Juliet and Paris is advanced
(Act 4:2).
Bedtime, Tuesday: Juliet drinks Friar’s potion (Act 4:3).
03:00, Wednesday: Preparations are made for Paris’s and Juliet’s
wedding (Act 4:4).
Daybreak, Wednesday: Juliet is discovered ‘dead’ (Act 4:6).
Thursday morning: Romeo hears of Juliet’s ‘death’ and plans his suicide
(Act 5:1).
Thursday evening: Romeo doesn’t receive Friar Lawrence’s message
(Act 5:2).
Friday morning, very early: Romeo and Juliet die; Paris dies; the feuding
houses reconcile (Act 5:3).

Overview
2.4 Themes
A theme is a message that runs through a play or story. In Romeo and
Juliet, Shakespeare uses a number of themes to tell his story of the tragic
lovers.
Fate (destiny) and free will

The Elizabethans believed that everything that happens to a person is
controlled by God. Everyone’s fate, or destiny, has already been decided.
Throughout the play, many of the characters refer to this belief.
Against this is the idea of free will, or being able to make one’s own
decisions and choices in life.
Many Elizabethans believed in the Chain of Being where everything had
its place. God was at the head of the Chain of Being, then the angels, and
then the stars. Under these came everything on the earth, beginning with
the king and going down to ordinary men, women, animals and plants.
To change the Chain of Being in any way, they believed, would result in
disaster.
Love and hate

There are many references to love and hate in the play. Two young people,
from two families that hate each other, fall in love. Look out for other ways
in which Shakespeare contrasts love and hate. For example, read Romeo’s
words to Tybalt and Paris before they fight. Romeo is secretly related to
them through his marriage to Juliet, so he says he loves them, but they
hate him.
True love and romantic love

Shakespeare explores the difference between the true love that Romeo
and Juliet feel for each other and romantic love – the obsessive passion
that Romeo felt for Rosaline:
“… A madness, most discreet,
A choking gall, and a preserving sweet.”
In contrast, when Romeo meets Juliet for the first time, he says:
“If I profane with my unworthiest hand
This holy shrine …”
Passion and reason

Passion means having very strong emotions or feelings about something,
without having much control over those feelings. Reason is the ability to
think, consider and to make informed decisions. In our lives, passion and
reason sometimes conflict with each other.
For example, Romeo has no control over his emotions when thinking about
Rosaline: “O brawling love, O loving hate …” (Act 1, Scene 1)

Romeo and Juliet
However, when Romeo wants Juliet to swear her love for him although they
have only just met, she says:
“I have no joy of this contract tonight:
It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden …” (Act 2, Scene 2)
She loves Romeo, but she still allows her reason to control her responses.
Appearance and reality

Sometimes things are not what they first seem: we can be fooled by
appearances. Some of the characters in the play are confused by
appearances. For example, Juliet appears to be dead in Act 5, Scene 3,
and Romeo is fooled. As readers, we know, of course, that she has taken a
potion and is actually alive.
In Romeo and Juliet, the themes of appearance and reality can also be
linked to the theme of secrecy and lies. Both Romeo and Juliet tell lies
about their relationship. They keep their relationship and marriage a
secret, which adds to the conflict in the plot and ultimately works against
their happiness.
Order and disorder

People who govern cities like things to be orderly. They like people to obey
the rules and not cause trouble.
In Romeo and Juliet, feuding families represent disorder and can be harmful
to the smooth running of the society. For example, at the beginning of
the play, when the Montague and Capulet servants are fighting (disorder),
Prince Escalus enters and says:
“Rebellious subjects, enemies to peace,” (Act 1, Scene 1)
He attempts to restore order on the streets of Verona.
Youth and old age: the ‘generation gap’

A breakdown in understanding between the young and their elders is
known as a ‘generation gap’. The elders think that they know everything
and want to control the young; the young rebel against this. Romeo and
Juliet rebel against the custom of their society which says that parents
decide who their children should marry. This conflict results, in part, in the
death of the young lovers.

Overview
Honour and reputation

A person who is honourable has firm values and always does what he or
she believes is right. A person’s reputation depends on what other people
think of them.
For example, Tybalt insults Romeo by saying:
“Thou art a villain.” (Act 3, Scene 1)
Tybalt then fights with and kills Romeo’s friend, Mercutio. Romeo says:
“My reputation stained
With Tybalt’s slander …”
He then fights with and kills Tybalt to avenge Mercutio’s death and to defend
his honour. His family would have considered that to be the honourable
thing to do, even though it results in Romeo’s banishment.
3. Style
In a play, the conversation between characters tells the story. Their speech
is called the dialogue.
Sometimes characters talk alone on stage to the audience about what they
think or feel. This type of speech is called a soliloquy. For example, Act 5
Scene 1 begins with a soliloquy from Romeo. Only the audience knows
what Romeo says in his soliloquy; the other characters in the play do not.
3.1 Poetry and prose

In Romeo and Juliet some lines are written like a poem. The place where
the lines end depends on the rhythm of the words. Shakespeare used
poetry for the dialogue of the nobles and elite, like Lord and Lady Capulet.
Other lines, usually with words said by servants and other ordinary people,
are written in paragraphs that don’t rhyme, which is called prose. However,
sometimes when the nobles are joking they speak in prose, too. For
example, the nobles Mercutio and Benvolio joke in prose with Romeo in
Act 2, Scene 4.
Blank verse
Most of Romeo and Juliet is written in a type of poetry called blank verse.
The lines do not rhyme but the words have a regular rhythm, called iambic
pentameter. The pattern for each line is one soft-sounding syllable followed
by one strong-sounding syllable, repeated five times.

Romeo and Juliet
Rhyming couplet
If the last words in two lines sound similiar (rhyme), it is a rhyming couplet.
Here is an example of a rhyming couplet, from the Prince’s speech at the
end of the play:
For never was a story of more woe
Than this of Juliet and her Romeo. (Act 5,Scene 3)
Sonnet
A sonnet is a type of poem. It has 14 lines, made up of:
• Three quatrains. Each quatrain has four lines; and
• One rhyming couplet at the end.
There are three sonnets in Romeo and Juliet. Look at:
• Act 1, Prologue
• Act 1, Scene 5 when Romeo and Juliet first meet. They speak to
each other in a sonnet. The sonnet begins with, “If I profane with my
unworthiest hand …” and ends with the last line, “Then move not while
my prayer’s effect I take.”
• Act 2, Prologue
Shakespeare uses the sonnet form when he wants to make us aware of
the importance of what is being said. Using the sonnet also makes the
mood of the scene and the tone of the words more serious.
3.2 Diction and figurative language

Shakespeare was very skilled at using language to describe things and to
communicate his ideas in interesting ways:
• He used figures of speech such as metaphors, similes, personification.
• He played with the sound of the words, using alliteration, assonance
and onomatopoeia.
• He used imagery and symbols to help us imagine what he describes. A
symbol is something which represents something else. For example, a
dove is a symbol of peace.
• He makes jokes, using words that sound the same, or similar, but which
have different meanings. This type of joke is called a pun. For example,
‘she walked on the souls of her feet’.
• He uses dramatic irony to increase the tension and involve the audience
in the story.

Overview
3.3 Stage directions

Romeo and Juliet is a play to be performed on stage, as well as read.
Stage directions are instructions in the play, usually written in italics and in
square brackets. They tell us:
• Where each scene takes place, such as a street or a room in a house.
• When each character comes on to the stage (enters) and when they
leave (exits).
• Objects that the actors need to hold or use on stage. These objects are
called props.
• What a character has to do in certain parts of the play, for example, kiss
another actor, or fight.
• When a character speaks so that the audience hears what is said but
the other characters on stage do not. This is called an aside.
Shakespeare only wrote down a few stage directions to guide the actors.
It is the job of the play’s director to give more guidance. For example, the
director decides where the actors stand on stage, how they move, and
what the scenery and lighting should be like.
All these are important for creating the mood on stage and bringing the
play to life. Each production of a Shakespeare play will be different because
each director brings his or her own ideas about how the play should be
performed on stage.
3.4 Tone and mood

In a play, tone is not only the feelings created by the language of the writer.
Tone is also created by the sound of the actor’s voice which expresses the
emotion in the words. Does the actor’s voice sound anxious, excited, happy
or angry? Tone is important for expressing what the character feels.
In a play, the mood is the feeling, or atmosphere, that is created on stage. A
combination of things can help to create the mood: the actors’ expression
of the characters feelings, or emotions, their costumes, the scenery and
lighting.
For example, at the Capulet’s party in Act 1 Scene 5, the mood is festive,
with music, dancing and light. In contrast, what do you think the mood is
like in Act 5 Scene 3, in the Capulet’s tomb after Juliet has died?


Act by Act Romeo
and
Juliet
This section of the study guide contains:

• A summary of what happens and who is involved – the main events and
characters in the act.
• Information about characters, themes and language.
• Activities with exam-type questions for you to test yourself, and answers
to these activities.
Plays are
meant to be
performed Acting out the
drama can help you
understand the play
better – and
it’s fun!
Start a drama
group at your
school and really
get into Romeo
and Juliet.

Mind the Gap English First Additional Language: Paper 2 Romeo and Juliet PL AY 17
Romeo
and
Juliet Prologue
Setting: The chorus speaks the Prologue
on stage
What happens?
The Prologue is the introduction to the play. It gives an outline of the plot.
It prepares the audience for a sad story.
The structure of this poem in the Prologue is a Shakespearean Sonnet. It is
14 lines long, divided into three quatrains, and ends in a rhyming couplet.
The rhyming pattern is abab cdcd efef gg.
Chorus
Two households, both alike in dignity,
In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.
From forth the fatal loins of these two foes 5
A pair of star-cross’d lovers take their life;
Whole misadventured piteous overthrows
Do with their death bury their parents’ strife.
The fearful passage of their death-mark’d love,
And the continuance of their parents’ rage, 10
Which, but their children’s end, nought could remove,
Is now the two hours’ traffic of our stage;
The which if you with patient ears attend,
What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.
Read this Prologue

aloud and with feeling. At
first the sentence structures may
feel and sound a bit strange, but Don’t you feel
you will soon enjoy the peculiar noble and rather special
rhythm and formality. when you read this?

The Prologue
In simple modern English, here are the main points made in

this sonnet:
• Two families, both noble and of the same high status, live in
beautiful Verona.
• They have been arguing for years. This feud is again turning violent.
Even ordinary citizens are involved.
• Fate steps in when these feuding families give birth to two
unfortunate lovers. The stars predict a tragic fate for them.
• They become the victims of unkind fate and face unfortunate,
tragic accidents. Only with their deaths is their parents’ feud
ended.
• The course of their doomed love and their deaths eventually bring
an end to the hatred.
• The topic that we will act out on stage for the next two hours will be
filled in by our devoted acting – in case we have left out something
in this Prologue.
Activity 1
1. Closely study the lines from this Prologue (above). Quote one
of the following literary terms:
1.1 Repetition (1)
1.2 Alliteration (1)
1.3 Metaphor (1)
2. Identify four main themes introduced in the Prologue? (4)
[7]
Answers to Activity 1
1.1 Line 4: “civil blood... civil hands”3 (1)
1.2 Lines 5 and 6 “From forth the fatal ... two foes”3 (1)
1.3 Line 9: “death-marked love” 3 (1)
2. Four main themes introduced are:
• Fate/Fortune versus free will (line 5); 3
• Order versus disorder (line 7); 3
• Love versus hate (line 8); 3 and
• Youth versus old age (lines 8 and 10 - 11). 3 (4)
[7]

Act 1
Romeo
and
Juliet
Act 1, Scene 1
A fight between the Montagues and
Capulets
Setting: A public street in Verona
What happens?
• Sampson and Gregory are Capulet servants. They are boasting and
joking in the street.
• Abraham and Balthasar, two Montague servants, arrive. The Capulet
servants deliberately insult the others to start a fight.
• Benvolio, Romeo’s friend, arrives and stops their fight.
• Tybalt arrives and fights Benvolio.
• Officers of the law come with some other citizens and try to stop the
fighting.
• Lords Capulet and Montague arrive and want to fight each other, but
their wives try to stop them.
• Prince Escalus arrives and orders them all to throw down their weapons.
There have been three street fights now between the Capulets and
Montagues. He warns them that if they fight again they will be put to
death (executed). He wants to see Lord Montague and Lord Capulet at
his palace.
• Benvolio explains to Lord Montague how the fight started.
• Lady Montague asks Benvolio if he knows where Romeo is. Lord
Montague has noticed that Romeo seems sad these days. Benvolio says
that he will find out why Romeo is upset.
• When Romeo arrives, he tells Benvolio that he is in love with Rosaline.
He is sad because Rosaline is not interested in him.

Act 1, scene 1 1
Activity 2
Read the extract and then answer the questions below.
[Prince Escalus demands peace on the streets.]
PRINCE ESCALUS
Rebellious subjects, enemies to peace,
Profaners of this neighbour-stained steel,—
Will they not hear? What, ho! you men, you beasts,
That quench the fire of your pernicious rage
With purple fountains issuing from your veins, 5
On pain of torture, from those bloody hands
Throw your mistemper’d weapons to the ground,
And hear the sentence of your moved prince.
Three civil brawls, bred of an airy word,
By thee, old Capulet, and Montague, 10
Have thrice disturb’d the quiet of our streets,
And made Verona’s ancient citizens
Cast by their grave beseeming ornaments,
To wield old partisans, in hands as old,
Canker’d with peace, to part your canker’d hate: 15
This shows the

theme of order
and disorder.
The Prince is
“moved”. This
means that he is
very angry.

1 Romeo and Juliet
Questions
1. What does the extract tell us about how Verona is governed at
the time the action of the play is set? (3)
2. Where is Verona? (1)
3. What indication is there in the passage that
3.1. violent feelings have been bubbling just beneath the surface
and need very little to boil over. (2)
3.2. hardly anyone is neutral? (2)
4. What does the Prince mean by the words
a) cankered with peace? (1)
b) cankered with hate? (1)
5. What modern word is derived from “cankered” and how are
the two words similar in meaning? (2)
[12]
1. The Prince is the ruler in Verona3 – his word is the law. He
speaks with authority and has to be obeyed.3 3 (3)
2. Italy3 (1)
3.1. Three street fights had already occurred as a result of a
carelessly spoken word.3 They also carry weapons.3 (2)
3.2. The Prince addresses both Capulet and Montague as heads
of their households.3 Even old citizens are dragged into the
fighting.3 (2)
4a) The swords of the older citizens were at first lying idly and
becoming corrupted by rust.3 (1)
4b) These swords were picked up in fighting and are now
corrupted by hatred.3 (1)
5. Cancer.3 Both “cankered” and ‘cancer’ indicate that
something is being destroyed.3 (2)
[12]

Act 1, scene 2 1
Act 1, Scene 2
Lord Capulet plans his party
Setting: Capulet’s Mansion
In some exam
questions, the “feast”
What happens? is called a “ball”,
which is a formal
• The scene opens with Lord Capulet telling Paris that he and Lord dancing party.
Montague have been ordered not to fight, and he thinks they will be
able to “keep the peace”.
• Paris asks Lord Capulet for permission to marry Juliet.
• Lord Capulet explains to Paris that Juliet is only 13, too young to marry.
He suggests waiting another two years. He also says that Juliet needs to
agree to the marriage.
• Lord Capulet invites Paris to a party (feast) that night. There he will see
Juliet, as well as other ladies with whom to compare her.
• Lord Capulet gives his servant a list of people and tells him to invite them
to the party. But the servant cannot read, so when he meets Romeo and
Benvolio in the street, he asks them to read the names for him.
• Romeo sees that Rosaline, the woman he loves, is invited.
• The servant says that if Romeo and Benvolio are not Montagues, they
can come to the party.
• Benvolio tells Romeo that many ladies will be at the party, and maybe
Romeo might meet someone new.

1 Romeo and Juliet
Activity 3
[Capulet and Paris discuss Juliet]
CAPULET
But Montague is bound as well as I,
In penalty alike; and ‘tis not hard, I think,
For men so old as we to keep the peace.
PARIS
Of honourable reckoning are you both;
And pity ’tis you lived at odds so long. 5
But now, my lord, what say you to my suit?
CAPULET
But saying o’er what I have said before:
My child is yet a stranger in the world;
She hath not seen the change of fourteen years,
Let two more summers wither in their pride, 10
Ere we may think her ripe to be a bride.
PARIS
Younger than she are happy mothers made.
CAPULET
And too soon marr’d are those so early made.
The earth hath swallow’d all my hopes but she,
She is the hopeful lady of my earth: 15
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.
Questions
1. Read the following statement from the play and complete it by
filling in the missing words. Write only the question number and
the word.
Lord Capulet is talking about his a) _______, Lord Montague.
The two families do not get along because of a long-standing
b)________ between them. (2)
2. Explain why Montague and Capulet are being punished. (2)
3. In lines 4 - 5 Paris says that both Montague and Capulet are
“of honourable reckoning”.
a) Explain what Paris’s words reveal about the characters of
the two lords. (1)
b) Use your own words to explain how Paris feels about this
state of affairs. (2)
4. What “suit” is Paris referring to in line 6? (1)

Act 1, scene 2 1
5. Refer to lines 14 and 15, “Earth hath swallowed ... my earth”.

a) Name the figures of speech used by Capulet in these lines. (1)
b) Use your own words to explain what Capulet means in
these lines. (2)
6. State whether the following statement is true or false and
support your answer from the extract.
Capulet refuses to allow Paris to marry Juliet. (2)
7. Capulet invites Paris to his feast that night. What does he
intend Paris to do there? (1)
Write down a, b, c or d as your choice of answer to the following
questions.
8. Paris is
a Capulet’s best friend.
b related to the Prince.
c Romeo’s cousin.
d Juliet’s beloved fiancé. (2)
9. In line 5, Paris says “And pity ’tis”. He means that
a he feels sorry for Capulet.
b he thinks the feud is so senseless.
c it is a pity Capulet has become so old.
d Capulet has had to live in fear all these years. (2)
10. Paris visits Capulet because he
a wants Capulet’s advice on his new suit.
b is concerned about the ongoing fued.
c wants Capulet’s final answer to his proposal.
d has come to ask Capulet’s permission to marry Juliet. (2)
Answer the following questions in your own words:

11. Why does Capulet call Juliet “a stranger in the world” (line 8)? (2)
12. What is Juliet’s age? Quote the phrase from the extract that
tells you this. (3)
13. Capulet asks a favour of Paris concerning the wedding. What is
his request? (lines 10 and 11). (2)
14. Do you think Paris is pleased with Capulet’s request? What
answer does he give? (2)
15. Explain line 14 in your own words. (2)
16. Capulet encourages Paris to “woo” Juliet. What is a modern
English word for “woo”? (2)
17. Read lines 17 to 19. Would you agree that Capulet means it
when he tells Paris that Juliet has the final say in the choice of
a husband? (4)
[37]

1 Romeo and Juliet
1 a) enemy/foe3 (1)
b) feud/argument3 (1)
2. Prince Escalus is punishing them for the public quarrel
between their servants.33 (2)
3 a) They are both honourable and respected.3 (1)
b) He respects both3 therefore he finds it a pity that they are
quarrelling.3 (2)
4. His request to marry Juliet.3 (1)
5 a) metaphor OR personification3 (1)
b) All his other children are dead and buried.3 Juliet is the
only remaining child he has to bring him happiness.3 (2)
6. False. He only wants Paris to wait two more years. 33 (2)
7. He wants Paris to impress Juliet so he can win her heart.3 (1)
8. b 33 (2)
9. b 33 (2)
10. c 33 (2)
11. Juliet is still young3 and unused to society and the world. 3 (2)
12. Thirteen years old.3 “She has not seen the change of
fourteen ways”.33 (3)
13. Capulet asks Paris to wait another two years before they get
married.33 (2)
14. No, Paris is not pleased at all.3 He remarks that girls younger
than Juliet are happy mothers already.3 (2)
15. Capulet says that all his children apart from Juliet have
died.33 (2)
16. To “woo” means to date someone so that they learn to love
you.33 (2)
17. No, I don’t agree that he means it. In those days girls didn’t
have the final say in their choice of husband.33 Their parents
did. Most marriages were pre-arranged.33
OR
Yes, I think he did mean it.3 Although most parents in those
days decided who their children married, Capulet is a very
soft-hearted father towards Juliet.3 He would care about how
she felt about marrying Paris.33 (4)
[37]

Act 1, scene 3 1
Act 1, Scene 3
Lady Capulet wants Juliet to marry Paris
Setting: Capulet’s Mansion
What happens?
• Lady Capulet tells the Nurse that Juliet is ready for marriage, as it is only
two weeks until her fourteenth birthday. The nurse remembers Juliet’s
childhood well - she raised Juliet.
• Lady Capulet tells Juliet that Paris has asked to marry Juliet, and he
would be an excellent choice of husband.
• Juliet says she will look at Paris to see if she finds him attractive.
In those days,
many noble women did
not breastfeed their own
babies and had a nursemaid
do it for them. Juliet’s nurse
would have cared for her
since she was a baby,and
probably knew her better
than Juliet’s mother.

1 Romeo and Juliet
Activity 4
[Lady Capulet and nurse talk to Juliet in her bedroom.]
LADY CAPULET
Well, think of marriage now; younger than you,
Here in Verona, ladies of esteem,
Are made already mothers: by my count,
I was your mother much upon these years
That you are now a maid. Thus then in brief: 5
The valiant Paris seeks you for his love.
NURSE
A man, young lady! lady, such a man
As all the world—why, he’s a man of wax.
LADY CAPULET
Verona’s summer hath not such a flower.
NURSE
Nay, he’s a flower; in faith, a very flower. 10
LADY CAPULET
What say you? can you love the gentleman?
This night you shall behold him at our feast;
Read o’er the volume of young Paris’ face,
And find delight writ there with beauty’s pen;
Examine every married lineament, 15
And see how one another lends content
And what obscured in this fair volume lies
Find written in the margent of his eyes.
This precious book of love, this unbound lover,
To beautify him, only lacks a cover: 20
Questions
1. In which city is Romeo and Juliet set? (1)
2. Which other character in the play is a relative of Paris? (1)
3. Refer to line 6 – “The valiant Paris ... for his love”. Earlier Paris
asks Capulet if he may marry Juliet. What is Capulet’s answer
to Paris’s request? (2)
4. What does the nurse mean when she says Paris is “a man
of wax”? (1)
5. Explain why the nurse, who is not a family member, is present
during this very personal conversation that Lady Capulet is
having with her daughter. (2)
6. In lines 9 – 10 “Verona’s summer hath ... a very flower”, both
Lady Capulet and the Nurse are praising Paris.
a) Identify the figure of speech in these lines. (1)
b) Explain why the use of this figure of speech is effective here. (2)
7. Refer to Lady Capulet’s second question in line 11, “... can
you love the gentleman?”

Act 1, scene 3 1
a) What is Juliet’s reply to this question? (1)

b) Explain how the Capulets’ attitude here differs from their
later treatment of Juliet. State two points. (2)
8. In lines 13 – 14 (“Read o’er the volume … with beauty’s pen”),
Lady Capulet describes Paris.
a) To what does she compare Paris’s face? (1)
b) What does Lady Capulet expect Juliet to discover later
about Paris’s feelings? (1)
9. Do you think Paris would have made a good husband for Juliet
if Romeo had not appeared in her life? Give a reason for
your answer. (1)
10. The Capulets are eager to arrange a marriage for their daughter.
Do you think their actions are in Juliet’s best interests?
Discuss your view. (2)
[18]
1. Verona3 (1)
2. Mercutio/Prince Escalus/The Prince3 (1)
3. Paris is asked to wait another two years before he marries Juliet. She is
too young.33 (2)
4. Paris is handsome and from a noble family.3 (1)
5. The Nurse is closer to Juliet than her mother.3 Juliet shares her secrets
with the Nurse and Lady Capulet is not comfortable talking alone to her
own daughter.3 (2)
6 a) Metaphor3 (1)
b) Paris is said to be a flower – that is, very beautiful.33 (2)
7 a) She will attend the ball and see whether she likes him.3
OR
She won’t do anything without their permission.3 (1)
b) The Capulets at first leave the choice of marrying Paris up to her, but
later force her to marry him.33
OR
They said she is still too young, but soon after say she is old enough.33 (2)
8 a) A beautifully written book3 (1)
b) She expects Juliet to discover that Paris’s feelings for her are honest
and in her best interest.33 (2)
9. Yes, he would have taken good care of her financially and loved her.33
Or
No, he would never feel like her true love. A happy marriage is not built on
money and looks alone.33
10. Yes, in their eyes their actions are in her best interest, because Paris is (2)
noble and attractive.33
Or
No, we know that their actions aren’t in her best interest because she (2)
doesn’t have a say in the matter and doesn’t love him with passion.33 [18]

1 Romeo and Juliet
Act 1, Scene 4
Romeo and friends on their way to the
party
Setting: Street outside the Capulet’s
mansion
What happens?
• Romeo and his friends chat on their way to the party. They put on
masks. At such parties, or balls, young people wore masks so they could
flirt without being recognised.
• Mercutio tells them the story of Mab, the queen of the fairies, who
delivers dreams. She can also bring nightmares. He does this to stop
Romeo from feeling so sad.
• Romeo still suffers from the pain of his love for Rosaline. At the end of
the scene, he feels that something bad will begin that night. Dramatic
irony is also used because the audience knows from the prologue what
Romeo doesn’t know.
• The theme of Fate/Destiny versus free will is stressed.

Act 1, scene 4 1
Activity 5
[On their way to the Capulet’s feast]
ROMEO
Peace, peace, Mercutio, peace!
Thou talk’st of nothing.
MERCUTIO
Mercutio uses a
True, I talk of dreams, simile to compare
Which are the children of an idle brain, dreams to air. The
Begot of nothing but vain fantasy, 5 wind is also personified
because it is described
Which is as thin of substance as the air
as a person blowing.
And more inconstant than the wind, who woos
Even now the frozen bosom of the north,
And, being anger’d, puffs away from thence,
Turning his face to the dew-dropping south. 10
BENVOLIO
This wind, you talk of, blows us from ourselves;
Supper is done, and we shall come too late.
ROMEO
I fear, too early: for my mind misgives
Some consequence yet hanging in the stars
Shall bitterly begin his fearful date 15
With this night’s revels and expire the term
Of a despised life closed in my breast
By some vile forfeit of untimely death.
But He, that hath the steerage of my course,
Direct my sail! On, lusty gentlemen. 20
Questions
For questions 1 – 3 answer A, B, C or D.
1. In line 13, Romeo says “I fear too early”. This means
A it was not polite to arrive at a party too early.
B he fears that this night might eventually cause his death.
C he is frightened he might be recognised.
D he isn’t willing to forget about Rosaline yet. (2)
2. In line 14, Romeo refers to something “yet hanging in the
stars”. He sees this as something
A evil, which he has read in his horoscope.
B evil, which somebody else wishes on him.
C bad, brought on by fate, which will cause suffering.
D exciting, that he never expected to happen. (2)
3. In lines 16 – 18 Romeo says
A fate will prevent him from seeing Rosaline.
B his life will end because of this night’s events.
C he hates his life and has decided to commit suicide.

1 Romeo and Juliet
D he does not fear, since God will guide him in all danger. (2)
4. The men mentioned in the extract are on their way to an
important destination. Where are they going to? (2)
5. Why is it necessary for Romeo to try and calm Mercutio? What
happens just before this passage, which causes Mercutio to
rant and rave like a madman? (3)
6. What is Mercutio’s opinion of the value of dreams? (2)
7. Quote a line spoken by the practical, good Benvolio, proving
that he thinks nothing of all the emotional outbursts around
him. (1)
8. How was it possible for Romeo and Benvolio to accompany
Mercutio? (4)
[18]
1. B 33 (2)
2. C 33 (2)
3. D 33 (2)
4. Romeo, Benvolio and Mercutio are going to the Capulets’
feast.33 (2)
5. Romeo must quieten Mercutio because people are starting to
notice them.3 Mercutio mocks Romeo for being depressed
about Rosaline and not wanting to dance,3 and for having a
bad dream the previous night.3 (3)
6. Mercutio doesn’t value dreams much.3 He sees dreams as
the result of an empty brain, made of empty fantasies and too
changeable, like the wind.3 (2)
7. “This wind you talk of blows us from ourselves”.3 (1)
8. Mercutio was invited as kinsman of the Prince33 and he
invited Romeo and Benvolio along.33 (4)
[18]

Act 1, scene 5 1
Act 1, Scene 5
The Capulet party – Romeo meets Juliet
Setting: The hall in Capulet’s mansion

1 Romeo and Juliet
What happens?
• Lord Capulet’s servants prepare for the party.
• Lord Capulet welcomes his guests.
• Romeo sees Juliet and is immediately attracted to her. He asks a
servant if he knows who she is, but the servant does not.
• Tybalt, Juliet’s cousin, recognises Romeo by his voice. He wants to fight
him. Lord Capulet stops him. He thinks Romeo will not cause trouble,
and he wants no fighting at his party.
• Romeo and Juliet meet and express their love.
• The nurse interrupts them; Juliet’s mother wants to see her.
• Later, Romeo and Juliet each learn the terrible news from the nurse that
their families are enemies
Activity 6
[At the Capulets’ feast]
ROMEO
What lady is that, which doth enrich the hand
Of yonder knight?
Servingman
I know not, sir.
ROMEO
O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!
It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night 5
Like a rich jewel in an Ethiope’s ear –
Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear!
So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows,
As yonder lady o’er her fellows shows.
The measure done, I’ll watch her place of stand, 10
And, touching hers, make blessed my rude hand.
Did my heart love till now? forswear it, sight!
For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night.
TYBALT
This, by his voice, should be a Montague.
Fetch me my rapier, boy. What dares the slave 15
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.

Act 1, scene 5 1
Questions
1. In the context of the story, who is likely to be Juliet’s partner at
her father’s ball? Give reasons for your answer. (3)
2. Why does Romeo compare the night to “an Ethiope” in line 6? (2)
3. How does he propose to approach Juliet? (2)
4. Romeo’s instant fascination with Juliet means the betrayal of
another person and of his own integrity. Comment briefly on
both aspects of this betrayal. (4)
5. Why has Romeo come to the feast “covered with an antic face?” (2)
6. Would an Elizabethan audience have been familiar with this
kind of disguise? Explain. (2)
7. The clash of personalities between Tybalt and Romeo is
responsible for much of the heartache in this play. How are the
differences in their characters illustrated by what they do and
say in the extract above? (4)
[19]
1. Paris.3 In Act 1 scene 2 Lord Capulet invited him to the
feast to compare Juliet with the other beauties.3 Paris also
asked Capulet to marry Juliet but Capulet said he had to wait
another two years, since she is too young.3 (3)
2. An Ethiope is a black person,3 whose skin is black just like
the night.3 (2)
3. Romeo will look for her, then go and touch her hand.33 (2)
4. Romeo is still supposed to be in love with Rosaline, because it
is only recently that she rejected his love.3 It also shows that
he is very vulnerable and easily influenced.33 He does not
always keep his promises – he had earlier declared Rosaline
was his one true love.3 (4)
5. It was a masked ball.3 Also Romeo needs to hide his face
because he is a Montague and is an enemy of the Capulets.3 (2)
6. Yes. Masked balls were popular in those times.33 (2)
7. Tybalt immediately wants to fight. He is aggressive.3 Romeo
is in a peaceful mood.3 Also, Tybalt talks self-importantly,3
whereas Romeo shows respect and humility.3 (4)
[19]

Act 2
Romeo
and
Juliet
Act 2, Scene 1
Prologue
Setting: The Chorus speaks the Prologue
on stage
The Chorus summarises what has happened so far and tells what is going
to happen in this Act.
Like the Prologue in Act 1, the 14 lines are divided into 3 quatrains and a
rhyming couplet. The rhyming pattern is abab cdcd efef gg.
Chorus
Now old desire doth in his death-bed lie,
And young affection gapes to be his heir;
That fair for which love groan’d for and would die,
With tender Juliet match’d, is now not fair.
Now Romeo is beloved and loves again, 5
Alike betwitched by the charm of looks,
But to his foe supposed he must complain,
And she steal love’s sweet bait from fearful hooks:
Being held a foe, he may not have access
To breathe such vows as lovers use to swear; 10
And she as much in love, her means much less
To meet her new-beloved any where:
But passion lends them power, time means, to meet
Tempering extremities with extreme sweet. 14

Act 2, scene 1 2
In simple modern English, here are the main points made in this
sonnet:
• All of a sudden Romeo’s former love for Rosaline is dead. New
feelings of love are eager to take its place.
• Compared to Juliet, the once beautiful lady is not beautiful anymore.
• This time Romeo loves and is loved in return. He and Juliet are
equally attracted to each other.
• However, Romeo has to express his love to the enemy and Juliet
also has to take risks and could be caught out.
• Since they are enemies, Romeo dares not convey his love in
the usual way. Juliet has even fewer opportunities to meet him
anywhere.
• But their passionate love gives them the strength and opportunities
to see each other. This way the dangers of their situation are made
bearable.
Line 8 is an example
of a metaphor. Just like
a fish that is attracted
by the bait and almost
caught, she is at risk
loving Romeo.
In lines 1 and 2
there are examples of
personification. Both
the emotions “desire”
and “young affection”
are personified.

2 Romeo and Juliet
Act 2, Scene 1
Romeo is teased by his friends
Setting: Outside Capulet’s orchard
What happens?
vocab • Romeo and his friends have left the Capulet party, but Romeo hides
from them. He climbs over the wall into Capulet’s orchard. He intends to
Orchard: Many fruit trees.
go back to find Juliet.
• Benvolio and Mercutio look for Romeo. Mercutio realises that Romeo is
hiding. He makes fun of Romeo and makes sexual jokes about Romeo’s
love for Rosaline. This gives the scene comic relief.
• The friends do not know yet that Romeo is now in love with Juliet. This is
dramatic irony, since the audience and Romeo do know.
BENVOLIO
He ran this way, and leap’d this orchard wall:
Call, good Mercutio.
MERCUTIO
Nay, I’ll conjure too.
Romeo! humours! madman! passion! lover!
Appear thou in the likeness of a sigh: 5
Speak but one rhyme, and I am satisfied;
Cry but ‘Ay me!’ pronounce but ‘love’ and ‘dove.’
Speak to my gossip Venus one fair word,
One nickname for her purblind son and heir,
Young Adam Cupid, he that shot so trim, 10
When King Cophetua loved the beggar-maid!
He heareth not, he stirreth not, he moveth not;
The ape is dead, and I must conjure him.
I conjure thee by Rosaline’s bright eyes,
By her high forehead and her scarlet lip, 15
By her fine foot, straight leg and quivering thigh
And the demesnes that there adjacent lie,
That in thy likeness thou appear to us!
BENVOLIO
And if he hear thee, thou wilt anger him.

Act 2, scene 2 2
Act 2, Scene 2
The famous balcony scene
Setting: Capulet’s orchard

2 Romeo and Juliet
What happens?
• Romeo, hiding in the orchard, sees Juliet appear on her balcony.
• She speaks of her love for him. She wishes he was not a member of the
Montague family.
• Romeo listens. Juliet notices someone is there. He dares not say his
name, for he is a Montague, but Juliet recognises his voice.
• Romeo says that his love for her made him come to find her.
• Juliet is afraid that things may be moving too quickly but agrees that
they should marry.
• She explains she will send a messenger to Romeo the next day to find
out the arrangements Romeo has made for their marriage ceremony.
Activity 7
[Romeo in the orchard below Juliet’s balcony]
ROMEO
He jests at scars that never felt a wound.
JULIET appears above at a window
But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks?
It is the east, and Juliet is the sun
Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon,
Who is already sick and pale with grief, 5
That thou her maid art far more fair than she:
Be not her maid, since she is envious;
Her vestal livery is but sick and green
And none but fools do wear it; cast it off.
It is my lady, O, it is my love! 10
O, that she knew she were!
She speaks yet she says nothing: what of that?
Her eye discourses; I will answer it.
I am too bold, ’tis not to me she speaks:
Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven, 15
Having some business, do entreat her eyes
To twinkle in their spheres till they return.
What if her eyes were there, they in her head?
The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars,
As daylight doth a lamp; her eyes in heaven 20
Would through the airy region stream so bright
That birds would sing and think it were not night.
See, how she leans her cheek upon her hand!
O, that I were a glove upon that hand,
That I might touch that cheek! 25

Act 2, scene 2 2
JULIET
Ay me!
ROMEO
She speaks:
O, speak again, bright angel! for thou art
As glorious to this night, being o’er my head
As is a winged messenger of heaven 30
Unto the white-upturned wondering eyes
Of mortals that fall back to gaze on him
When he bestrides the lazy-pacing clouds
And sails upon the bosom of the air.
JULIET
O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo? 35
Deny thy father and refuse thy name;
Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,
And I’ll no longer be a Capulet.
Questions
1. Explain why Romeo’s attraction to Juliet is surprising at this
stage in the play. (3)
2. Refer to line 3, “It is the east … Juliet is the sun!”. Identify the
figure of speech used. (1)
3. Explain the figure of speech in question 2. (2)
4. Refer to lines 35 – 38, “O Romeo, Romeo … be a Capulet”.
Discuss Juliet’s feelings at this stage of the play. (2)
5. Identify and discuss the theme of the play revealed in
lines 35 – 38. (3)
6. Do you think Romeo and Juliet’s decision to marry was wise?
Support your answer. (3)
[14]

2 Romeo and Juliet
1. He has only just met Juliet and moments before that he was still in love with
Rosaline and very depressed because she didn’t return his love.33 They
are also from enemy families.3 (3)
2. Metaphor3 (1)
3. Romeo is comparing Juliet to the rising sun.3 For him, Juliet is the light in
the dark. Her beauty is like a shining light (sun) in the dark.3 (2)
4. She is very much in love with Romeo but his name makes it almost
impossible for them to be together 3 She wishes he had a different
surname.3 (2)
5. Love versus hate.3 Romeo and Juliet’s love and lives are controlled by their
parent’s hate.3 Their love cannot be out in the open because of hate. This
will determine their whole life.3 (3)
6. No, it wasn’t wise. They should have asked the Friar’s help in talking to
their feuding parents.3 Perhaps they would’ve understood and given their
permission.3 The feud would have ended and the tragedy wouldn’t have
happened.3
OR
Yes, it was wise. The love they immediately felt for each other was powerful
and true.3 They couldn’t rely on anyone in their families to understand or
make peace, so they followed the true love of their hearts.33 (3)
[14]

Act 2, scene 3 2
Act 2, Scene 3
Romeo asks Friar Lawrence to help
arrange his marriage to Juliet
Setting: Outside Friar Lawrence’s cell
What happens?
• Friar Lawrence is collecting plants and herbs to make medicine. It is
early in the morning.
• Romeo arrives and the Friar guesses there is something wrong as it
is very early for Romeo to be up. The Friar thinks he has been with
Rosaline.
• Romeo says he has forgotten Rosaline. He tells the Friar of his new love,
Juliet, and asks the Friar to marry them that day.
• The Friar is surprised that Romeo has changed his feelings for Rosaline
so quickly.
• The Friar agrees to help Romeo, because he thinks the marriage might
help end the feud between the Montagues and the Capulets.

2 Romeo and Juliet
Activity 8
[Romeo visits Friar Lawrence.]
FRIAR LAWRENCE
Holy Saint Francis, what a change is here!
Is Rosaline, whom thou didst love so dear,
So soon forsaken? young men’s love then lies
Not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes.
Jesu Maria, what a deal of brine 5
Hath wash’d thy sallow cheeks for Rosaline!
How much salt water thrown away in waste,
To season love, that of it doth not taste!
The sun not yet thy sighs from heaven clears,
Thy old groans ring yet in my ancient ears; 10
Lo, here upon thy cheek the stain doth sit
Of an old tear that is not wash’d off yet:
If e’er thou wast thyself and these woes thine,
Thou and these woes were all for Rosaline:
And art thou changed? pronounce this sentence then, 15
Women may fall, when there’s no strength in men.
ROMEO
Thou chid’st me oft for loving Rosaline.
FRIAR LAWRENCE
For doting, not for loving, pupil mine.
ROMEO
And bad’st me bury love.
FRIAR LAWRENCE
Not in a grave, 20
To lay one in, another out to have.
ROMEO
I pray thee chide me not. Her I love now
Doth grace for grace and love for love allow.
The other did not so.
FRIAR LAWRENCE
O, she knew well 25
Thy love did read by rote and could not spell.
But come, young waverer, come, go with me,
In one respect I’ll thy assistant be;
For this alliance may so happy prove,
To turn your households’ rancour to pure love. 30
ROMEO
O, let us hence; I stand on sudden haste.
FRIAR LAWRENCE
Wisely and slow; they stumble that run fast.

Act 2, scene 3 2
Questions
1. Give two reasons why Romeo visits Friar Lawrence at this point. (2)
2. Refer to lines 2 – 3 – “Is Rosaline, that … so soon forsaken”.
Discuss why Friar Lawrence mentions Rosaline. (3)
3. Choose the correct answer.
The word “chid’st” (line 17) has the same meaning as
A hit.
B scolded.
C punished.
D advised. (1)
4. Refer to lines 22 – 23, “Her I love … for love allow”. Discuss the
events leading to Romeo’s meeting with Juliet. (3)
5. Refer to lines 29 – 30, “For this alliance … to pure love”.
Explain how the two families are reconciled later in the play. (2)
6. Refer to line 32, “Wisely and slow … that run fast”. Is the
Friar’s advice good? Give a reason for your answer. (2)
7. What does the above extract reveal about the characters of:
a) Friar Lawrence? (2)
b) Romeo? (2)
8. From your knowledge of the play as a whole, discuss Friar
Lawrence’s role in the tragic deaths of Romeo and Juliet. (3)
[20]
1. Romeo visited the Friar to tell him of his new love for Juliet 3
and to ask the Friar’s help in marrying her.3 (2)
2. It was only recently that Romeo cried many tears over
Rosaline because he was so depressed that she didn’t love
him back.33 The Friar can’t understand this sudden change
in affection.3 (3)
3. B3 (1)
4. Romeo attended the Capulet Ball with his friends Benvolio
and Mercutio.3 There he met and fell in love with Juliet.3 She
loves him back.3 (3)
5. It is only after the deaths of both Romeo and Juliet in Act 5
Scene 3 that the Capulets and Montagues make peace.33 (2)
6. Yes, it is good. The Friar warns Romeo to take it slowly and to
think clearly, because if one is in too much of a hurry, one falls
over one’s own feet.33 (2)
7 a) Friar Lawrence is very helpful and wise.33 (2)
b) Romeo is very impatient and trusting.33 (2)
8. If Friar Lawrence hadn’t married them in secret, Juliet wouldn’t
have had to drink the potion to avoid having to marry Paris.3
Romeo got the news of the potion plan too late; thinking Juliet
was dead, he also drinks poison. On waking, Juliet sees the
dead Romeo and stabs herself.33 (3)
[20]

2 Romeo and Juliet
Act 2, Scene 4
Romeo and the nurse confirm the
marriage plans
Setting: A street in Verona
What happens?
• Benvolio and Mercutio still think that Romeo is in love with Rosaline,
and they joke about this.
• Benvolio says that Tybalt has sent a letter to Romeo’s father, challenging
Romeo to a fight. Mercutio criticises and makes fun of Tybalt. But
Mercutio also says that Tybalt is a good swordsman. Mercutio does not
think that Romeo will be able to fight Tybalt because he has already
been ‘killed’ by his love for Rosaline.
• Romeo arrives and Mercutio jokes with him; he still does not know about
Romeo’s love for Juliet.
• The nurse arrives to ask Romeo if he is serious about Juliet and to find
out his plans for the wedding. Romeo tells her to make sure Juliet comes
to “shrift” (confession) at Friar Lawrence’s cell that afternoon, where
they will be married.
Activity 9
[On a street in Verona]
MERCUTIO
Alas poor Romeo! he is already dead! -
stabbed with a white wench’s black eye;
run through the ear with a love-song;
the very pin of his heart cleft with the
blind bow-boy’s butt-shaft. 5
And is he a man to encounter Tybalt?
MERCUTIO
Why, is not this better now than groaning for love?
Now art thou sociable. Now art thou Romeo.
Now art thou what thou art, by art as well as by nature

Act 2, scene 4 2
Questions
1. How would you describe Mercutio’s attitude to love? (2)
2. Romeo is quiet, often depressed, and a dreamer. What qualities
possessed by Mercutio are in direct contrast to these? (3)
[5]
1. Mercutio has negative feelings about love.3 He believes love (2)
is just physical and he tells coarse, sexual jokes.3
2. Mercutio is loud, talkative and a realist.333 (3)
[5]

2 Romeo and Juliet
Act 2, Scene 5
The nurse tells Juliet the plan for her
marriage to Romeo
Setting: Capulet’s orchard
What happens?
• Juliet is waiting patiently for the Nurse to return with news from Romeo.
• The Nurse arrives but teases Juliet by not giving her the news immediately.
She delays it by complaining about feeling tired. This creates comedy as
Juliet is impatient to hear the news.
• The Nurse tells Juliet that she must go to Friar Lawrence for confession
(“shrift”) and Romeo will meet her there. They will then get married.
• The nurse also says that she will fetch a ladder so that Romeo can climb
to Juliet’s bedroom that night.
• The nurse returns after being away for a few hours.
Activity 10
[In the Capulet’s garden]
JULIET
Now, good sweet nurse,—O Lord, why look’st thou sad?
Though news be sad, yet tell them merrily;
If good, thou shamest the music of sweet news
By playing it to me with so sour a face.
NURSE
I am a-weary, give me leave awhile: 5
Fie, how my bones ache! what a jaunt have I had!
JULIET
I would thou hadst my bones, and I thy news:
Nay, come, I pray thee, speak; good, good nurse, speak.
NURSE
Jesu, what haste? can you not stay awhile?
Do you not see that I am out of breath? 10

Act 2, scene 5 2
JULIET
How art thou out of breath, when thou hast breath
To say to me that thou art out of breath?
The excuse that thou dost make in this delay
Is longer than the tale thou dost excuse.
Is thy news good, or bad? answer to that; 15
Say either, and I’ll stay the circumstance:
Let me be satisfied, is’t good or bad?
NURSE
Well, you have made a simple choice; you know not
how to choose a man: Romeo! no, not he; though his
face be better than any man’s, yet his leg excels 20
all men’s; and for a hand, and a foot, and a body,
though they be not to be talked on, yet they are
past compare: he is not the flower of courtesy,
but, I’ll warrant him, as gentle as a lamb. Go thy
ways, wench; serve God. What, have you dined at home? 25
JULIET
No, no: but all this did I know before.
What says he of our marriage? what of that?
NURSE
Lord, how my head aches! what a head have I!
It beats as it would fall in twenty pieces.
My back o’ t’ other side,—O, my back, my back! 30
Beshrew your heart for sending me about,
To catch my death with jaunting up and down!
JULIET
I’ faith, I am sorry that thou art not well.
Sweet, sweet, sweet nurse, tell me, what says my love?
NURSE
Your love says, like an honest gentleman, and a 35
courteous, and a kind, and a handsome, and,
I warrant, a virtuous,—Where is your mother?
JULIET
Where is my mother! why, she is within;
Where should she be? How oddly thou repliest!
‘Your love says, like an honest gentleman, 40
Where is your mother?’
NURSE
O God’s lady dear!
Are you so hot? marry, come up, I trow;
Is this the poultice for my aching bones?
Henceforward do your messages yourself. 45
JULIET
Here’s such a coil! come, what says Romeo?
NURSE
Have you got leave to go to shrift to-day?
JULIET
I have.
NURSE
Then hie you hence to Friar Laurence’ cell;
There stays a husband to make you a wife. 50

2 Romeo and Juliet
Questions
1. From what errand has the Nurse returned? (2)
2. Refer to the lines 28 – 30, “what a head … back, my back!”.
Why does the nurse claim that her head and back ache?
Give two points. (2)
3. Refer to the lines 49 – 50, “Then hie you … you a wife”.
Discuss how these lines make Juliet feel. (2)
4. What does the extract tell you about the relationship between
the nurse and Juliet? (2)
5. Do you think the nurse is justified in helping Juliet at this point
in the play? Discuss your view. (2)
[10]
1. Juliet has sent her to Romeo to find out when the marriage will
take place.33 (2)
2. She has walked a long distance and she wants to keep Juliet
in suspense.33 (2)
3. She is very happy because Romeo has made arrangements for
them to be married.33
4. They love each other like mother and daughter.3 Juliet trusts
the nurse with her secrets.3 (2)
5. Yes, she loves Juliet very much and wants Juliet to be happy.3
She knows Juliet loves Romeo very much.3 (2)
OR
No, she is helping Juliet to make a mistake that results in her
death.3 She is also betraying the trust the Capulets have
placed in her.3 (2)
[10]

Act 2, scene 6 2
Act 2, Scene 6
Romeo and Juliet meet Friar Lawrence to
be married
Setting: Friar’s Lawrence’s cell

2 Romeo and Juliet
What happens?
• As Romeo and Friar Lawrence wait for Juliet, we hear that the Friar is
worried that this marriage is happening too quickly.
• The theme of fate/destiny versus free will is emphasised.
• When Juliet arrives, Romeo and Juliet express their love again. The Friar
sees how happy they are together and prepares to marry them
Activity 11
[Romeo and Friar Lawrence in the Friar’s cell]
FRIAR LAWRENCE
So smile the heavens upon this holy act,
That after hours with sorrow chide us not!
ROMEO
Amen, amen! but come what sorrow can,
Note the metaphor,
It cannot countervail the exchange of joy
“love-devouring death” That one short minute gives me in her sight: 5
(line 7)? Death is Do thou but close our hands with holy words,
described as a monster Then love-devouring death do what he dare;
that eats love.
It is enough I may but call her mine.
FRIAR LAWRENCE
These violent delights have violent ends
And in their triumph die, like fire and powder, 10
Which as they kiss consume: the sweetest honey
Is loathsome in his own deliciousness
And in the taste confounds the appetite:
Therefore love moderately; long love doth so;
Too swift arrives as tardy as too slow. 15
Questions
1. The Friar agrees to marry Romeo and Juliet, but it is his failure
to inform the Capulets and Montagues that advances the plot.
Explain the truth of this statement as it relates to Romeo
and Juliet. (5)
2. Rewrite in your own words what Romeo says in lines 3 – 4,
“but come what sorrow can, It cannot countervail the
exchange of joy”. (2)
3. What does Romeo declare in lines 6 – 8? (2)
4. What is ironic about his challenge in lines 6 - 8? (1)
5. Against what does Friar Lawrence warn Romeo? (2)
6. Quote the simile used to describe excessive love. (2)
7. In your own words, describe how Friar Lawrence says one
should love, and why. (2)
[16]

Act 2, scene 6 2
1. If Friar Lawrence had told the Capulets and Montagues, Juliet
wouldn’t have been forced into marrying Paris.3 Then she
wouldn’t have drank the potion in desperation3 and Romeo
wouldn’t have thought her dead3 and drunk poison.3 Both
would still be alive.3 (5)
2. No matter what sorrow lies ahead, it can’t outweigh the
happiness shared in giving and receiving.33 (2)
3. Romeo declares that Death can take its toll after he has
married Juliet3 – as long as he can call her his own for one
minute.3 (2)
4. He is indeed only able to call her his for a very short time,
before they both die.3 (1)
5. Friar Lawrence warns Romeo against excessive love that
destroys.33 (2)
6. “And in their triumph die, like fire and powder,
Which as they kiss consume” 33 (2)
7. Friar Lawrence proposes that one should love moderately and
calmly.3 This type of love will last a long time.3 (2)
[16]

Act 3
Romeo
and
Juliet
Act 3, Scene 1
Tybalt kills Mercutio
Romeo kills Tybalt
Prince Escalus banishes Romeo from
Verona
Setting: Verona – a public place

Act 3, scene 1 3
What happens?
• The scene begins with Benvolio and Mercutio talking.
• Benvolio wants to leave the place in case they meet the Capulets.
He does not want a fight.
• Tybalt and other Capulets arrive. Mercutio provokes Tybalt, but it is
Romeo with whom Tybalt has a grievance.
• Tybalt insults Romeo and challenges him to a fight. Romeo says he does
not want to fight Tybalt.
• Mercutio fights Tybalt.
• Romeo tries to stop them and Mercutio is fatally wounded by Tybalt’s
sword. Tybalt and his friends run away.
• Mercutio blames Romeo for interfering in the fight. Benvolio takes
Mercutio to a house where he can get help for his wound. They go
offstage with Mercutio cursing the Capulets and Montagues.
• Benvolio soon returns to say Mercutio has died.
• To avenge his friend, Romeo fights and kills Tybalt.
• The Prince arrives and Benvolio explains what has happened.
• The Prince banishes (exiles) Romeo from Verona. He does not punish
Romeo with a death sentence, because he understands that Tybalt
killed Romeo’s friend Mercutio in a fight that Romeo tried to stop.
Activity 12
[The Prince investigates the death of Tybalt.]
PRINCE
Where are the vile beginners of this fray?
BENVOLIO
O noble prince, I can discover all
The unlucky manage of this fatal brawl:
There lies the man, slain by young Romeo,
That slew thy kinsman, brave Mercutio. 5
LADY CAPULET
Tybalt, my cousin! O my brother’s child!
O prince! O cousin! husband! O, the blood is spilt
O my dear kinsman! Prince, as thou art true,
For blood of ours, shed blood of Montague.
O cousin, cousin! 10
PRINCE
Benvolio, who began this bloody fray?

3 Romeo and Juliet
BENVOLIO
Tybalt, here slain, whom Romeo’s hand did slay;
Romeo that spoke him fair, bade him bethink
How nice the quarrel was, and urged withal
Your high displeasure: all this uttered 15
With gentle breath, calm look, knees humbly bow’d,
Could not take truce with the unruly spleen
Of Tybalt deaf to peace, but that he tilts
With piercing steel at bold Mercutio’s breast,
Who all as hot, turns deadly point to point, 20
And, with a martial scorn, with one hand beats
Cold death aside, and with the other sends
It back to Tybalt, whose dexterity,
Retorts it: Romeo he cries aloud,
‘Hold, friends! friends, part!’ and, swifter than his tongue, 25
His agile arm beats down their fatal points,
And ‘twixt them rushes; underneath whose arm
An envious thrust from Tybalt hit the life
Of stout Mercutio, and then Tybalt fled;
But by and by comes back to Romeo, 30
Who had but newly entertain’d revenge,
And to ’t they go like lightning, for, ere I
Could draw to part them, was stout Tybalt slain.
And, as he fell, did Romeo turn and fly.
This is the truth, or let Benvolio die. 35
Questions
1. Earlier, Romeo refuses to take up Tybalt’s challenge to a duel.
a) Why does Tybalt challenge Romeo to a duel? (2)
b) Give TWO reasons why Romeo is unwilling to fight Tybalt. (4)
c) Do you think Romeo is justified in eventually killing Tybalt?
Give reasons for your answer. (2)
d) Describe Romeo’s feelings about Tybalt’s death. (2)
2. Refer to line 1, “Where are the … of this fray?”.
a) Explain how the Prince feels towards the Montagues and
Capulets at this stage in the play. (2)
b) Is the Prince justified in feeling this way? Give a reason for
your answer. (2)
3. Refer to lines 6 – 10, “Tybalt, my cousin! … O cousin, cousin!”.
What do these lines reveal about Lady Capulet’s character? (2)
4. Refer to lines 33 – 35, “Tybalt, here slain … let Benvolio die”.
Does Benvolio give the Prince a true account of what
happened? Support your answer. (2)

Act 3, scene 1 3
5. Consider the play as a whole and describe the qualities of the

following characters. Give TWO points about each character:
a) Benvolio (2)
b) Tybalt (2)
6. How do the deaths of Mercutio and Tybalt contribute to the
tragic deaths of Romeo and Juliet? (3)
[25]
1 a) Romeo attended a party at Capulet’s house without an
invitation. When Tybalt discovered this and wanted to fight
him, old Capulet stopped him and invited Romeo to stay.3
This angered Tybalt and encouraged him to challenge
Romeo.3 (2)
b) He is in love with Juliet and sees Tybalt, who is Juliet’s
cousin, as family.33 He remembers the Prince’s warning that
whoever fights again will be put to death.33 (4)
c) Yes, Tybalt killed Mercutio in a cowardly way while Romeo
was trying to separate them.33
OR
No, Romeo shouldn’t have taken the law into his own hands.
Also, he should have avoided a fight as Tybalt was now related
to him because of his marriage to Juliet.33 (2)
d) He feels remorseful and guilty because he acted
hastily.33
OR
He fears that this is going to hurt Juliet and may damage their
relationship.33 (2)
2 a) The Prince is angry with them because they did not heed
his warning against violence.33
OR
He is angry because more lives have been lost as a result of
the feud.33 (2)
b) Yes, the Prince is justified in feeling angry. Innocent people
are dying because of the feud.33
OR
No, he should be disappointed with himself for not acting
earlier to stop the violence.33 (2)

3 Romeo and Juliet
3. She is mean, as she wants Tybalt’s death to be avenged,

which will result in more death.33
OR
She is blinded by the feud and allows her feelings to cloud her
judgement.33 (2)
4. Yes, he talks honestly about the role everyone played in the
fight.3 He clearly states what Romeo’s involvement was in the
deaths.3 (2)
5 a) Benvolio is peace-loving and tries to avoid trouble at all
costs.3 He is truthful.3 (2)
b) Tybalt is hot-tempered.3 He is obsessive about the
reputation and honour of the Capulets.3 (2)
6. The deaths of Tybalt and Mercutio lead to Romeo’s
banishment.3 Her father misunderstands Juliet’s grief
and forces her to marry Paris. Juliet takes a potion to avoid
marriage.3 Romeo gets a message that she is dead, comes
to the tomb and commits suicide. Juliet wakes up, finds
Romeo dead and commits suicide as well.3 (3)
[25]

Act 3, scene 2 3
Act 3, Scene 2
The nurse tells Juliet that Romeo has
been banished from Verona
Setting: Capulet’s mansion
What happens?
• Earlier on this day, Juliet married Romeo. Now we see Juliet waiting
impatiently for the night to come, when Romeo will visit her.
• The Nurse arrives, very upset, to tell Juliet of Tybalt’s death. At first,
Juliet thinks that the Nurse is talking about Romeo’s death.
• The Nurse is carrying the rope (cords) that Romeo has asked for so he
can climb up to the balcony and into Juliet’s bedroom.
• Juliet is very upset when she hears that Romeo killed Tybalt, but she
remains loyal to her husband.
• The Nurse says that Romeo is hiding at Friar Lawrence’s cell. She will
arrange for Romeo to spend the night with Juliet.
• Juliet gives the Nurse a ring to give to Romeo. She tells the Nurse to find
him and tell him to come to say goodbye to her.
Activity 13
[In the Capulet’s orchard]
NURSE
Will you speak well of him that kill’d your cousin?
JULIET
Shall I speak ill of him that is my husband?
Ah, poor my lord, what tongue shall smooth thy name,
When I, thy three-hours wife, have mangled it?
But, wherefore, villain, didst thou kill my cousin? 5
That villain cousin would have kill’d my husband:
Back, foolish tears, back to your native spring;
Your tributary drops belong to woe,
Which you, mistaking, offer up to joy.
My husband lives, that Tybalt would have slain; 10
And Tybalt’s dead, that would have slain my husband:

3 Romeo and Juliet
Questions
1. Juliet finally calms down after she has worked things out for
herself.
a) What causes this dramatic change in emotion? (1)
b) At what comforting conclusion does Juliet eventually arrive? (2)
c) Write down two one-word qualities to describe Juliet’s
attitude to her new husband. (2)
2. Write a short paragraph explaining who helped Romeo become
Juliet’s husband and how this happened. (4)
3. What has happened to cause Juliet’s distress? (2)
4. “But wherefore, villain, didst thou kill my cousin? That villain
cousin would have killed my husband.”
What mixed emotions are evident in Juliet’s words? (2)
5. What strong characteristic of Juliet’s emerges from this extract? (1)
6. If you had to advise Juliet at this point, knowing, as you do,
how the play ends, what would you tell her to do and why? (4)
[18]
1 a) Juliet jumps to Romeo’s defence when the nurse starts to
curse him and wish him disgrace (shame).3 (1)
b) If Romeo hadn’t killed Tybalt, Tybalt would have killed him.
33 (2)
c) loyal3 and loving3 (2)
2. Friar Lawrence and the nurse helped the couple to get
married.33 The Nurse carried messages between Juliet
and Romeo.3 Romeo asked Friar Lawrence to marry them in
secret at his cell.3 (4)
3. Romeo killed Tybalt, her cousin.33 (2)
4. Juliet is horrified at Romeo for killing her cousin, but then also
glad that at least her husband is alive. He could have been
killed in the fight himself.33 (2)
5. Her loyalty to her new husband.3 (1)
6. Juliet should take things slowly and calmly.3 She should
make sure of the reasons behind the killing of Tybalt.3 She
should also tell her parents the truth about her marriage to
Romeo.33 (4)
[18]

Act 3, scene 3 3
Act 3, Scene 3
Friar Lawrence’s plan to help Romeo
Setting: Friar Lawrence’s cell
What happens?
• Romeo is hiding in Friar Lawrence’s cell. The Friar tells Romeo about
the Prince’s judgement – that he will be exiled, not sentenced to death.
• Romeo is upset, the Friar tries to calm him.
• The Nurse arrives and explains that Juliet is very upset. Juliet weeps for
Tybalt death and Romeo’s banishment.
• Romeo tries to kill himself, but is stopped by the Friar.
• Friar Lawrence tells Romeo that all is not bad. He is alive when he could
have been killed, and he is only exiled. The Friar advises Romeo to spend
the night with Juliet, then in the morning to go to a nearby city, Mantua,
until things calm down. When they can tell people about the marriage,
and ask the Prince’s pardon, Romeo may be able to return to Verona.
• The Nurse gives Romeo a ring from Juliet.
• The Friar says that when Romeo is in Mantua he will send news to him
through Romeo’s servant, Balthasar.

3 Romeo and Juliet
Activity 14
[The nurse visits Friar Lawrence’s cell after Romeo’s banishment.]
NURSE
O holy friar, O, tell me, holy friar,
Where is my lady’s lord, where’s Romeo?
FRIAR LAWRENCE
There on the ground, with his own tears made drunk.
NURSE
O, he is even in my mistress’ case,
Just in her case! O woeful sympathy! 5
Piteous predicament! Even so lies she,
Blubbering and weeping, weeping and blubbering.
Stand up, stand up; stand, and you be a man:
For Juliet’s sake, for her sake, rise and stand;
Why should you fall into so deep an O? 10
ROMEO
Nurse!
NURSE
Ah sir! ah sir! Well, death’s the end of all.
ROMEO
Spakest thou of Juliet? How is it with her?
Doth she not think me an old murderer,
Now I have stain’d the childhood of our joy 15
With blood removed but little from her own?
Where is she? And how doth she? And what says
My conceal’d lady to our cancell’d love?
NURSE
O, she says nothing, sir, but weeps and weeps;
And now falls on her bed; and then starts up, 20
And Tybalt calls; and then on Romeo cries,
And then down falls again.
Questions
1. Complete the following sentence by filling in the missing words.
Write down only the question number and the words.
Juliet sends the nurse to Friar Lawrence’s cell to take Romeo a
a) ______________ and tell him to come to her that night and
say b) __________________________. (2)
2. Juliet sends the nurse to Romeo. What does this show the
audience about the relationship between Juliet and the nurse?
State two points. (2)
3. Quote no more than two lines from the extract which show that
Romeo and Juliet are equally upset. (1)
4. Refer to line 3, “ … with his own tears made drunk”.
Briefly explain why Romeo is crying. State two points. (2)

Act 3, scene 3 3
5. Refer to line 7, “Blubbering and weeping, weeping and

blubbering”.
a) How do the events that caused Juliet’s “blubbering and
weeping” affect her personal life? (2)
b) Explain why the nurse repeats the words “blubbering and
weeping”. (2)
6. Refer to line 8, “Stand up, stand up! Stand and you be a man!”
a) What would Romeo’s posture on the stage be at this
moment in the play? (1)
b) Do you think that the nurse is being cruel and unkind here?
Discuss your view. (2)
7. Soon after this scene in the play, Friar Lawrence reminds
Romeo that he has many reasons to be grateful. Give three
reasons why Romeo should be grateful. (3)
8. Refer to the words “cancelled love” in line 18. Are these words
a prediction of the future of Romeo and Juliet’s relationship.
Give a reason for your answer. (1)
[18]
1 a) rope-ladder3
b) goodbye3 (2)
2. Their relationship is close and trusting.33 (2)
3. “Even so lies she, Blubbering and weeping …”. Lines 6 – 7.3 (1)
4. He is banished to Mantua and has to leave Juliet behind.33 (2)
5 a) Her parents think she is blubbering and weeping over her
cousin Tybalt’s death and agree to a wedding with Paris.33 (2)
b) The nurse likes to exaggerate. She likes to be dramatic and
draw attention to herself.33 (2)
6 a) He would be lying curled up like a small, sad child.3 (1)
b) No, the nurse wants Romeo to pull himself together and at
least pay Juliet a visit before he departs for Mantua 33 (2)
7. Juliet is alive.3 He killed Tybalt before Tybalt could kill him.3
He is banished instead of being sentenced to death.3 (3)
8. Yes, these words are a prediction about their relationship.
They won’t have a proper start to a marriage and soon both
will be dead and their love over.3 (1)
[18]

3 Romeo and Juliet
Act 3, Scene 4
Paris visits the Capulets
What happens?
• It is still Monday, the same day as the wedding and Tybalt’s death.
• Paris visits Lord and Lady Capulet to express his sorrow about Tybalt’s
death and to discuss his marriage to Juliet.
• Lord Capulet explains that he has not had time to discuss the marriage
with his daughter, but he thinks she will be advised by her father and
agree to the marriage.
• Lord Capulet tells his wife to tell Juliet that she will be married to Paris
on Thursday. He says that they will only have a small wedding due to
Tybalt’s death.

Act 3, scene 5 3
Act 3, Scene 5
Juiet refuses to marry Paris
Setting: Capulet’s orchard /
Capulet’s mansion
What happens?
• Romeo and Juliet have to part after spending the night together. Romeo
leaves for Mantua.
• The Nurse arrives to warn them that Juliet’s mother is coming. So the
lovers have to say farewell quickly.
• Lady Capulet tells Juliet that Juliet will marry Paris on Thursday. Juliet
refuses to marry Paris; her parents are angry.
• Juliet turns to the Nurse for support, but she too says Juliet should marry
Paris.
• Juliet decides to go to the Friar for help. She pretends to the nurse
that she is going to the Friar for confession (to ask God’s forgiveness)
because she has disobeyed her parents.

3 Romeo and Juliet
Activity 15
[Juliet’s chamber.]
JULIET
Is there no pity sitting in the clouds,
That sees into the bottom of my grief?
O, sweet my mother, cast me not away!
Delay this marriage for a month, a week;
Or, if you do not, make the bridal bed 5
In that dim monument where Tybalt lies.
LADY CAPULET
Talk not to me, for I’ll not speak a word:
Do as thou wilt, for I have done with thee.
Exit
JULIET
O God!—O nurse, how shall this be prevented?
My husband is on earth, my faith in heaven; 10
How shall that faith return again to earth,
Unless that husband send it me from heaven
By leaving earth? Comfort me. Counsel me.
Alack, alack, that heaven should practise stratagems
Upon so soft a subject as myself! 15
What say’st thou? hast thou not a word of joy?
Some comfort, Nurse.
NURSE
Faith, here it is.
Romeo is banish’d; and all the world to nothing,
That he dares ne’er come back to challenge you; 20
Or, if he do, it needs must be by stealth.
Then, since the case so stands as now it doth,
I think it best you married with the county.
O, he’s a lovely gentleman!
Romeo’s a dishclout to him: an eagle, madam, 25
Hath not so green, so quick, so fair an eye
As Paris hath.

Act 3, scene 5 3
Questions
1. Put the above extract into context of the play as a whole. (2)
2. “Is there no pity sitting in the clouds
That sees into the bottom of my grief?” (lines 1 – 2)
a) Name the figure of speech used in the above quotation. (1)
b) Explain your choice. (1)
c) Explain why the figure of speech is effective. (1)
3. What does Juliet want from her mother when she says, “cast
me not away”? (1)
4. How has Lord Capulet’s attitude to Paris’s request to marry
Juliet changed from the beginning of the play to this point in
the play? (2)
5. Why do you think Lord Capulet has changed his attitude in
this way? (2)
6. “Or if you do not, make the bridal bed
In that dim monument where Tybalt lies.” (lines 5 – 6)
Explain the dramatic irony in the above statement. (2)
7. Which of the following statements does not reflect Juliet’s
feelings in her speeches:
A desperate
B self-pitying
C optimistic
D grief-stricken (1)
8. When Juliet asks the Nurse to “counsel” her she wants her to:
A advise her.
B calm her.
C forgive her.
D pity her. (1)
9. Using your own words, describe how the Nurse responds to
Juliet’s request to “counsel” her later in this scene. (3)
10. What is the Nurse suggesting about Romeo when she says,
“Romeo’s a dishclout to him” (line 25)? (1)
11. Why do the sentiments expressed by the Nurse in the above
extract completely change her relationship with Juliet? (2)
12. After this, who does Juliet turn to for help? (1)
[21]

3 Romeo and Juliet
1. It is the morning after Romeo and Juliet have spent their
wedding night together. Lord Capulet arranges for Juliet to
marry Paris. She refuses and he angrily threatens to disown
her and drag her to the wedding by force. 33 (2)
2 a) Personification3 (1)
b) The clouds are given the human characteristic of showing
Juliet some pity.3 (1)
c) It suggests that all of nature is feeling for Juliet’s pain.3 (1)
3. Juliet is saying to her mother, “Don’t reject me”.3 (1)
4. At first Lord Capulet wanted Paris to wait two more years
and to woo Juliet. Now he is arranging her marriage without
her consent. He forces her to marry Paris even when she
refuses.33 (2)
5. Lord Capulet wants her to stop grieving about Tybalt. Paris
is an excellent match since he is from the family of the
Prince.33 (2)
6. Juliet implies that if they force her to marry Paris she would
rather be married to death (kill herself). The dramatic irony is
that we know she will kill herself and die in the Capulet tomb
(next to Romeo).33 (2)
7. A 3 (1)
8 A3 (1)
9. The nurse advises Juliet to make the best of a bad situation,
take the easy way out, and marry Paris.3 To her one man is
as good as another3 and Romeo is of no use to Juliet any
more since he is banished.3 (3)
10. He is like a dirty dishcloth compared to the handsome, rich
Paris.3 (1)
11. The nurse does not understand the depth and intensity of
Juliet’s love for and loyalty to Romeo. Juliet feels that the
Nurse has betrayed her and they will no longer be close
friends who share their secrets.33 (2)
12. Friar Lawrence3 (1)
[21]

Act 4
Romeo
and
Juliet
Act 4, Scene 1
Friar Lawrences’s plan to help Juliet
What happens?
• Paris is at the Friar’s cell to arrange his marriage to Juliet. He explains
that Lord Capulet wants the wedding on Thursday to stop Juliet grieving
so much for her cousin Tybalt.
• Juliet arrives and speaks with Paris, who then leaves.
• She tells the Friar that, if he cannot help her to prevent the marriage to
Paris, she will kill herself.
• The Friar suggests a plan. He will give Juliet some medicine that will
make her sleep, but she will look as though she is dead. Juliet will be
taken to the Capulet tomb. The Friar will send a letter to Romeo to explain
the plan. Romeo will come to the tomb and take Juliet to Mantua.
• Juliet agrees to the plan. She takes the vial (small bottle) of medicine.
She is to drink it the next night (Wednesday night) when she is alone, in
bed. No one, not even the Nurse, must know about the plan.

4 Romeo and Juliet
Activity 16
[Paris, Juliet and Friar Lawrence in Friar Lawrence’s cell.]
PARIS
Thy face is mine, and thou hast slander’d it.
JULIET
It may be so, for it is not mine own.
Are you at leisure, holy father, now;
Or shall I come to you at evening mass?
FRIAR LAWRENCE
My leisure serves me, pensive daughter, now. 5
My lord, we must entreat the time alone.
PARIS
God shield I should disturb devotion!
Juliet, on Thursday early will I rouse ye:
Till then, adieu; and keep this holy kiss.
Exit
JULIET
O shut the door! and when thou hast done so, 10
Come weep with me; past hope, past cure, past help!
FRIAR LAWRENCE
Ah, Juliet, I already know thy grief;
It strains me past the compass of my wits:
I hear thou must, and nothing may prorogue it,
On Thursday next be married to this county. 15
JULIET
Tell me not, Friar, that thou hear’st of this,
Unless thou tell me how I may prevent it:
If, in thy wisdom, thou canst give no help,
Do thou but call my resolution wise,
And with this knife I’ll help it presently. 20
God join’d my heart and Romeo’s, thou our hands;
And ere this hand, by thee to Romeo seal’d,
Shall be the label to another deed,
Or my true heart with treacherous revolt
Turn to another, this shall slay them both: 25
Therefore, out of thy long-experienced time,
Give me some present counsel, or, behold,
’Twixt my extremes and me this bloody knife
Shall play the umpire, arbitrating that
Which the commission of thy years and art 30
Could to no issue of true honour bring.
Be not so long to speak; I long to die,
If what thou speak’st speak not of remedy.

Act 4, scene 1 4
FRIAR LAWRENCE
Hold, daughter: I do spy a kind of hope,
Which craves as desperate an execution. 35
As that is desperate which we would prevent.
If, rather than to marry County Paris,
Thou hast the strength of will to slay thyself,
Then is it likely thou wilt undertake
A thing like death to chide away this shame, 40
That copest with death himself to scape from it:
And, if thou darest, I’ll give thee remedy.
JULIET
O, bid me leap, rather than marry Paris,
From off the battlements of yonder tower;
Or walk in thievish ways; or bid me lurk 45
Where serpents are; chain me with roaring bears;
Or shut me nightly in a charnel-house,
O’er-cover’d quite with dead men’s rattling bones,
With reeky shanks and yellow chapless skulls;
Or bid me go into a new-made grave 50
And hide me with a dead man in his shroud;
Things that, to hear them told, have made me tremble;
Questions
1. Who is “this County” referred to by Friar Lawrence in line 15?
A Verona
B Italy
C Paris
D Mantua (2)
2. When Juliet answers: “It may be so, for it is not mine own”
(line 2), she means
A that her face but not her heart belongs to Paris.
B she has lost face with Romeo, so it does not matter.
C she belongs Romeo, so her face belongs to him.
D she looks like her mother, so her face is not hers. (2)
3. Why does Paris refer to “Thursday” (line 8)?
A He will be her partner at the formal dance.
B They are to be married on that Thursday.
C He has promised to visit her on that day.
D They go to the Friar’s cell on Thursdays. (2)
4. When Friar Lawrence says, “My lord, we must entreat the
time alone” (line 6), he
A tells Paris that he will hear his confession later.
B informs Paris that he will seal the bond later.
C asks Paris to leave as he wishes to pray in private.
D asks for time to speak to Juliet privately. (2)

4 Romeo and Juliet
5. Why does Juliet not want to marry Paris?

A She has promised to marry Romeo.
B She has already married Romeo.
C Paris does not love her at all.
D She has sworn never to get married. (2)
6. What has Paris come to discuss with Friar Lawrence? (1)
7 a) Where is Romeo? (1)
b) Why is he there? State two reasons. (2)
8. What would Juliet do rather than betray Romeo (lines 24 – 25)? (2)
9. Why does Juliet think that Friar Lawrence will be able to advise
her wisely? (4)
10. The Friar promises to give Juliet a remedy. Using this as your
starting point explain:
a) what she has to do on the night before the wedding, that is,
on the Wednesday evening. (2)
b) what effect the potion which she has to drink will have on
her appearance. (4)
c) what Paris will discover when he tries to wakes her on
Thursday morning. (2)
d) for how long she will appear to be dead. (1)
11. Use the following words as a starting point and say what
Juliet would rather suffer than be married to Paris.
“O bid me leap, rather than marry Paris,
From the battlements of yonder tower”. (6)
[35]

Act 4, scene 1 4
1. C 33 (2)
2. C 33 (2)
3. D 33 (2)
4. D 33 (2)
5. B 33 (2)
6. Paris has come to discuss the wedding arrangements. (1)
7 a) In Mantua3 (1)
b) He killed Tybalt and was banished by Prince Escalus.33 (2)
8. Juliet would rather kill herself than betray Romeo.33 (2)
9. Friar Lawrence married her and Romeo in secret.3 The Friar
knows them well and they trust him.3 The Friar is a wise,
spiritual teacher.33 (4)
10. a) She has to go to bed alone (not with the Nurse as usual)3
because she has to drink the potion.3 (2)
b) She will have no pulse.3 She will be cold and she won’t
breathe.3 Her cheeks and lips will become pale.3 Her eyes
will be shut.3 (4)
c) Paris will discover that she is dead.33 (2)
d) She will appear dead for 42 hours.3 (1)
11. Juliet would rather jump from the top of any tower;3 walk
in the places of thieves;3 hide where snakes are;3 be tied
to vicious bears;3 hide herself in a vault amongst dead
bodies;3 and hide herself with a fresh corpse.3 (6)
[35]

4 Romeo and Juliet
Act 4, Scene 2
Juliet pretends to agree to marry Paris
What happens?
• The Capulets prepare for the wedding.
• Juliet returns home and explains that she has visited Friar Lawrence.
She pretends to apologise to her father for refusing to marry Paris.
• Lord Capulet says he will have the wedding the following morning – on
Wednesday, not Thursday.
• Juliet goes with the nurse to get her outfit ready for the wedding.
• Lady Capulet is worried that they will not be ready for the wedding the
next day.
• Lord Capulet says that he will help.

Act 4, scene 2 4
Activity 17
[Juliet returns to the Capulet house after visiting Friar Lawrence.]
CAPULET
How now, my headstrong! Where have you been gadding?
JULIET
Where I have learn’d me to repent the sin
Of disobedient opposition
To you and your behests, and am enjoin’d
By holy Lawrence to fall prostrate here, 5
And beg your pardon: pardon, I beseech you!
Henceforward I am ever ruled by you.
CAPULET
Send for the county; go tell him of this:
I’ll have this knot knit up to-morrow morning.
Questions
1. What does Capulet mean by “headstrong” (line 1)? (1)
2. How does Juliet’s present behaviour differ from that in Act 3,
Scene 5? (2)
3. Suggest TWO reasons why you think Capulet decided to
advance the wedding date. (2)
4. What is ironic about Capulet’s appraisal of Friar Lawrence? (2)
5. Write down TWO one word characteristics of Lord Capulet once
again evident in the above extract. (2)
[9]
1. Stubborn/disobedient. 3 (1)
2. In Act 3, Scene 5 Juliet was disobedient and refused to marry
Paris. 3 Now she is obedient and is willing to marry Paris. 3 (2)
3. He is afraid Juliet will change her mind. 3 He is eager to show
off his wealth and hospitality. He acts impulsively –
as usual. 3 (2)
PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION
4. Capulet says all should be thankful towards Friar Lawrence NB
for everything he does (including ‘convincing’ Juliet to marry
Paris). This is ironic because the Friar is actually helping Juliet
to betray her parents. 33 (2)
5. Impulsive / domineering / practical / autocratic / Any TWO of these
HINT!
self-centred. 33 (2)
[9] hint words will earn you
2 marks.
e.g. EG - worked examples

exams
4 Romeo and Juliet
Act 4, Scene 3
Juliet takes the potion
Setting: Juliet’s bedroom
What happens?
• Juliet tells her Nurse that she wants to be alone that night, because she
wants to pray and ask forgiveness for her sins.
• Lady Capulet asks if she needs her help, but Juliet says no and suggests
the nurse help her mother with the wedding preparations.
• Juliet speaks to herself. She is afraid of taking the potion/medicine. She
finally takes it, thinking of Romeo.
Activity 18
[Juliet in her bedroom preparing to take the potion.]
Nurse! What should she do here?

My dismal scene I needs must act alone.
Come, vial.
What if this mixture do not work at all?
Shall I be married then to-morrow morning? 5
No, no: this shall forbid it: lie thou there.
Laying down her dagger
What if it be a poison, which the friar
Subtly hath minister’d to have me dead,
Lest in this marriage he should be dishonour’d,
Because he married me before to Romeo? 10
I fear it is: and yet, methinks, it should not,
For he hath still been tried a holy man.
How if, when I am laid into the tomb,
I wake before the time that Romeo
Come to redeem me? There’s a fearful point! 15
Shall I not, then, be stifled in the vault,
To whose foul mouth no healthsome air breathes in,
And there die strangled ere my Romeo comes?
Or, if I live, is it not very like,
The horrible conceit of death and night, 20

Act 4, scene 3 4
Together with the terror of the place,—

As in a vault, an ancient receptacle,
Where, for these many hundred years, the bones
Of all my buried ancestors are packed:
Where bloody Tybalt, yet but green in earth, 25
Lies festering in his shroud; where, as they say,
At some hours in the night spirits resort;—
Alack, alack, is it not like that I,
So early waking, what with loathsome smells,
And shrieks like mandrakes torn out of the earth, 30
That living mortals, hearing them, run mad:—
O, if I wake, shall I not be distraught,
Environed with all these hideous fears?
And madly play with my forefather’s joints?
And pluck the mangled Tybalt from his shroud? 35
And, in this rage, with some great kinsman’s bone,
As with a club, dash out my desperate brains?
O, look! methinks I see my cousin’s ghost
Seeking out Romeo, that did spit his body
Upon a rapier’s point: stay, Tybalt, stay! 40
Romeo, I come! this do I drink to thee.
When she falls asleep This is because it

because of the potion, appears as if Juliet
In her soliloquy,
it expresses the theme has died, but she
Juliet talks freely
of appearance versus is really only
about her fears.
reality. sleeping.

4 Romeo and Juliet
Questions
1. Fill in the missing words in the sentence below. Write only the
word next to the question number (1a) to 1c)).
Juliet is finally alone and has to carry out the plan. But all of a
sudden she is 1a)_______ by 1b)______. The horrible images
cause growing 1c)_____. (3)
2. In your own words, briefly describe the five things Juliet fears. (5)
[8]
1 a) tormented3
b) horrible doubts and fears3
c) panic3 (3)
2. Juliet is afraid that the potion won’t work and she’ll have to
marry Paris.3
She is afraid that the potion will kill her.3
She is afraid that she will wake up too early and suffocate.3
She is afraid that she will turn mad because of the terrible
sights she’ll see.3
She is afraid that she’ll drag Tybalt, her cousin who was
recently killed by Romeo, from his grave.3
She is afraid she will smash her head with the bone of an
ancestor. (5)
[8]

Act 4, scene 4 4
Act 4, Scene 4
The Capulets prepare for the wedding
This is a very
short scene, to remind
us of the wedding and
What happens? give us a light-hearted
break after the dark
• It is Wednesday morning. The Capulets are preparing for the wedding. mood and tension of
the scene before.
Servants rush in and out.
• Lord Capulet tells the Nurse to wake Juliet, because Paris is coming.
Activity 19
[The Capulets prepare for Juliet’s wedding to Paris.]
FIRST SERVANT
Things for the cook, sir; but I know not what.
CAPULET
Make haste, make haste.
Exit First Servant
Sirrah, fetch drier logs:
Call Peter, he will show thee where they are.
SECOND SERVANT
I have a head, sir, that will find out logs, 5
And never trouble Peter for the matter.
Exit
CAPULET
Mass, and well said; a merry whoreson, ha!
Thou shalt be logger-head. Good faith, ‘tis day:
The county will be here with music straight,
For so he said he would: I hear him near. 10
Music within
Nurse! Wife! What, ho! What, Nurse, I say!
Re-enter Nurse
Go waken Juliet, go and trim her up;
I’ll go and chat with Paris: hie, make haste,
Make haste; the bridegroom he is come already:
Make haste, I say. 15

4 Romeo and Juliet
Questions
1. Where and when are the events decribed in the extract above
taking place? (2)
2. Lord Capulet’s behaviour is that of a bossy busybody. Give two
examples that show this. (2)
3. The theme of haste is stressed five times by Capulet. Mention
an example from the play where a lack of haste led to a tragic
outcome. (2)
[6]
1. The Capulet household 3 is preparing for the wedding very
early on Wednesday morning.3 (2)
2. He interferes with the cooks and their food.3 He nags the
servants fetching wood and he orders everybody around.3 (2)
3. The urgent letter from Friar Lawrence to Romeo in Mantua
doesn’t reach Romeo before he buys poison and kills himself
next to Juliet. (2)
[6]

Act 4, scene 5 4
Act 4, Scene 5
Juliet’s parents think she is dead
Setting: Wednesday morning, Juliet’s
bedroom
What happens?
• The Nurse cannot wake Juliet, and she thinks she is dead.
• The Nurse calls Lady Capulet and Lord Capulet. They are very upset.
• Friar Lawrence and Paris arrive at the house with musicians, ready to
take Juliet to church for her wedding.
• Lord Capulet tells them that Juliet is dead. They are all upset. Only Friar
Lawrence is calm because he knows that Juliet is only in a deep sleep.
• The wedding musicians speak about how they now no longer have an
opportunity to play their instruments at the wedding. They discuss what
funeral music they should play.
Activity 20
[In Juliet’s chamber as she lies asleep as if dead.]
FRIAR LAWRENCE
Peace, ho, for shame! confusion’s cure lives not
In these confusions. Heaven and yourself
Had part in this fair maid; now heaven hath all,
And all the better is it for the maid:
Your part in her you could not keep from death, 5
But heaven keeps his part in eternal life.
The most you sought was her promotion;
For ‘twas your heaven she should be advanced:
And weep ye now, seeing she is advanced
Above the clouds, as high as heaven itself? 10
O, in this love, you love your child so ill,
That you run mad, seeing that she is well:
She’s not well married that lives married long;
But she’s best married that dies married young.
Dry up your tears, and stick your rosemary 15
On this fair corse; and, as the custom is,
In all her best array bear her to church:
For though fond nature bids us all lament,
Yet nature’s tears are reason’s merriment.

4 Romeo and Juliet
CAPULET
All things that we ordained festival, 20
Turn from their office to black funeral;
Our instruments to melancholy bells,
Our wedding cheer to a sad burial feast,
Our solemn hymns to sullen dirges change,
Our bridal flowers serve for a buried corse, 25
And all things change them to the contrary.
FRIAR LAWRENCE
Sir, go you in; and, madam, go with him;
And go, Sir Paris; every one prepare
To follow this fair corse unto her grave:
The heavens do lour upon you for some ill; 30
Move them no more by crossing their high will.
Once again
dramatic irony is used
by Shakespeare. Friar
Lawrence and the
audience are the only ones The theme of
who know that Juliet appearance versus
is not dead. reality is stressed.

Act 4, scene 5 4
Questions
1. Friar Lawrence offers comfort in lines 18 – 19 (“For though …
reason’s merriment”). Rewrite these lines in your own words. (4)
2. Capulet then becomes his practical self again and takes
control of the funeral arrangements. The wedding preparations
turn into those for a funeral.
Fill in the missing words in the sentence below:
The formal wedding hymns are to turn into 2a)____ and the
flowers of the bride used to decorate Juliet’s 2b)____. (2)
3. Friar Lawrence offers advice in lines 30 – 31 (“The heavens …
high will”). Rewrite these lines in your own words. (4)
4. Discuss your opinion of the Capulets as parents. (4)
5. From your knowledge of the play as a whole, discuss Juliet’s
character. (3)
6. Explain how the Capulets and Montagues are reconciled at
the end of the play. (3)
[20]
1. Our nature tells us to cry when somebody has died,33 but
actually our intelligence should tell us to be happy because
that person is in heaven.33 (4)
2 a) sullen dirges3
b) corpse3 (2)
3. Do not anger the heavens (or fate) 33 anymore by going
against their powerful wishes.33 (4)
4. They provide financial security, but emotionally they are not
close to Juliet.3 This does not make them bad parents since
this was the way children were raised in those days.33 They
do care and love Juliet in their own way.3 (4)
5. Juliet’s character changes through the play.3 At the beginning
she was vulnerable, innocent and dependent.3 Later on she
became strong, independent and brave.3 (3)
6. Both households have lost a child as a result of their feud.3
They make peace and decide to build golden statues of both
Romeo and Juliet.3 (3)
[20]

Act 5
Romeo
and
Juliet
Act 5, Scene 1
Romeo thinks that Juliet is dead
Setting: A street in Mantua
What happens?
• Romeo tells us of a dream he has had in which Juliet found him dead
and brought him back to life with a kiss. Romeo woke up thinking that
he would get some good news.
• Balthasar, Romeo’s servant, comes from Verona to bring the news that
Juliet is dead. He does not bring the letters from the Friar that Romeo
was hoping for.
• Romeo is distraught and wants to go to Verona immediately. Balthasar
suggests he waits until he calms down. Something bad may happen if
he rushes in such a wild state. But Romeo orders him to prepare the
horses so he can leave that night.
• Romeo decides to go to Juliet’s tomb and kill himself there – so they can
be together in death.
• Romeo goes to an apothecary (chemist) to buy some poison.

Act 5, scene 1 5
Activity 21
[Romeo buys poison from an apothecary.]
APOTHECARY
Who calls so loud?
ROMEO
Come hither, man. I see that thou art poor:
Hold, there is forty ducats: let me have
A dram of poison, such soon-speeding gear
As will disperse itself through all the veins 5
That the life-weary taker may fall dead
And that the trunk may be discharged of breath
As violently as hasty powder fired
Doth hurry from the fatal cannon’s womb.
APOTHECARY
Such mortal drugs I have; but Mantua’s law 10
Is death to any he that utters them.
ROMEO
Art thou so bare and full of wretchedness,
And fear’st to die? Famine is in thy cheeks,
Need and oppression starveth in thine eyes,
Contempt and beggary hangs upon thy back; 15
The world is not thy friend nor the world’s law;
The world affords no law to make thee rich;
Then be not poor, but break it, and take this.
APOTHECARY
My poverty, but not my will, consents.
ROMEO
I pay thy poverty, and not thy will. 20
APOTHECARY
Put this in any liquid thing you will,
And drink it off; and, if you had the strength
Of twenty men, it would dispatch you straight.
ROMEO
There is thy gold – worse poison to men’s souls,
Doing more murders in this loathsome world, 25
Than these poor compounds that thou mayst not sell.
I sell thee poison; thou hast sold me none.
Farewell: buy food, and get thyself in flesh.
Come, cordial and not poison, go with me
To Juliet’s grave; for there must I use thee. 30

5 Romeo and Juliet
Questions
1. Romeo is in Mantua, but it is not his hometown. What is his
hometown? (1)
2. Choose the correct answer to complete the following sentence:
While in Mantua, Romeo is visited by …
A Friar John.
B Benvolio.
C Balthasar.
D Sampson. (1)
3. Romeo is visiting the apothecary because a very important
letter from Friar Lawrence has not reached him. Give THREE
reasons why the letter has been delayed. (3)
4. Refer to lines 7 – 8 – (“the trunk may … hasty powder fired”).
a) Which figure of speech is used here? (1)
b) According to these lines, which TWO qualities does Romeo
expect from the poison? (2)
5. Refer to lines 10 – 11 (“But Mantua’s law … that utters them”).
What is “Mantua’s law” regarding the sale of poison? (1)
6. Is the following statement True or False? Quote ONE line from
the extract to support your answer:
Romeo feels that gold is more harmful than poison. (2)
7. Using your own words, explain how Romeo convinces the
apothecary to sell him the poison. (2)
8. Do you think that Romeo is admirable, even though he is not
perfect? Discuss your view. (2)
9. If you were Romeo, discuss TWO things you would do
differently to avoid the tragic ending of this play. (2)
10. Following on his decision to commit suicide, Romeo reveals a
new side to his character in his behaviour towards the
apothecary, Balthasar, his own parents and Paris. Give FOUR
examples of Romeo’s interactions with these people to
illustrate this change. (4)
[21]

Act 5, scene 1 5
1. Verona3 (1)
2. C3 (1)
3. Friar Lawrence asked Friar John to accompany him to Mantua
to deliver the letter to Romeo. But Friar John was visiting
plague-infested people and all the doors were sealed off.
Nobody wanted to risk being infected by the letter.3 The
wedding was put forward from Thursday to Wednesday.3
There was not enough time for the letter to reach Romeo.3 (3)
4 a) Metaphor3 (1)
b) Romeo expects the poison to work fast3 and stop his
breathing.3 (2)
5. If you sell poison, you get the death sentence.3 (1)
6. True. Line 24 – “There is thy gold – worse poison to men’s
souls”.33 (2)
7. He convinces the poor apothecary that the law hasn’t helped
him, so why obey it?3 Romeo also says that the gold he offers
the apothecary has done more harm than poison.3 (2)
8. Yes, I admire his courage and determination to carry out his
plan.33
OR
No, through out the play he acts without thinking properly and
makes many mistakes that hurt other people.33 (2)
9. I would first go to Friar Lawrence for advice.3 I would inform
my parents of my problem or tell them I am married to our
enemy’s daughter.3 (2)
10. Romeo has matured and thinks logically. He reasons with the
apothecary;3 he instructs Balthasar clearly on what to do;3
he writes his father a suicide letter3 and he warns Paris to
leave him alone.3 (4)
[21]

5 Romeo and Juliet
Act 5, Scene 2
Friar John tells Friar Lawrence that he did
not deliver the message to Romeo
What happens?
• Friar John comes to Friar Lawrence who asks for news from Romeo.
• Friar John explains that he could not go to Mantua to deliver the letter
to Romeo. He went to ask another Friar to travel with him to Mantua. He
found him in a house caring for people who were sick. Others thought
they had the plague and sealed the doors to stop anyone leaving the
house and spreading the infection.
• Friar Lawrence tells Friar John to fetch a crowbar so that he can open
Juliet’s tomb.
• He rushes off to the tomb because he knows that Juliet will wake up
within three hours.
• He plans to take Juliet to his cell where she can wait for Romeo. He will
write another letter to Romeo to tell him the new plan.

Act 5, scene 2 5
Activity 22
[In Friar Lawrence’s cell]
FRIAR LAWRENCE
Who bare my letter, then, to Romeo?
FRIAR JOHN
I could not send it,—here it is again,—
Nor get a messenger to bring it thee,
So fearful were they of infection.
FRIAR LAWRENCE
Unhappy fortune! by my brotherhood, 5
The letter was not nice but full of charge
Of dear import, and the neglecting it
May do much danger. Friar John, go hence;
Get me an iron crow, and bring it straight
Unto my cell. 10
FRIAR JOHN
Brother, I’ll go and bring it thee.
Exit
FRIAR LAWRENCE
Now must I to the monument alone;
Within three hours will fair Juliet wake:
She will beshrew me much that Romeo
Hath had no notice of these accidents; 15
But I will write again to Mantua,
And keep her at my cell till Romeo come;
Poor living corse, closed in a dead man’s tomb!
To Juliet’s grave; for there must I use thee.
Poor Friar Lawrence!

Not only does he have to
make another plan, he
doesn’t know that Balthasar Events are out
has already told Romeo of of his control. This
Juliet’s “death”. is the theme of fate
versus free will.

5 Romeo and Juliet
Questions
1. In the above extract Friar Lawrence learns from Friar John that
he couldn’t deliver the letter to Romeo. Briefly explain how
destiny or fate once again interfered in the delivery of the letter
to Romeo. (2)
2. What does Friar Lawrence then tell Friar John about the nature
of the letter? (2)
3. What is Friar Lawrence’s next step? (3)
[7]
1. Friar Lawrence asked Friar John to accompany him to Mantua
to deliver the letter to Romeo. But Friar John was visiting
plague-infested people and all the doors were sealed off.3
Nobody wanted to risk being infected by the letter.3 (2)
2. The letter was not pleasant, but very important.3 Not
delivering it could result in terrible consequences.3 (2)
3. He will go to the Capulet tomb and be at Juliet’s side when
she wakes up.3 Then he plans to take her to his cell and look
after her there until Romeo arrives.33 (3)
[7]

Act 5, scene 3 5
Act 5, Scene 3
Romeo and Juliet die, and their families
are reconciled
Setting: Churchyard and Capulet family
tomb in Verona

5 Romeo and Juliet
A scene in three parts

’This is the last scene in the play. It is very long, so this study guide divides
it into three parts:
1. Paris and Romeo at Juliet’s tomb
2. Friar Lawrence arrives at the tomb. Juliet’s death
3. The arrival of Romeo and Juliet’s parents with the Prince
Act 5, Scene 3: Part 1

Paris and Romeo at Juliet’s tomb
What happens?
• Paris comes to put flowers on Juliet’s grave. His Page keeps watch
nearby.
• Romeo and Balthasar arrive with tools to open the grave.
• Romeo gives Balthasar a letter to deliver to Lord Montague in the
morning.
• He tells Balthasar that he wants to recover a ring from Juliet’s finger.
• Romeo tells Balthasar to go and not to return. But Balthasar is worried
and hides nearby.
• Romeo breaks open the tomb.
• Paris recognises Romeo as the man who killed Tybalt. Paris thinks that
Juliet died from grief at Tybalt’s death. He thinks Romeo has come to
damage the Capulet bodies in the tomb.
• Paris tells Romeo to stop and come with him. He will probably take him
to the Prince, whose orders Romeo has disobeyed.
• Romeo does not want to fight Paris. He tells him to leave.
• Paris refuses to go and they fight. Paris’s Page is worried about the fight
and goes to tell the watchmen.
• Paris dies, asking to be laid with Juliet in her tomb.
• Romeo recognises Paris as a relative of Mercutio. He remembers that
his servant told him Paris was to marry Juliet.
• Romeo lays Paris in the tomb.
• Romeo drinks the poison and dies.

Act 5, scene 3 5
Activity 23
[Outside the Capulet’s tomb in the churchyard]
BALTHASAR
I will be gone, sir, and not trouble you.
ROMEO
So shalt thou show me friendship. Take thou that:
Live, and be prosperous: and farewell, good fellow.
BALTHASAR
[Aside] For all this same, I’ll hide me hereabout:
His looks I fear, and his intents I doubt. 5
Retires
ROMEO
Thou detestable maw, thou womb of death,
Gorged with the dearest morsel of the earth,
Thus I enforce thy rotten jaws to open,
And, in despite, I’ll cram thee with more food!
Opens the tomb
PARIS
This is that banish’d haughty Montague, 10
That murder’d my love’s cousin, with which grief,
It is supposed, the fair creature died;
And here is come to do some villanous shame
To the dead bodies: I will apprehend him.
Comes forward
Stop thy unhallow’d toil, vile Montague! 15
Can vengeance be pursued further than death?
Condemned villain, I do apprehend thee:
Obey, and go with me; for thou must die.
ROMEO
I must indeed; and therefore came I hither.
Good gentle youth, tempt not a desperate man; 20
Fly hence, and leave me: think upon these gone;
Let them affright thee. I beseech thee, youth,
Put not another sin upon my head,
By urging me to fury: O, be gone!
By heaven, I love thee better than myself; 25
For I come hither arm’d against myself:
Stay not, be gone; live, and hereafter say,
A madman’s mercy bade thee run away.
PARIS
I do defy thy conjurations,
And apprehend thee for a felon here. 30
ROMEO
Wilt thou provoke me? Then have at thee, boy!

5 Romeo and Juliet
Questions
1. Whom does Romeo visit before coming to the Capulets’ tomb?
Why does he do so? (2)
2. Refer to lines 2 – 3 (“So shalt thou … farewell, good fellow”).
Explain why Romeo pays Balthasar to go away. (2)
3. Refer to lines 4 – 5 (“For all this … intents I doubt”). Explain
what these lines reveal about Balthasar’s feelings towards
Romeo. (2)
4. Refer to lines 6 – 9 (“Thou detestable maw … with more food”).
a) Identify the figure of speech used in line 6 (“Thou
detestable maw, thou womb of death”). (1)
b) Explain what Romeo means in these lines. (2)
5. What eventually happens to Paris? (1)
6. State briefly who Paris is and what he is doing in the
churchyard. (2)
7. Paris calls Romeo a “condemned villain”. Why does he call
Romeo this? (3)
8. In what other more serious ways would you regard Romeo as
“condemned”? (2)
9. Where and when does this incident take place? (2)
10. In line 11 Paris speaks of “my love’s cousin”. To whom is he
referring? (1)
11. Why, according to Paris, did Juliet “die”? (2)
12. When Paris sees Romeo, what does he think Romeo is doing
there? (2)
13. Explain why Paris says: “I do apprehend thee / Obey, and go
with me …” (lines 17 – 18). (2)
14. Quote a phrase that proves that Romeo doesn’t recognise
Paris. (1)
15. Why does Romeo say he is “armed against” himself? (line 26) (2)
16. What is the tragic result of this incident? Base your answer
on line 31 (“Wilt thou provoke … at thee, boy!”). (2)
[31]

Act 5, scene 3 5
1. Romeo visits a poor apothecary3 in Mantua to buy poison.3 (2)
2. He is afraid Balthasar will try and stop him from killing
himself.33 (2)
3. Balthasar cares a lot about Romeo and sees Romeo looks
reckless.3 He is suspicious of Romeo’s plans.3 (2)
4 a) Personification3 (1)
b) Romeo sees the tomb as a monster with a huge appetite,
hungry for more bodies to devour.33 (2)
5. Paris doesn’t want to leave Romeo alone and Romeo kills
him.3 (1)
6. Paris was supposed to get married to Juliet on the Wednesday
she was found “dead”. He is also a relative of Prince Escalus.
He went to the churchyard to cry over Juliet’s dead body and
to put down flowers and perfumed water.33 (2)
7. “Condemned villain” means convicted criminal.3 Prince
Escalus had already found Romeo guilty of murdering
Tybalt and banished him to Mantua.3 Paris holds Romeo
responsible for Juliet’s death too, as he believes she died of
grief over Tybalt’s death.3 (3)
8. Romeo is a victim of fate – fate treats him badly.3 In the end
he’ll have to pay with his life.3 (2)
9. The incident takes place at the Capulet tomb3 when Romeo
has just arrived from Mantua to drink poison next to Juliet’s
“dead” body.3 (2)
10. Tybalt3 (1)
11. Paris thinks Juliet dies of grief over her cousin, Tybalt.33 (2)
12. He thinks Romeo wants to avenge the death of Mercutio by
harming the Capulet bodies in the tomb.33 (2)
13. He wants to arrest Romeo and give him over to the
authorities.33 (2)
14. “Good gentle youth” (line 20)3
OR
“I beseech thee, youth” (line 22).3 (1)
15. He is armed with poison to commit suicide and has a
dagger.33 (2)
16. Paris doesn’t want to leave Romeo alone and calls him a
criminal. Romeo kills Paris.33 (3)
[31]

5 Romeo and Juliet

Friar Lawrence arrives at the tomb
Juliets’ death
What happens?
• Friar Lawrence meets Balthasar who tells him that Romeo is at the
tomb. The Friar carries a lantern, crowbar and a spade to the tomb.
• Friar Lawrence sees the blood from the fight at the entrance to the tomb,
then sees the dead bodies of Romeo and Paris.
• Juliet awakens. She sees the Friar and asks where Romeo is.
• Friar Lawrence hears the watchmen coming. He tells Juliet to come
with him. He says both Romeo and Paris are dead. He will take her to a
convent.
• Juliet tells Friar Lawrence to leave. She will stay.
• Juliet tries to find some of the poison in Romeo’s cup and on his lips but
there is none.
• She hears the watchmen arriving, and quickly kills herself with Romeo’s
dagger.

Act 5, scene 3 5
Activity 24
[Friar Lawrence has come to the Capulet’s tomb to rescue Juliet.]
FRIAR LAWRENCE
Romeo!
Advances
Alack, alack, what blood is this, which stains
The stony entrance of this sepulchre?
What mean these masterless and gory swords
To lie discolour’d by this place of peace? 5
Enters the tomb
Romeo! O, pale! Who else? What, Paris too?
And steep’d in blood? Ah, what an unkind hour
Is guilty of this lamentable chance!
The lady stirs.
JULIET wakes
JULIET
O comfortable friar! where is my lord? 10
I do remember well where I should be,
And there I am. Where is my Romeo?
Noise within
FRIAR LAWRENCE
I hear some noise. Lady, come from that nest
Of death, contagion, and unnatural sleep:
A greater power than we can contradict 15
Hath thwarted our intents. Come, come away.
Thy husband in thy bosom there lies dead;
And Paris too. Come, I’ll dispose of thee
Among a sisterhood of holy nuns:
Stay not to question, for the watch is coming; 20
Come, go, good Juliet, I dare no longer stay.
Even Friar
Lawrence, a Christian,
The words of
is blaming fate and
Friar Lawrence are
destiny for what has
full of despair and
happened.
horror.

5 Romeo and Juliet
Questions
1. Refer to lines 6 – 7 (“What, Paris, too … steeped in blood?”).
a) Why does Juliet’s father want her to marry Paris? (2)
b) Discuss the events that lead to the death of Paris. (2)
2. Refer to lines 13 - 21 (“I hear some … no longer stay.”).
Discuss Friar Lawrence’s fears at this point in the play. (3)
3. Refer to lines 15 – 16 (“A greater power … thwarted our
intents.”).
a) Explain what Friar Lawrence means by, “A greater power”. (2)
b) Do you agree that it is “a greater power” that has altered
their plans? Give reasons for your answer. (3)
4. Refer to lines 16 – 20 (“Come, come away … watch is
coming.”). In your view, are Friar Lawrence’s suggestions in
these lines wise? Why? (2)
[14]
1 a) Paris is very wealthy and related to the Prince.3 Capulet
believes marriage to Paris will stop Juliet from grieving over
Tybalt’s death.3 (2)
b) When Paris finds Romeo at the Capulet’s tomb, Paris tries
to arrest him.3 They fight and Romeo kills Paris.3 (2)
2. The Friar is afraid that he will be in serious trouble with both
families and the Prince when his role in Romeo’s death is
uncovered.3 He will find it difficult to explain why Juliet is
still alive, and how the potion was used to prevent Juliet’s
marriage to Paris.3 He is afraid of what Juliet might do if she
remains in the tomb where Romeo’s body now lies.3 (3)
3 a) He means that fate, destiny or God has played a role in the
letter not reaching Romeo in time.33 (2)
b) Yes. The reason the letter does not reach Romeo in time
is because of the plague. None of the characters could have
controlled this.3 It is therefore destiny or God that prevents
the letter from reaching Romeo in time, and results in the
tragic deaths.33
OR
No. It is Romeo’s hasty decision to commit suicide,3 so one
cannot blame anyone else or any other force.33 (3)
4. Yes. He does not want their plot to be exposed as it could
endanger both Juliet and himself.33
OR
No. He has just informed Juliet that Romeo is dead and should
not expect her to leave immediately.33 (2)
[14]

Act 5, scene 3 5

The arrival of Romeo’s father and Juliet’s
parents with the Prince

5 Romeo and Juliet
What happens?
• Paris’s Page arrives with the watchmen. They see the blood on the
ground and search the churchyard.
• They find the bodies of Paris, Romeo and Juliet.
• Watchmen go to tell the Prince, Capulets and Montagues.
• Some watchmen find Balthasar in the churchyard. Another watchman
has found Friar Lawrence. They are both suspects, as they have tools
with which to open a tomb, and are told to wait for the Prince.
• The Prince arrives, followed by Lord and Lady Capulet.
• Juliet’s parents ask what has happened. Lady Capulet has heard people
running in the streets towards the churchyard, some crying “Romeo”,
others “Juliet”.
• Lord Montague arrives. He says that his wife died that night because of
grief over her son’s exile.
• The Prince orders the tomb to be closed until he finds out what happened.
He asks three people to tell their story:
1. Friar Lawrence;
2. Balthasar; and
3. Paris’s Page.
1. Friar Lawrence admits to being partly responsible for the deaths. The
truth is finally told. The Friar explains that:
• He married Romeo and Juliet in secret and, on the same day, Romeo
killed Tybalt and was banished.
• Juliet grieved for Romeo, not Tybalt. She was told to marry Paris and so
went to the Friar for help. She threatened to kill herself if he could not
help.
• He gave Juliet a sleeping potion, but Romeo did not get his letter
explaining the plan.
• He came to the churchyard to rescue Juliet from the tomb and take her
to his cell. But when he arrived he saw Paris and Romeo dead. Juliet
woke and he tried to comfort her. He heard a noise and in fear left the
tomb; Juliet would not go with him.
• The Friar says the nurse can confirm that the marriage took place. If he
is found to be at fault he is prepared to be punished for it.
2. Balthasar tells his story:
• He told Romeo that Juliet was dead. Romeo hurried to the tomb and told
Balthasar to leave him there.
• Balthasar gave the Prince the letter Romeo had written to his father. He
had told Balthasar to give it to Lord Montague.

Act 5, scene 3 5
3. The Page explains why Paris had come to the tomb:

• The Page says Paris had come to put flowers on Juliet’s grave. Paris told
him to keep watch nearby.
• Paris drew his sword against Romeo and the Page ran away to get help.
• The Prince reads Romeo’s letter. It shows that what Friar Lawrence has
said is true. Romeo had also written about getting the poison from the
apothecary and his intention to die in the tomb with Juliet.
• The Prince then speaks to Lord Capulet and Lord Montague, and blames
their feud for all the trouble. He also blames himself for not being firmer
with them.
• Capulet and Montague shake hands, both in grief for their loss.
• The Prince speaks of the sad peace that has come that morning.

5 Romeo and Juliet
Activity 25
[The scene at the tomb following the deaths of Paris, Romeo and Juliet.]
SECOND WATCHMAN
Here’s Romeo’s man; we found him in the churchyard.
FIRST WATCHMAN
Hold him in safety, till the prince come hither.
Re-enter others of the Watch, with FRIAR LAWRENCE
THIRD WATCHMAN
Here is a friar, that trembles, sighs and weeps:
We took this mattock and this spade from him,
As he was coming from this churchyard side. 5
FIRST WATCHMAN
A great suspicion: stay the friar too.
Enter the PRINCE and Attendants
PRINCE
What misadventure is so early up,
That calls our person from our morning’s rest?
Enter CAPULET, LADY CAPULET, and others
CAPULET
What should it be, that they so shriek abroad?
LADY CAPULET
The people in the street cry Romeo, 10
Some Juliet, and some Paris; and all run,
With open outcry toward our monument.
PRINCE
What fear is this which startles in our ears?
FIRST WATCHMAN
Sovereign, here lies the County Paris slain;
And Romeo dead; and Juliet, dead before, 15
Warm and new kill’d.
PRINCE
Search, seek, and know how this foul murder comes.
FIRST WATCHMAN
Here is a friar, and slaughter’d Romeo’s man;
With instruments upon them, fit to open
These dead men’s tombs. 20
CAPULET
O heavens! O wife, look how our daughter bleeds!
This dagger hath mista’en—for, lo, his house
Is empty on the back of Montague,—
And it mis-sheathed in my daughter’s bosom!
LADY CAPULET
O me! this sight of death is as a bell, 25
That warns my old age to a sepulchre.

Act 5, scene 3 5
Questions
1. Refer to line 1 (“Here’s Romeo’s man”).
a) Who is Romeo’s man? (1)
b) How has he disobeyed Romeo’s orders? (2)
c) Give the reason for his disobedience. (1)
2. Refer to line 3 (“… a friar that trembles, sighs and weeps”).
a) Explain why Friar Lawrence is in this state. Give TWO
reasons. (2)
b) Explain how the Friar’s behaviour earlier in the play is
different from his behaviour here. State TWO points. (2)
c) Do you feel sorry for Friar Lawrence? Discuss your view. (3)
3. Is the following statement TRUE or FALSE? Give a reason for
your answer.
Lines 14 – 15 mean that Juliet died before Paris and Romeo. (2)
4. Write down ONE word to describe the mood in the tomb at this
stage. (1)
[14]
1 a) Balthasar3 (1)
b) Romeo asked him to leave, and even paid him to go.33 (2)
c) He was worried about Romeo and suspicious of his
intentions.3 (1)
2 a) He knows he will be in trouble.3 He can even be arrested
for helping Romeo and Juliet to betray everybody.3 (2)
b) Earlier Friar Lawrence was always in control and had a
plan.3 Now he is nervous and has no plan.3 (2)
c) Yes, I feel sorry for him.3 He only wanted to help the young
lovers and eventually end the feud.33
OR
No, I don’t feel sorry for him.3 His plans constantly fail and
the fact that he kept them secret from the parents’ of the
lovers means that he lied to them.3 He should have been
honest with them.3 (3)
3. False. Juliet is still warm and this proves she died recently.33 (2)
4. Confused3
OR
Grieving3 (1)
[14]

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Copyright © Department of Basic Education 2015

Mind the Gap team

Matsie Angelina Motshekga, MP

Back to the Past comic.................................................................................. xx

Act 1, Scene 1................................................................................................. 20

Act 1, Scene 2................................................................................................. 23

Act 1, Scene 3................................................................................................. 27

Act 1, Scene 4................................................................................................. 30

Act 1, Scene 5................................................................................................. 33

Act 2, Scene 1................................................................................................. 38

Act 2, Scene 2................................................................................................. 39

Act 2, Scene 3................................................................................................. 43

Act 2, Scene 4................................................................................................. 46

Act 2, Scene 5................................................................................................. 48

Act 2, Scene 6................................................................................................. 51

Act 3, Scene 1................................................................................................. 54

Act 3, Scene 2................................................................................................. 59

Act 3, Scene 3................................................................................................. 61

Act 3, Scene 4................................................................................................. 64

Act 3, Scene 5................................................................................................. 65

Act 4, Scene 1................................................................................................. 69

Act 4, Scene 2................................................................................................. 74

Act 4, Scene 3................................................................................................. 76

Act 4, Scene 4................................................................................................. 79

Act 4, Scene 5................................................................................................. 81

Act 5, Scene 1................................................................................................. 84

Act 5, Scene 2................................................................................................. 88

Act 5, Scene 3................................................................................................. 91

Act 5, Scene 3: Part 1.................................................................................... 92

Act 5, Scene 3: Part 2.................................................................................... 96

Act 5, Scene 3: Part 3.................................................................................... 99

Dear Grade 12 learner

How to use this study guide

Hints to help you remember

© Department of Basic Education 2015

2. Have all your materials ready before you begin studying a

3. Be positive. It helps your brain hold on to the information.

5. Repetition is the key to remembering information you have to

6. Teach what you are learning to anyone who will listen. It is

© Department of Basic Education 2015

On the exam day

4. Break each question down to make sure you understand what is

6. Remain calm, even if the question seems difficult at first. It will be

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Overview of the English First

A total of 70 marks is allocated for Paper 2, which means 35 marks for

Here is a summary of the Paper 2 Literature exam paper:

• You don’t have to answer all the sections in Paper 2.

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What is a contextual question?

What are the examiners

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Question type What you need to do