Romeo & Juliet
Verona and the scene is set – Romeo and Juliet the plot LIT 1A
Act 1 – Prologue
Find out the story in a condensed version
Act 1, Scene 1: Verona. A public place.
Servants of the Montagues (Romeo) and Capulets (Juliet) start street brawl showing rivalry and tension between the families. We discover Romeo loves Rosalind.
Act 1, Scene 2: A street.
Paris asks Capulet if he can marry Juliet. Romeo discovers that Rosalind will be at the Capulet ball that evening.
Act 1, Scene 3: A room in Capulet's house.
Lady Capulet tells Juliet about Paris’s proposal. The nurse interrupts with a long story of her as a baby.
Act 1, Scene 4: A street.
Romeo has a feeling that something terrible will happen if he goes to the ball but he goes anyway.
Act 1, Scene 5: A hall in Capulet's house.
The Montagues go to the ball and Romeo forgets Rosalind as soon as he sees Juliet. Tybalt recognises them but Lord Capulet will not allow a fight
Act 2, Prologue: PROLOGUE
The chorus informs us the pain R&J are in as they can’t meet but passion will find a way.
Act 2, Scene 1: A lane by the wall of Capulet's orchard.
Romeo jumps into the Capulet garden to catch a glimpse of Juliet.
Act 2, Scene 2: Capulet's orchard
The Balcony Scene: Romeo professes his love to Juliet. They arrange a meeting.
Act 2, Scene 3: Friar Laurence's cell.
Romeo goes to Friar Lawrence to arrange to marry Juliet – he agrees thinking it will end the feud between the families
Act 2, Scene 4: A street.
Tybalt sends a challenge to Romeo. The Nurse gets the information about the wedding as a message to Juliet.
Act 2, Scene 5: Capulet's orchard.
The nurse delivers the news to Juliet of her upcoming marriage to Romeo.
Act 2, Scene 6: Friar Laurence's cell.
They marry.
Act 3, Scene 1: A public place.
Romeo tries to avoid fighting. Mercutio is wounded and killed by Tybalt. Romeo then avenges his death and kills Tybalt. Romeo is exiled for his part in this.
Act 3, Scene 2: Capulet's orchard.
Juliet learns of Tybalt’s death and Romeo’s banishment and is distraught over the loss of her love.
Act 3, Scene 3: Friar Laurence's cell.
Both Romeo and Juliet are distraught at the separation. Romeo tries to stab himself but is convinced to hold on by Friar Laurence.
Act 3, Scene 4: A room in Capulet's house.
Capulet promises on impulse that Juliet will marry Paris in two days.
Act 3, Scene 5: Capulet's orchard.
Lady Capulet informs Juliet of her upcoming marriage. She is threatened by her father if she refuses to be thrown out. The Nurse says she should marry Paris.
Act 4, Scene 1: Friar Laurence's cell.
Friar plans to give Juliet a drug that makes her appear dead for 48 hours to escape for Mantua and a new life with Romeo
Act 4, Scene 2: Hall in Capulet's house.
Juliet goes to her father and agrees to marry Paris. He moves the wedding forward a day.
Act 4, Scene 3: Juliet's chamber.
Juliet takes the poison.
Act 4, Scene 4: Hall in Capulet's house.
Capulet sends the nurse to waken Juliet.
Act 4, Scene 5: Juliet's chamber.
The Nurse tries to wake Juliet, but finds that she is (apparently) dead. All are grief stricken but Friar Laurence arranges the funeral quickly.
Act 5, Scene 1: Mantua. A street.
Romeo hears wrongly of Juliet’s death, buys poison and returns to join her.
Act 5, Scene 2: Friar Laurence's cell.
Friar John explains why he didn’t deliver the letter and F L sends another.
Act 5, Scene 3: A churchyard; in it a tomb belonging to the Capulets.
Outside the tomb where Juliet is (apparently dead) Romeo and Paris fight. Paris is killed. Romeo takes the poison and dies. Juliet wakes and finding Romeo dead kills herself with his dagger.
Act 1 – Prologue
Find out the story in a condensed version
Act 1, Scene 1: Verona. A public place.
Servants of the Montagues (Romeo) and Capulets (Juliet) start street brawl showing rivalry and tension between the families. We discover Romeo loves Rosalind.
Act 1, Scene 2: A street.
Paris asks Capulet if he can marry Juliet. Romeo discovers that Rosalind will be at the Capulet ball that evening.
Act 1, Scene 3: A room in Capulet's house.
Lady Capulet tells Juliet about Paris’s proposal. The nurse interrupts with a long story of her as a baby.
Act 1, Scene 4: A street.
Romeo has a feeling that something terrible will happen if he goes to the ball but he goes anyway.
Act 1, Scene 5: A hall in Capulet's house.
The Montagues go to the ball and Romeo forgets Rosalind as soon as he sees Juliet. Tybalt recognises them but Lord Capulet will not allow a fight
Act 2, Prologue: PROLOGUE
The chorus informs us the pain R&J are in as they can’t meet but passion will find a way.
Act 2, Scene 1: A lane by the wall of Capulet's orchard.
Romeo jumps into the Capulet garden to catch a glimpse of Juliet.
Act 2, Scene 2: Capulet's orchard
The Balcony Scene: Romeo professes his love to Juliet. They arrange a meeting.
Act 2, Scene 3: Friar Laurence's cell.
Romeo goes to Friar Lawrence to arrange to marry Juliet – he agrees thinking it will end the feud between the families
Act 2, Scene 4: A street.
Tybalt sends a challenge to Romeo. The Nurse gets the information about the wedding as a message to Juliet.
Act 2, Scene 5: Capulet's orchard.
The nurse delivers the news to Juliet of her upcoming marriage to Romeo.
Act 2, Scene 6: Friar Laurence's cell.
They marry.
Act 3, Scene 1: A public place.
Romeo tries to avoid fighting. Mercutio is wounded and killed by Tybalt. Romeo then avenges his death and kills Tybalt. Romeo is exiled for his part in this.
Act 3, Scene 2: Capulet's orchard.
Juliet learns of Tybalt’s death and Romeo’s banishment and is distraught over the loss of her love.
Act 3, Scene 3: Friar Laurence's cell.
Both Romeo and Juliet are distraught at the separation. Romeo tries to stab himself but is convinced to hold on by Friar Laurence.
Act 3, Scene 4: A room in Capulet's house.
Capulet promises on impulse that Juliet will marry Paris in two days.
Act 3, Scene 5: Capulet's orchard.
Lady Capulet informs Juliet of her upcoming marriage. She is threatened by her father if she refuses to be thrown out. The Nurse says she should marry Paris.
Act 4, Scene 1: Friar Laurence's cell.
Friar plans to give Juliet a drug that makes her appear dead for 48 hours to escape for Mantua and a new life with Romeo
Act 4, Scene 2: Hall in Capulet's house.
Juliet goes to her father and agrees to marry Paris. He moves the wedding forward a day.
Act 4, Scene 3: Juliet's chamber.
Juliet takes the poison.
Act 4, Scene 4: Hall in Capulet's house.
Capulet sends the nurse to waken Juliet.
Act 4, Scene 5: Juliet's chamber.
The Nurse tries to wake Juliet, but finds that she is (apparently) dead. All are grief stricken but Friar Laurence arranges the funeral quickly.
Act 5, Scene 1: Mantua. A street.
Romeo hears wrongly of Juliet’s death, buys poison and returns to join her.
Act 5, Scene 2: Friar Laurence's cell.
Friar John explains why he didn’t deliver the letter and F L sends another.
Act 5, Scene 3: A churchyard; in it a tomb belonging to the Capulets.
Outside the tomb where Juliet is (apparently dead) Romeo and Paris fight. Paris is killed. Romeo takes the poison and dies. Juliet wakes and finding Romeo dead kills herself with his dagger.
Who ARE THEY?
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Montague Family
Romeo: our main male protagonist, a Montague, falls in love easily, rejects his family for love of Juliet, hot-headed, kills Tybalt (Juliet’s cousin), marries young and dies tragically Lord Montague and Lady Montague: father and mother to Romeo, maintain the feud between the Capulets and the Montagues, mother shows maternal instinct and caring for Romeo, mother dies heartbroken at the end Mercutio: A family member of the Prince, and Romeo's Benvolio: Montague's nephew, Romeo's cousin and thoughtful friend, he makes a genuine effort to defuse violent scenes in public places, though Mercutio accuses him of having a nasty temper in private. He spends most of the play trying to help Romeo get his mind off Rosaline, even after Romeo has fallen in love with Juliet. Balthasar: Romeo's dedicated servant, who brings Romeo the news of Juliet's death, unaware that her death is a ruse. Abram: Montague's servant, who fights with Sampson and Gregory in the first scene of the play. Capulet Family Juliet: our main female protagonist, a Capulet, falls in love quickly and completely, rejects the rules of her family and patriarchy, considered in some of her actions, impulsive when emotional, marries young and dies tragically The Nurse: Juliet’s companion and confidante, like a mother to Juliet, unquestioningly helps Juliet marry Romeo, advisor and friend Lord Capulet: Juliet’s father, arranges her marriage to Paris, no consultation with Juliet on this, disowns her and is rude and angry towards her when she disagrees, epitomises the patriarchal society, rules his home with an iron fist, makes all the important decisions, agrees to let old quarrels die after the death of Juliet Lady Capulet: Juliet’s mother, distant from Juliet, non-maternal, very young (implies she was 14 when she had Juliet), does as Lord C tells her, could be considered a victim of the patriarchal society Tybalt: Juliet’s cousin, king of the ‘Cats’ meaning the leader of the Capulet gang,vain, fashionable, supremely aware of courtesy and the lack of it, he becomes aggressive, violent, and quick to draw his sword when he feels his pride has been injured. Once drawn, his sword is something to be feared. He hates Montagues. Paris: A kinsman of the Prince, and the suitor of Juliet most preferred by Capulet. Once Capulet has promised him he can marry Juliet, he behaves very presumptuous toward Juliet, acting as if they are already married. Peter: A Capulet servant who invites guests to Capulet's feast and escorts the Nurse to meet with Romeo. Rosaline: The woman with whom Romeo is infatuated at the beginning of the play. Rosaline never appears onstage, but it is said by other characters that she is very beautiful and has sworn to live a life of chastity. Sampson & Gregory: Two servants of the house of Capulet, who, like their master, hate the Montagues. At the outset of the play, they successfully provoke some Montague men into a fight. Peter: A Capulet servant who invites guests to Capulet's feast and escorts the Nurse to meet with Romeo. Characters Non-Affiliated to a family Friar Laurence: Priest who secretly marries Romeo and Juliet in hopes that the union might eventually bring peace to Verona. Paris: A kinsman of the Prince, and the suitor of Juliet most preferred by Capulet. Once Capulet has promised him he can marry Juliet, he behaves very presumptuous toward Juliet, acting as if they are already married. Prince Escalus: The Prince of Verona. A kinsman of Mercutio and Paris. As the seat of political power in Verona, he is concerned about maintaining the public peace at all costs. |
Links to Resources for Romeo and Juliet
Guide to AQA R&J With practice extract essay questions: |
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guide to eduqas R&J with practice extract & essay questions:
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