Revision Exercises
- 1.PLOT
Task 1A: Plot Sequence. Order A-F in order that they occur in the plot, labelling them 1-6.
- Romeo hears that Juliet is dead, buys poison and takes it at her tomb. Juliet wakes, sees Romeo dead and stabs herself.
- Romeo meets Juliet at the Capulet ball and they fall in love. Tybalt vows revenge on Romeo.
- The Montagues and the Capulets find their children dead and agree to end the feud.
- Tybalt challenges Romeo to a fight. Romeo refuses but Mercutio accepts and is killed by Tybalt. Romeo kills Tybalt and is banished from Verona.
- Romeo meets Juliet again by hiding in the Capulet orchard and they agree to marry.
- The Prince of Verona breaks up a fight between members of the Montague and Capulet family.
- Romeo confesses that he is lovesick over Rosaline. .
- Lord Capulet insists that Juliet must marry Paris.
- Friar Laurence gives Juliet a potion that means she’ll appear dead and sends a letter to Romeo that never arrives.
- Friar Laurence agrees to marry them in secret.
Task 1B: Plot questions, Romeo and Juliet
- Who is fighting at the start of the play?
- Which character enters and tries to keep the peace?
- Which character enters and tries to start a fight?
- Which character stops a fight from happening and threatens death to those who continue?
- Who is Romeo in love with at the start of the play?
- How does he act and feel about this love and why?
- Who does Capulet meet and discuss marriage to Juliet?
- Why does Capulet suggest that this person waits for a while?
- What does Capulet suggest that this person does in the meantime?
- How is it that Romeo and Benvolio learn about the Capulet ball?
- What happens between Romeo and Juliet at the ball?
- Why is Tybalt angry at the ball?
- What does Tybalt vow to do to Romeo?
- Where does Romeo meet Juliet later that night and what do they agree?
- Why does Romeo rush to Friar Laurence?
- What does the Friar do for Romeo and Juliet?
- Tybalt challenges Romeo to a fight. Does he accept?
- Who fights in Romeo’s place and what happens?
- What does Romeo do next?
- What punishment is given to Romeo?
- What plan do Juliet and Friar Laurence come up with?
- How does Friar Laurence try to tell Romeo?
- Does the news of the plan reach Romeo?
- When Romeo realises Juliet is “dead”, what does he do next?
- When he sees Paris at the tomb, what does he do to him?
- When Romeo sees Juliet in the tomb, what does he do?
- When Juliet wakes, what does she do?
- When the Capulet and Montague parents arrive and find them dead, what do they do?
2.CHARACTERS
Task 2A: Character Actions and Feelings
- Why does Romeo feel that love is ‘madness’ and a ‘sickness’ at the start of the play?
- Why does Romeo forget immediately about Rosaline?
- Why does Romeo climb the wall into the Capulet garden?
- Why does Romeo kill Tybalt?
- Why does Romeo decide to kill himself?
- Why does Juliet destroy her relationship with her parents?
- Why does Juliet take a potion?
- Why does Juliet stab herself?
- Why does Mercutio mock Romeo?
- Why does Mercutio curse the Montagues and Capulet households?
- Why does Tybalt vow to take revenge against Romeo?
- Why does Tybalt fight Mercutio?
- Why does Lord Capulet describe Juliet as a ‘stranger to the world’?
- Why does Lord Capulet tell Juliet to ‘hang, beg starve’?
- Why does Lord Capulet reconcile the disagreement with the Montagues?
- Why does Lady Capulet wish to see Juliet married?
- What is Lady Capulet asking when she says ‘for blood of ours, shed blood of Montague’?
- Why does Lady Capulet say to Juliet, ‘I have done with thee’?
- Why does the Nurse encourage Juliet to marry Paris?
- Why does Friar Laurence marry Romeo and Juliet?
- Why does Friar Laurence help Juliet stage her suicide?
- Why does Benvolio say ‘part fools!’?
- Why does Prince Escalus threaten death?
- Why does Prince Escalus say ‘all are punished’?
Task 2B: Character Actions.
- Who says to whom that they should part and put down their swords in Act One Scene One?
- Who says to whom that, if the fighting does not cease, they will be punished with death?
- Who says to whom that they hate the word ‘peace’ as much as they hate ‘all Montagues and thee’?
- Who says to whom that he should ‘examine other beauties’?
- Who says to whom that he should ‘be rough with love’ and ‘prick love for pricking’?
- Who says about whom that love is like ‘madness’ and ‘pricks like thorn’?
- Who says to whom that his child is a ‘stranger to the world’?
- Who says about whom that he will take revenge to defend ‘the honour of my kin’?
- Who refers to whom as the ‘sun’?
- Who says to whom that they are the ‘god of my idolatry’?
- Who says to whom ‘they stumble that run fast’?
- Who says to whom ‘we shall not escape a brawl’?
- Who says about what and to whom, ‘this is dear mercy’?
- Who says about what that ‘all are punished’?
- Who calls whom ‘Madam’?
- Who calls whom ‘daughter’?
- Who calls whom ‘lamb’ and ‘ladybird’?
- Who calls whom an ‘eagle’?
- Who calls whom a ‘dishclout’?
- Who says they worry about seeing ‘mangled Tybalt’ and why?
Task 2C: Characteristics and Choices or Actions (choose from the words below to help you)
1. Romeo is presented as _____________ and _____________ because he ...
2. Juliet is presented as _____________ and _____________ because she ...
3. Mercutio is presented as _____________ and _____________ because he ...
4. Tybalt is presented as _____________ and _____________ because he …
5. Lord Capulet is presented as _____________ and _____________ because he …
6. Lady Capulet is presented as _____________ and _____________ because he …
7. Friar Laurence is presented as ___________ and ___________ because he...
8. The Nurse is presented as __________ and ________________because she…
9. Benvolio is presented as ___________ and ___________ because he…
10. Prince Escalus is presented as ___________ because he...
Options: aggressive / impulsive / cold / loyal / distant / brave / rebellious / loyal / violent / protective / authoritative / passionate / witty / kind / well-meaning / peaceful / patriarchal / naive / caring
Task 2D: Character Comparison
1. Whereas Romeo is ..., Mercutio is…
2. Whereas Juliet is., Tybalt is...
3. Whereas Romeo is..., Tybalt is….
4. Whereas Lord Capulet is…., Lady Capulet is…
5. Whereas Lady Capulet is…, the Nurse is…
6. Whereas Benvolio is…, Tybalt is…
7. Whereas Paris is…, Romeo is…
8. Whereas Juliet is…, Lady Capulet is…
Options: aggressive / impulsive / cold / loyal / distant / brave / rebellious / loyal / violent / protective / authoritative / passionate / witty / kind / well-meaning / peaceful / patriarchal / naive / caring
Task 2E: Character Development
1. How does Romeo develop as a character throughout the play?
a) Early in the play,
b) As the play continues,
c) Later in the play,
2. How does Juliet develop as a character throughout the play?
a) Early in the play,
b) As the play continues,
c) Later in the play,
3. How does Mercutio develop as a character throughout the play?
a) Early in the play,
b) As the play continues,
c) Later in the play,
4. How does Tybalt develop as a character throughout the play?
a) Early in the play,
b) As the play continues,
c) Later in the play,
5. How does Lord Capulet develop as a character throughout the play?
a) Early in the play,
b) As the play continues,
c) Later in the play,
6. How does Lady Capulet develop as a character throughout the play?
a) Early in the play,
b) As the play continues,
c) Later in the play,
3.CONTEXT
Task 3A short answer question
- What era did Shakespeare write his play in?
- Who was on the throne in this era?
- Who has more power in a patriarchal society?
- What is an arranged marriage?
- What were Elizabethan attitudes towards arranged marriage?
- What were Elizabethan attitudes towards religion?
- What did Elizabethan people believe about fate? (hint: stars and planets / our futures)
Task 3B:What might the Elizabethan audience reaction have been to each character's choice?
1. Romeo’s choice to marry Juliet in spite of the fact that she is a Capulet
2. Juliet’s choice to marry Romeo
3. Tybalt’s choice to join in the fight with the servants. (hint: masculinity & honour)
4. Lord Capulet’s choice to join in the fight with the servants. (hint: masculinity & honour)
5. Mercutio’s choice to challenge Tybalt to a fight. (hint: masculinity & honour)
6. Tybalt’s choice to kill Mercutio
7. Lord Capulet’s angry reaction when Juliet refuses to marry Paris
8. Lady Capulet’s choice to marry Juliet to Paris at such a young age
9. Friar Laurence’s choice to help Romeo and Juliet with a secret marriage
Task 3C: List three actions taken by any characters that link to...
- Traditional ideas about honour and masculinity.
- Traditional ideas about honour and patriarchy.
- Traditional ideas about patriarchy and arranged marriage.
- Traditional ideas about religion.
- Elizabethan attitudes towards fate.
Task 3D: List actions taken by any characters that challenge…
- Traditional ideas about honour and masculinity.
- Traditional ideas about honour and patriarchy.
- Traditional ideas about patriarchy and arranged marriage.
- Traditional ideas about religion.
- Elizabethan attitudes towards fate.
Task 3E: Answer these questions with at least one example from the play.
Challenge: list as many examples as you can think of.
- How does Shakespeare challenge traditional patriarchal attitudes?
- How does Shakespeaere challenge traditional attitudes towards fate?
- How does Shakespeaere challenge traditional attitudes towards honour and masculinity?
- How does Shakespeaere challenge traditional attitudes towards male aggressive behaviour?
- How does Shakespeaere challenge traditional attitudes to religion?
Task 3F: Answer these questions with at least one example from the play.
Challenge: list as many examples as you can think of.
- What does Shakespaere suggest that traditional patriarchal attitudes can lead to?
- What does Shakespeare suggest that traditional ideas about arranged marriage can lead to?
- What does Shakespeare suggest that traditional ideas about honour and masculinity can lead to?
- What does Shakespeare suggest that traditional ideas about male aggressive behaviour can lead to?
4. QUOTATIONS
Task 4A: write out each quotation in full. If you’re not sure, check back to the Romeo and Juliet content on p.2-3.
Romeo:
- ‘m_________s’, ‘pricks like th__________’
- ‘Did my h________ love till n______?’
- ‘It is the east and Juliet is the _________’
- ‘fire-eyed f_____’
- ‘I am f_______’s f_____!’
Juliet
- ‘M__________’ (Juliet calls Lady Capulet this)
- ‘god of my i________’
- ‘I’ll no longer be a C________’
- ‘Mangled T__________’
Mercutio
- ‘p_______ love for pricking’
- ‘Vile s_________________’
- ‘P______ on both your houses’ / (curses both households)
Tybalt
- ‘peace! I h______ the word’ ‘hate h____’,’M______’
- ‘H_________ of my k______’
- ‘b_____’ ‘v________’ (words used to describe Romeo)
Lord Capulet
- ‘S____________ to the world’
- ‘Hang, beg, s________, d______ in the s__________’
Lady Capulet
- ‘d________’
- ‘For b______ of ours, shed b_______ of Montague’
- ‘I have d_____ with thee’
Benvolio
- ‘Part, f_______!’
- ‘e________ other beauties’
- ‘We shall not e________ a br_________’
Friar Laurence
- ‘Turn your households’ r________ to pure l________’
- ‘They s_______ that run fast’
- ‘dear m_______’ (tries to explain to Romeo that the Prince has shown mercy to him by banishing him)
Nurse
- ‘l______’ / (affectionate terms Nurse uses to refer to Juliet)
- ‘e_____’ / ‘di_____t’ (contrasting Paris and Romeo when persuading Juliet to marry Paris)
Prince Escalus
- ‘your lives shall p___’
- ‘all are p______’
Task 4B: Copy and complete these sentences using the right quotation
- Early in the play, Juliet refers to Lady Capulet as ‘__________’, which suggests..
- Juliet describes Romeo as a ‘G_____’, which suggests that...
- Juliet tells Romeo that she’ll ‘n___ l______ be a C______’ in order to...
- Romeo describes his love for Rosaline as ‘m_________’ because…
- Romeo says his love ‘pricks like thorn’ because…
- The moment he meets Juliet, Romeo states: ‘Did my_____________________?’, which demonstrates...
- Romeo compares Juliet to the ‘s______’, which suggest...
- Romeo is guided by his ‘f______e______ f_______’ when he murders Tybalt.
- When Romeo says that love ‘pricks’ like a thorn, Mercutio turns the word ‘p________’ into a s_________ i____________.
- When Romeo refuses to fight Tybalt, Mercutio says it is ‘v______ s___________’ because...
- When Mercutio is dying, he curses the Montagues and Capulets by saying that he hopes there will be a ‘p__________’ on both of their households.
- Tybalt claims to hate the word ‘p__________’ as much he hates ‘h______’ and all ‘M_______________’.
- Tybalt vows to take revenge on Romeo in order to defend the ‘h______’ of his ‘k_____’.
- In Act 4, when Tybalt challenges Romeo to a fight, he calls him ‘v_________’ and ‘b______’ several times to try to put him down.
- Early in the play, Lord Capulet describes Juliet as a ‘s___________ to the world’ because she is still very young.
- When Juliet refuses to marry Paris, Lord Capulet orders her to ‘h_____________________________________’, which seems ...
- When Juliet refuses to marry Paris, Lady Capulet states: ‘I have d_______ w_______ th_______’, which seems...
- Lady Capulet always refers to Juliet as ‘d________’, which seems distant in comparison to the Nurse, who refers to Juliet as ‘l_______’ and ‘l_________’.
- Lady Capulet demands revenge when she says to Prince Escalus ‘for b__________of ours shed __________________’. This shows that...
- Benvolio shouts ‘P_____ f_______’ to the servants of the Montague and Capulet families, which demonstrates...
- Benvolio urges Romeo to ‘e__________ o_____________ b__________’ in order to forget Rosaline.
- In Act four, Benvolio says to Mercutio that they should leave because they ‘shall not e_______ a b________’.
- Friar Laurence states that he hopes the marriage between Romeo and Juliet will turn the ‘h_________’s r_________ to pure l_______’, which suggests…
- Friar Laurence warns Romeo not to move too quickly when he says ‘they s________________________________’, which shows that Friar Laurence...
- Friar Laurence urges Romeo to see that Prince Escalus sparing his life is ‘d_______ m_________’, which conveys that Friar Laurence...
- When encouraging Juliet to marry Paris, the nurse describes Romeo as a ‘d_________’ and Paris as an ‘e_______’.
- In the first scene of the play, Prince Escalus warns everyone fighting that their ‘l_________ shall pay’ if they fight again, which suggests...
- In the final scene of the play, Prince Escalus admits his own responsibility, whilst blaming others too, when he says ‘a____ are p_____________’, which demonstrates...
Task 4C: Which quotation best demonstrates...
- ...Romeo’s lovesickness over Rosaline?
- ...Romeo’s world revolving around Juliet?
- ...Romeo forgetting Rosaline the moment he sees Juliet?
- ...Romeo blaming fate for mocking him?
- ...Romeo allowing his anger to take over, leading him to murder Tybalt?
- ...Juliet being obedient to Lady Capulet and speaking to her in a formal way?
- ...Juliet telling Romeo that she’ll give up her family name for him?
- ...Juliet worshipping Romeo?
- ...Mercutio focusing on the sexual aspects of a relationship?
- ...Mercutio being angry with Romeo for not fighting Tybalt?
- ...Mercutio cursing the Montague and Capulet families?
- ...Tybalt saying he hates the idea of peace?
- ...Tybalt saying that he will fight Romeo in order to defend his honour?
- ...Tybalt trying to put Romeo down and mock him? (b____)
- ...Lord Capulet explaining to Paris that Juliet is still very young?
- …Lord Capulet’s anger towards Juliet when she disobeys him?
- ...Lady Capulet’s distance from Juliet? (d_______)
- …The Nurse’s closeness to Juliet? (l_______, l_______)
- ...Lady Capulet seeking revenge for Tybalt’s death?
- ….Lady Capulet’s anger towards Juliet when she disobeys her father?
- ...the Nurse suggesting Paris is a far finer man than Romeo? (e_____’ ‘d________’)
- ...Benvolio keeping the peace?
- ...Benvolio urging Romeo to meet other women?
- ...Benvolio urging Mercutio to go home so that they don’t get caught in a fight?
- ...Friar Laurence saying that he hopes Romeo and Juliet’s marriage will end the feud?
- …Friar Laurence advising Romeo to be patient?
- ...Friar Laurence advising Romeo to think clearly and rationally?
- …Prince Escalus threatening a punishment if the fighting in Verona doesn’t stop?
- ...Prince Escalus saying that all are responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet?
Task 4D: List 4 quotations that you would use to contrast..
- Romeo and Mercutio.
- Tybalt and Benvolio.
- Romeo and Benvolio.
- Romeo and Friar Laurence.
- The nurse and Lady Capulet.
- Lord Capulet and Lady Capulet.
- Prince Escalus and Lord Capulet
6 THEMES
Task 6A: The Theme of Love
What is Shakespeare suggesting about love?
Shakespeare suggests that love can be so powerful that it…
Shakespeare suggests that love can cause people to ______ their families in order to be with the one they love.
Shakespeare suggests that love can be dangerous because…
Romeo and Juliet’s love for one another is so strong that…
Shakespeare explores family love through the characters of…
Task 6B: The Theme of Conflict
What is Shakespeare suggesting about conflict?
Shakespeare suggests that conflict happens as a result of…
Shakespeare opens the play with a fight between Montagues and Capulets because…
Benvolio could be called a ‘peacemaker’ because...
Tybalt seeks conflict with Romeo because..
Romeo ends up fighting Tybalt because…
Task 6C: The Theme of Fate
What is Shakespeare suggesting about fate?
Shakespeare suggests that people’s lives and futures can be decided even before …
Shakespeare describes Romeo and Juliet as ‘death-marked’ in the prologue, which tells the audience that..
It could be fate when Friar John’s letter…
It could be fate when Juliet wakes up moments after...
Task 6D: The Theme of Family
What is Shakespeare suggesting about the theme of family?
Shakespeare suggests that families are run by the f___________.
Shakespeare suggests it was unusual for a daughter to…
Shakespeare shows the distance between parent and child through…
Shakespeare challenges the traditional role of the father by presenting Juliet as a _____________ and courageous character.
7. VOCABULARY
Task 7A: Vocabulary. Copy and complete the sentences:
1. Lord Capulet is authoritative when he orders Juliet to...
2. Prince Escalus is authoritative when he threatens a punishment of death if...
3. Juliet is brave when she refuses to...
4. Shakespeare suggests that Romeo and Juliet’s fate is out of their hands when he describes their love as ‘d_______ m_______’.
5. Tybalt believes he needs to maintain the feud because he cares a lot about the C______________ honour.
6. Lord Capulet and Lord Montague maintain the feud because they care a lot about the M__________ honour.
8. Lady Capulet seems cold when she tells Juliet to marry P________ at only aged t__________n.
9. Lord Capulet seems protective when he encourages Paris to wait...
10. Lord Capulet seems aggressive when he threatens to throw Juliet out if...
11. Juliet seems obedient when she agrees to consider Paris as...
12. Juliet does not seem obedient when she refuses later in the play to...
13. Romeo appears passionate when he says ‘did my...
14. Juliet seems rebellious when she marries ______________ in secret.
15. Romeo seems impulsive when he buys p____________ and rushes to J_______’s tomb before finding out if she is definitely d___________.
16. Juliet seems impulsive when she s_________s herself.
17. Tybalt seems impulsive when he kills M____________________.
18. Shakespeare describes Romeo and Juliet as ‘death-marked’ because he wants to...
19, Romeo’s love for Rosaline is unrequited, which means she does not...
20. Mercutio seems witty when he jokes about s________.
21. Mercutio maintains his and Romeo’s honour when he fights T___________.
22. Friar Laurence seems naive when he marries _____________ and _____________ in secret.
23. The Nurse seems kind when she helps ___________ and ____________ to marry in secret.
24. Friar Laurence appears naive when he marries ____________ and ____________ because he believes it will end the feud between the ________________ and _____________.
25. The Nurse appears kind when she helps Juliet marry ______________ because she cares about J______________.
26. Prince Escalus seems authoritative when he threatens death if…..
Task 7B: Vocabulary. Copy and complete the sentences (this time with less to help you):
1. Lord Capulet is authoritative when ...
2. Prince Escalus is authoritative when ...
3. Juliet is brave when she refuses to...
4. Shakespeare suggests that Romeo and Juliet’s fate is out of their hands when...
5. Tybalt believes he needs to maintain the feud because...
6. Lord Capulet and Lord Montague maintain the feud because ...
8. Lady Capulet seems cold when...
9. Lord Capulet seems protective when...
10. Lord Capulet seems aggressive when he threatens to throw Juliet out if...
11. Juliet seems obedient when she agrees to...
12. Juliet does not seem obedient when...
13. Romeo appears passionate when ...
14. Juliet seems rebellious when she...
15. Romeo seems impulsive when he ...
16. Juliet seems impulsive when she...
17. Tybalt seems impulsive when he ...
19. Mercutio seems witty when he...
20. Mercutio maintains his and Romeo’s honour when he...
21. Friar Laurence seems naive when he ...
22. The Nurse seems kind when she ...
23. Friar Laurence appears naive when he ...
24. The Nurse appears kind when she ...
8. ESSAY PRACTICE
Task 8A: Which are the best 3-5 quotations for these essay questions?
- Explore how Shakespeare presents Romeo in Romeo and Juliet.
- Explore how Shakespeare presents Juliet in Romeo and Juliet.
- Explain how Shakespeare presents the relationship between Romeo and Juliet in Romeo and Juliet.
- Explain how far you think Shakespeare presents Tybalt as an aggressive and violent character in Romeo and Juliet.
- Explain how Shakespeare presents Mercutio.
- Explain how far you think Shakespeare presents Lord Capulet as a good father.
- Explain how far you think Shakespeare presents Lady Capulet as a good mother in Romeo and Juliet..
- Explain how Shakespeare presents the character of Friar Lawrence.
- Explain how Shakespeare presents attitudes towards love in Romeo and Juliet
- Explore how Shakespeare presents the tragedy of love in Romeo and Juliet.
- Explain how far you think Shakespeare presents conflict as a key theme in the play.
- Explain how far Shakespeare presents family allegiance as the cause of conflict in Romeo and Juliet..
- Explore how Shakespeare presents father daughter relationships in Romeo and Juliet.
- Explore how Shakespeare presents fate versus free will in Romeo and Juliet.
Task 8B: Write three topic sentences for each of these essay questions.
- Explore how Shakespeare presents Romeo in Romeo and Juliet.
- Explore how Shakespeare presents Juliet in Romeo and Juliet.
- Explain how Shakespeare presents the relationship between Romeo and Juliet in Romeo and Juliet.
- Explain how far you think Shakespeare presents Tybalt as an aggressive and violent character in Romeo and Juliet.
- Explain how Shakespeare presents Mercutio.
- Explain how far you think Shakespeare presents Lord Capulet as a good father.
- Explain how far you think Shakespeare presents Lady Capulet as a good mother in Romeo and Juliet..
- Explain how Shakespeare presents the character of Friar Lawrence.
- Explain how Shakespeare presents attitudes towards love in Romeo and Juliet
- Explore how Shakespeare presents the tragedy of love in Romeo and Juliet.
- Explain how far you think Shakespeare presents conflict as a key theme in the play.
- Explain how far Shakespeare presents family allegiance as the cause of conflict in Romeo and Juliet..
- Explore how Shakespeare presents father daughter relationships in Romeo and Juliet.
- Explore how Shakespeare presents fate versus free will in Romeo and Juliet.