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Study Worksheet Unit
by Sharon Service

Romeo and Juliet

Act I    Act II    Act III    Act IV    Act V    Index

Answer all of the following questions in sentences on a separate sheet of looseleaf.

Act I

Scene 1
  1. Notice the series of anthesis (anthesis - a contrast of ideas expressed by parallelism of strongly contrasted words) in the following lines:
      "Here is much to do with hate, but more with love,
      Why then, O brawling love, O loving hate,
      Of anything, of nothing first create!
      O heavy lightness, serious vanity,
      Misshapen chaos of well-seeming forms,
      Feather of lead, bright-smoke; cold fire, sick health,
      Still-waking sleep, that is not what it is!
      This love feel I, that feel no love in this."
       
    What does this reveal about Romeo?

Scene 2
  1. What is Capulet trying to tell Paris?
     
      2. "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
      Ere we may think her ripe to be a bride."
       
  2. What is Paris' argument? Quote the line which supports your answer.
     
  3. What does Capulet mean in, "And too soon marred are those so early made."
     
  4. What is the meaning of:
     
      5. "At my poor house look to behold tonight
      Earth-treading stars that make dark heaven light..."
       
  5. Explain:
     
      6. "Such comfort as do lusty young men feel
      When well-apparelled April on the heel
      Of limping Winter treads..."
       
  6. What does the servant mean when he says:
     
      7. "...and if you be not of the house of Montagues, I pray come and crush a cup of wine."

Scene 3
  1. In a few sentences summarize the conversation between Juliet, her mother, and the nurse.

Scene 4
  1. What does Romeo mean in the following lines?
     
      2. "I am too sore empierced with his shaft
      To soar with his light feathers; and so bound
      I cannot bound a pitch above dull woe."
       
    What is the allusion in "shaft"? (Allusion - implied or direct reference)
    What is the play on the word "bound"?
     
  2. What do the following lines show about Romeo's state of mind?
     
      3. "I fear, too early, for my mind misgives
      Some consequence, yet hanging in the stars,
      Shall bitterly begin, his fearful date
      With this night's revels and expire term
      Of a despised life, closed in my breast,
      By some vile forfeit of untimely death."
       
  3. What do these lines show about Romeo's belief in fate?
     
      4. "But he that has the steerage of my course
      Direct my sail.      "

Scene 5
  1. Who is speaking the lines below and to whom do these lines refer? What do the speakers mean? Give the numbers of the lines.
     
    1. "...Verona brags him
      To be a virtuous and well-governed youth.
      I would not for the wealth of all this town
      Here in my house do him disparagement."         (Lines _________)
       
    2. "Patience perforce with willful choler meeting
      Makes my flesh tremble in their difference greeting."         (Lines ________)
       
    3. "...If he be married,
      My grave is like to be my wedding bed."         (Lines ________)
       
    4. "My only love, sprung from my only hate!
      5. Too early seen unknown, and known too late!"   (Lines ________)

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