Name:_________________________________ Romeo and Juliet – Act II Study

Guide
English 9, Mrs. Astoreca

ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS IN COMPLETE SENTENCES IN ORDER TO RECEIVE FULL CREDIT.

Act II, scene i

1. What information does the chorus give?
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2. How does Mercutio describe Romeo’s love?
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3. What is ironic about Benvolio’s and Mercutio’s assumptions?
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Act II, scene ii
4. To whom does Romeo refer when he says, “He jests at scars that never felt a wound”?
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5. In Romeo’s soliloquy, how does Romeo greet Juliet? (To what does he compare her?)
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6. What imagery does Romeo use to describe Juliet?
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7. What is Juliet asking about Romeo on line 36? Then what does she “demand” on lines 37-39?
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8. When does Juliet realize Romeo is standing beneath her balcony? (What does she say that alludes to her
knowledge? Provide line #’s and pg. #, along with the first line of dialogue.)
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9. Was it dangerous for Romeo to sneak onto the Capulets’ property? What would happen if he were caught?
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10. What arrangements do Romeo and Juliet make for future meetings?
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11. What famous (well known) line near the end of the scene exemplifies hesitation and difficulty to leave one
another?
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12. After Juliet leaves the balcony for the last time, what does Romeo decide to do?
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Act II, scene iii
13. What does the Friar say about herbs, plants, and stones? (In other words, what practical lesson does he express
about their use?)
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14. Why does he think Romeo is visiting him at this time of day?
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15. How does Romeo respond to the Friar’s assumption?
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16. What does Romeo say to the Friar about his love for Juliet? What request does he make?
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17. What does the Friar criticize about Romeo once Romeo reveals he is talking about his enemy’s daughter?
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18. Do you think the Friar realized that Romeo never loved Rosaline and knew that Romeo was just in love with the
idea of love? Explain – do not respond with only “yes” or “no.”
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19. What is the Friar’s motive for agreeing to marry Romeo and Juliet?
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20. What warning does the Friar give Romeo when he urges haste (speed or rush)?
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Act II, scene iv
21. What does Mercutio still think is the cause of Romeo’s melancholy mood?
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22. What information does Benvolio share with Mercutio?
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23. What is the dramatic purpose of this information? In other words, how does this affect the action of the play?
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24. How does Mercutio describe Tybalt?
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Act II, scene iv Continued…

25. Explain “prince of cats.” Use the side note on the opposite page and/or look this up online.
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26. When Romeo enters, what conversation basically takes place between him and Mercutio?
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27. What does Mercutio notice about Romeo after this banter (teasing)?
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28. How do Mercutio’s comments make the Nurse feel?
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29. What instructions does Romeo send to Juliet via the Nurse?
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30. What does the Nurse tell Romeo about Paris?
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Act II, scene v
31. How does the Nurse’s long delay affect Juliet emotionally or mentally?
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32. Why do you think the Nurse delays Romeo’s message and dodges Juliet’s questions about Romeo?
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Act II, scene vi
33. What words of Friar Laurence at the beginning of this scene foreshadow what is soon to come to Romeo and
Juliet?
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34. How does Romeo express his love?
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35. What warning does the Friar give?
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36. What does the Friar do at the end of the scene?
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