1. Class Notes

2. The Prologue
Expresses the hatred separating the Montagues and Capulets
Use of Foreshadowing/Metaphor
“A Pair of star-crossed lovers take their life”

3. Act I, Scene 1
Setting - Verona in Italy

4. Act I, Scene 1 The Capulets (Juliet’s side) The Montagues
(Romeo’s side)
Samson
Gregory
Abram- Servant to Montague
Tybalt- Nephew of Lady Capulet
Benvolio- Nephew of Montague, friend to Romeo

5. Act I, Scene 4
Romeo, Mercutio, Benvolio, others about to make an appearance at the feast.
Romeo and Benvolio, Montague kin are not invited.
Enter wearing masks

6. Act I, Scene 4 Benvolio wants to have fun
Mercutio tries to talk Romeo into a better mood.
Romeo replies that he can't borrow Cupid's wings because he has been so badly wounded by Cupid's arrow.

7. Act I, Scene 4- Mercutio
Uses several puns, dirty jokes, and vivid descriptions.
"sink in it, should you burden love -- / Too great oppression for a tender thing" (1.4.24).
means that if Romeo is going to blame ("burden") love for his state of mind, he will only sink further into love.
also means that if he gets what he wants (sex) he will sink into the woman and be a burden to her.
Thinks Romeo is too serious
Love-sickness is caused by a lack of sex.

8. Act I, Scene 4- Mercutio
Romeo doesn’t believe that he can win the game of love and doesn’t want to play.
Mercutio tells Romeo to shut up about being "done" and to quit being a do-nothing.
Says that if Romeo is "done," he's Dun the horse (name of a log that people pulled out of mud during a Christmas game.)
Mercutio says that love is “bullcrap,” and that Romeo is stuck in it up to the ears.

9. Act I, Scene 4- Romeo’s Speech
Foreshadowing
chain of events ("consequence")
chain of events does terminate the duration ("expire the term") of Romeo's life with premature ("untimely") death.
Despite his premonitions, Romeo goes to Capulet's house.
Says that he is doing so because he is entrusting his fate to "He, that hath the steerage of my course." (God)

10. Act I, Scene 5- Romeo and Juliet Meet
The servant's bustle picks up the pace of the play.
Everything is speeding up.
Capulet welcomes everyone
speaks to Romeo's company when he says, "Welcome, gentlemen! ladies that have their toes / Unplagued with corns will walk a bout with you" ( ).
Making sure that these strangers in masks feel welcome.

11. Act I, Scene 5- Romeo and Juliet Meet
Romeo sees Juliet and falls in love with her instantly.
Tybalt recognizes Romeo’s voice and sends for his rapier to kill him.
Capulet insists on Tybalt’s obedience, reminding him of Romeo’s good character.

12. Act I, Scene 5- Romeo and Juliet Meet
Romeo and Juliet continue their exchanges and they kiss
interrupted by the Nurse, (sends Juliet to find her mother.)
Romeo realizes the grave consequences of their love.
Juliet discovers from the Nurse that Romeo is a Montague.

13. Act II, Prologue Quatrian (first four lines) has a sarcastic tone
Chorus foreshadows death
“desire death in his deathbead lie.”
“…love groaned for and would die.”
Romeo is willing to die for beauty

14. Act II, Scene 1
Romeo enters and speaks of his love for Juliet. He jumps over a Capulet wall, hoping to see her.
Mercutio mocks Romeo's feelings for Rosaline.
Benvolio suggests that they leave and go look for him.

15. Act II, Scene II The Capulet orchard
Romeo watches Juliet and starts to speak with her.
They proclaim their love for each other here.
Romeo and Juliet quickly agree to marry the next day at nine o'clock.
The Nurse calls for Juliet and she has to go. They say goodbye to each other for the night and exit.

16. Act II, Scene II - Juliet
Willing to denounce her family name to be with him:
"O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo?/ 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.“

17. Act II, Scene II - Names
The lovers go into a long discourse about names and how they are nothing more than words.
The fact that she is a Capulet by name and he is a Montague by name should not affect their love for each other like it does.
"'Tis but thy name that is my enemy. Thou art thyself, thou not a Montague. What's Montague? It is nor hand, nor foot, Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part Belonging to a man. O, be some other name! What's in a name? That which we call a rose By any other word would smell as sweet." Act 2, Scene 2, lines 38-44