Romeo and Julietby William Shakespeare

Before, During, and After Reading Skills

Act I

Literary ResponseRomeo and Juliet Act I Scenes 1&2

 Read the play carefully and note the way the characters interact with each other and the

reasons behind their actions. 

Which character played the most important role in the first

two scenes?What did he/she do that you thought was so important?Explain your thoughts and ideas and use evidence from the text to support your

response.

Before Reading SkillsPrepare to Read

• Examine the literary and reading focus information on page 804.

• What literary elements do you think you should try to focus on as you read the play?

• How will reading Romeo and Juliet be similar to reading the other texts?

Before Reading SkillsPreview and Predictions

• Examine the text features located throughout the first two scenes.

(pages 806-821)

• Make a list of the things you “know” or “think you know” based only on the text features.

• Make a list of at least 3 things you want to know, but you need to read in order to find out.

• What genre or type of text do you think we are reading? Why?

During Reading SkillsStructure and Purpose of a

Drama

• The purpose of a drama is to entertain the audience and to present information/details about the characters.• The audience will learn about the

characters in several ways. Pay attention to the characters and try to keep them organized as you read.• You will be asked to create a

character chart to identify the characters and their character traits.

How do we learn about a character during a play?•What the characters say•What the characters do•What other characters

say about them•How other characters

treat them

Comprehension/Discussion Questions

Prologue page 807

1. Read the prologue and examine what information the author shares with us at the beginning of the play.

2. How is this information given to the audience?3. Use your poetry skills to analyze the meaning of

the prologue.4. Translate the information into prose.5. What questions do you have after reading the

prologue?

Act I Scene 1808-809

A. Analyzing Cause and Effect – What causes the Capulet servants Sampson and Gregory to draw their weapons?

???

B. Making Inferences – What can you infer about Sampson’s and Gregory’s character based on these speeches?

???

C. Analyzing Cause and Effect – What causes Gregory’s behavior toward the Montague servants to change?

???

Pages 810-817

Read the rest of the scene and respond to questions D-P on your own paper.

The Language of ShakespeareHow is the language of Shakespeare’s

Romeo and Juliet different from the language we use?

Identify the differences.Translate Shakespeare’s words into

modern language.Explain the meaning of important lines

from Act I of Romeo and Juliet.

Gregory to SampsonTo move is to stir, and to be valiant is to stand.Therefore, if thou art moved, thou run’st away.

Tybalt to BenvolioWhat, art thou drawn among these heartless

hinds?Turn thee, Benvolio; look upon thy death.

Montague and Lady MontagueThou villain Capulet! – Hold me not; let me go.

Thou shalt not stir one foot to seek a foe.

Romeo to MercutioIs love a tender thing? It is too rough,Too rude, too boist’rous, and it pricks like a

thorn

Romeo to MercutioPeace, peace, Mercutio, peace!Thou talk’st of nothing.

Nurse to JulietPeace, I have done. God mark thee to his

grace!Thou wast the prettiest babe that e’er I

nursed.And I might live to see thee married once, I

have my wish.

Lady Capulet to NurseI have rememb’red me; thou’s hear our

counsel.Thou knowest my daughter’s of a pretty age.

Lady Capulet to JulietWhat say you? Can you love the gentleman?This night you shall behold him at our feast.Read o’er the volume of young Paris’ face,And find delight writ there with beauty’s pen

Romeo and BenvolioGive me a torch. I am not for this ambling.Being but heavy, I will bear the light.

Nay, gentle Romeo, we must have you dance.

Romeo to BenvolioI fear too early, for my mind misgivesSome consequence yet hanging in the starsShall bitterly begin this fearful date.

CapuletWelcome, gentlemen! Ladies that have their

toesUnplagued by corns will walk about with you.

…

She that makes dainty,She I’ll swear hath corns.

RomeoDid my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight!For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night.

Tybalt and CapuletIt fits when such a villain is a guest.I’ll not endure him.

He shall be endured.What, goodman boy! I say he shall. Go to!Am I the master here or you? Go to!

TybaltI will withdraw; but this intrusion shall,Now seeming sweet, convert to bitt’rest gall.

Romeo and JulietO, then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do!They pray; grant thou, lest faith turn to

despair.

Saints do not move, though grant for prayers sake.

Then move not while my prayer’s effect I take.Thus from my lips, by thine my sin is purged.

JulietMy only love, sprung from my only hate!Too early seen unknown, and known too late!Prodigious birth of love it is to meThat I must love a loathed enemy.

L

Your Favorite LinesSelect a total of four lines from Act I

that you thought were important, interesting, funny, or odd.

Copy the lines, page(s), and character(s) involved.

Translate any words or phrases that need to be clarified.

Explain the meaning of the lines and what was happening in the play as the lines were being spoken.