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Act III

Scene 1

1. How does Benvolio show himself to be a reasoning man?


2. What is Mercutio’s response? Is he correct?

3. How does Mercutio show himself to be the more reckless of the two?

4. Romeo enters. What is his response to Tybalt’s challenge and to Tybalt’s insult?

5. How does Mercutio react to Romeo’s refusal to fight with Tybalt?

6. In what way is Romeo responsible for Mercutio’s being stabbed?

7. In what way is Mercutio’s comment about his wound sarcastic?

8. What is Romeo’s reaction to Mercutio’s death?

9. What does Lady Capulet request of the Prince?

10. What slant does Benvolio put on his account of the fight?

11. What is Lady Capulet’s comment on Benvolio’s story?

12. What is the Prince’s decision?

Scene 2

1. As Juliet impatiently waits for night and Romeo’s visit, the Nurse arrives with news. What is her news, and in what manner does she present it?

2. Juliet’s first reaction is to call Romeo vile names for having killed Tybalt, but what is her second reaction?

3. Why does the Nurse, who is obviously fond of Tybalt, volunteer to go and get Romeo?

4. Where is Romeo hiding, what seems to be Juliet’s plan, and why does she give the Nurse her ring?

Scene 3

1. How does Romeo react to the news that he has been banished? What does he say he would prefer?

2. Why can’t Friar Lawrence, according to Romeo, truly understand Romeo’s feelings about Juliet and his banishment?

3. The Nurse arrives and informs Friar Lawrence and Romeo that Juliet, too, is crying just as Romeo is. Hearing of Juliet’s unhappiness and the hatred he supposes she feels toward him, he draws his knife to kill himself. What does Friar Lawrence accuse him of?

4. For what things does Friar Lawrence say Romeo should be happy?

5. What does Friar Lawrence then tell him to do?

Scene 4

1. In the conversation between Lord Capulet, his wife, and Paris, the reader learns that they have not yet spoken to Juliet about marrying Paris. What do they think is Juliet’s present cause of grief?

2. What decision does Lord Capulet make, and why does he make this decision?

Scene 5

1. What is happening in the interchange between Romeo and Juliet at the opening of this scene?

2. Lady Capulet enters and, seeing Juliet weeping at Romeo’s departure, believes the weeping is for Tybalt. Lady Capulet then vents her own anger at Romeo and discloses her plan to have him found and poisoned. Why does Juliet appear to speak ill of Romeo?

3. What news does Juliet’s mother bring?

4. What is Juliet’s response to her mother?

5. Why does Lord Capulet get so angry when he hears of Juliet’s desire not to marry?

6. What threats does Lord Capulet make to Juliet?

7. When the Nurse tries to speak up of Juliet, what is she told? Quote the line.

8. If forced to marry, what does Juliet threaten?

9. What is her mother’s response?

10. What is the Nurse’s advice, and how can she give that advice knowing how Juliet feels?

11. When Juliet hears this opinion, what is her decision regarding the Nurse?

12. Juliet tells the Nurse she is going to Friar Lawrence to confess her sins. Why is she really going there?