Romeo and Juliet Reading Guides and Answer Keys

Help students achieve more purposeful reading experiences and sharpen their note-taking skills with this reading guide covering the entirety of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. In addition, this resource aims to facilitate review and future recall of plot. Students will identify what the text states explicitly, track character and plot development, articulate the context and significance of given quotations, and more. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. The following plot details are addressed:

• Feuding in the streets
• The prince’s declaration of punishment
• Romeo’s despair at lost love
• Rosaline’s decision
• Juliet’s refusal to accept marriage
• Lord Capulet’s beliefs toward the prospect of marriage
• Romeo’s invite to Lord Capulet’s party
• Paris
• Mercutio’s harsh, sarcastic tone toward Romeo’s heartbreak
• Queen Mab
• Romeo’s foreshadowing prediction
• Tybalt’s reaction to Romeo’s presence (in contrast to Capulet’s)
• Romeo’s discovery of Juliet’s identity
• Dramatic irony
• The rejection of names
• Romeo’s fear of rejection
• Juliet’s concern over acting hastily
• Juliet’s desire for Romeo to send her a message
• Friar Laurence’s beliefs on good and evil
• Friar Laurence’s concerns for Romeo
• Romeo’s request of Friar Laurence
• Friar Laurence’s optimistic view of the union of Romeo and Juliet
• The Nurse’s private conversation with Romeo
• The plan to marry Juliet
• The Nurse’s comic relief
• Tybalt’s verbal attack on Romeo
• Dramatic irony
• Mercutio’s decision to fight Tybalt
• Romeo’s abrupt character change
• Defying the prince’s orders
• Lady Capulet’s demand
• Romeo’s punishment
• The Nurse’s news and ensuing confusion
• Juliet’s immediate reaction to learning the truth
• Juliet’s defense of her husband
• The Nurse’s motivation to seek out Romeo
• Romeo’s feelings toward his punishment
• Friar Laurence’s strong words for Romeo
• Romeo’s potential suicide attempt
• Friar Laurence’s optimistic plan
• Lord Capulet’s arrangement with Paris
• Whether Romeo believes he will see his wife once more
• Foreshadowing
• Lady Capulet’s plan for Romeo after exile
• The Nurse’s advice to Juliet
• Juliet’s desire to seek Friar Laurence’s help
• Lord Capulet’s rush to marry off Juliet
• Lord Capulet’s threat to Juliet
• Juliet’s morbid confession to Friar Laurence
• The purpose of the vial
• Juliet’s request for forgiveness from her father
• Lord Capulet’s praise for Friar Laurence
• Juliet’s paranoia in regard to Friar Laurence’s motives
• The burial vault
• The Nurse’s terrible discovery
• Cancellation of the wedding
• Failure of Friar Laurence’s plan
• Romeo’s visit to the apothecary
• The apothecary’s concern
• Friar Laurence and the quarantine
• Friar John’s task
• Paris in the churchyard
• Balthasar’s news
• Romeo’s interaction with Paris
• Romeo’s suicide
• Juliet’s awakening
• Friar Laurence’s upsetting news
• Juliet’s method of suicide
• Lady Montague’s death
• The resolution
• And more