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Romeo & Juliet Practice Questions

Question 1

34 marks

Read the following extract from Act 1 Scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet and then answer the question that follows.

At this point in the play a fight has broken out between Capulet and Montague servants in the street. Benvolio has tried to part them, and Tybalt has just arrived.

1TYBALT. What, drawn, and talk of peace? I hate the word
As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee:
Have at thee, coward.
[They fight.]
5Enter three or four Citizens with clubs.
FIRST CITIZEN. Clubs, bills and partisans! Strike! Beat them down!
Down with the Capulets! Down with the Montagues!
Enter Capulet in his gown, and Lady Capulet.
CAPULET. What noise is this? Give me my long sword, ho!
10LADY CAPULET. A crutch, a crutch! Why call you for a sword?
CAPULET. My sword, I say! Old Montague is come,
And flourishes his blade in spite of me.
Enter Montague and his Lady Montague.
MONTAGUE. Thou villain Capulet! Hold me not, let me go.
15LADY MONTAGUE. Thou shalt not stir one foot to seek a foe.
Enter Prince Escalus, with Attendants.
PRINCE. Rebellious subjects, enemies to peace,
Profaners of this neighbour-stained steel,—
Will they not hear? What, ho! You men, you beasts,
20That quench the fire of your pernicious rage
With purple fountains issuing from your veins,
On pain of torture, from those bloody hands
Throw your mistemper’d weapons to the ground
And hear the sentence of your moved prince.
25Three civil brawls, bred of an airy word,
By thee, old Capulet, and Montague,
Have thrice disturb’d the quiet of our streets,
And made Verona’s ancient citizens
Cast by their grave beseeming ornaments,
30To wield old partisans, in hands as old,
Canker’d with peace, to part your canker’d hate.
If ever you disturb our streets again,
Your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace.

From Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, Act 1 Scene 1.

Starting with this extract, explore how Shakespeare presents conflict and violence.

Write about:

  • how Shakespeare presents conflict and violence in this extract
  • how Shakespeare presents conflict and violence in the play as a whole.

[30 marks]
AO4 [4 marks]

Question 2

34 marks

Read the following extract from Act 2 Scene 2 of Romeo and Juliet and then answer the question that follows.

At this point in the play Romeo has climbed into the Capulets’ garden after the feast, and overhears Juliet speaking at her window.

1JULIET. 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.
5ROMEO. [Aside.] Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this?
JULIET. ’Tis but thy name that is my enemy;
Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.
What’s Montague? It is nor hand nor foot,
Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part
10Belonging to a man. O be some other name.
What’s in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet;
So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call’d,
Retain that dear perfection which he owes
15Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name,
And for thy name, which is no part of thee,
Take all myself.
ROMEO. I take thee at thy word.
Call me but love, and I’ll be new baptis’d;
20Henceforth I never will be Romeo.
JULIET. What man art thou that, thus bescreen’d in night
So stumblest on my counsel?
ROMEO. By a name
I know not how to tell thee who I am:
25My name, dear saint, is hateful to myself,
Because it is an enemy to thee.
Had I it written, I would tear the word.

From Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, Act 2 Scene 2.

Starting with this conversation, explore how Shakespeare presents the love between Romeo and Juliet.

Write about:

  • how Shakespeare presents the love between Romeo and Juliet in this conversation
  • how Shakespeare presents the love between Romeo and Juliet in the play as a whole.

[30 marks]
AO4 [4 marks]

Question 3

34 marks

Read the following extract from Act 2 Scene 3 of Romeo and Juliet and then answer the question that follows.

At this point in the play Romeo has come to Friar Lawrence’s cell early in the morning, after the balcony scene, and has asked the Friar to marry him to Juliet that same day.

1FRIAR LAWRENCE. Holy Saint Francis! What a change is here!
Is Rosaline, that thou didst love so dear,
So soon forsaken? Young men’s love then lies
Not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes.
5Jesu Maria, what a deal of brine
Hath wash’d thy sallow cheeks for Rosaline!
How much salt water thrown away in waste,
To season love, that of it doth not taste.
The sun not yet thy sighs from heaven clears,
10Thy old groans yet ring in mine ancient ears.
Lo here upon thy cheek the stain doth sit
Of an old tear that is not wash’d off yet.
If ere thou wast thyself, and these woes thine,
Thou and these woes were all for Rosaline,
15And art thou chang’d? Pronounce this sentence then,
Women may fall, when there’s no strength in men.
ROMEO. Thou chidd’st me oft for loving Rosaline.
FRIAR LAWRENCE. For doting, not for loving, pupil mine.
ROMEO. And bad’st me bury love.
20FRIAR LAWRENCE. Not in a grave
To lay one in, another out to have.
ROMEO. I pray thee chide me not, her I love now
Doth grace for grace and love for love allow.
The other did not so.
25FRIAR LAWRENCE. O, she knew well
Thy love did read by rote, that could not spell.
But come young waverer, come go with me,
In one respect I’ll thy assistant be;
For this alliance may so happy prove,
30To turn your households’ rancour to pure love.
ROMEO. O let us hence; I stand on sudden haste.
FRIAR LAWRENCE. Wisely and slow; they stumble that run fast.

From Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, Act 2 Scene 3.

Starting with this conversation, explore how far Shakespeare presents Romeo as an impulsive young man.

Write about:

  • how Shakespeare presents Romeo in this conversation
  • how far Shakespeare presents Romeo as an impulsive young man in the play as a whole.

[30 marks]
AO4 [4 marks]

Question 4

34 marks

Read the following extract from Act 2 Scene 5 of Romeo and Juliet and then answer the question that follows.

At this point in the play Juliet has waited impatiently for the Nurse to come back with Romeo’s message about their marriage. The Nurse has returned but keeps delaying the news.

1JULIET. No, no. But all this did I know before.
What says he of our marriage? What of that?
NURSE. Lord, how my head aches! What a head have I!
It beats as it would fall in twenty pieces.
5My back o’ t’other side,—O my back, my back!
Beshrew your heart for sending me about
To catch my death with jauncing up and down.
JULIET. I’faith, I am sorry that thou art not well.
Sweet, sweet, sweet Nurse, tell me, what says my love?
10NURSE. Your love says like an honest gentleman,
And a courteous, and a kind, and a handsome,
And I warrant a virtuous,—Where is your mother?
JULIET. Where is my mother? Why, she is within.
Where should she be? How oddly thou repliest.
15‘Your love says, like an honest gentleman,
‘Where is your mother?’
NURSE. O God’s lady dear,
Are you so hot? Marry, come up, I trow.
Is this the poultice for my aching bones?
20Henceforward do your messages yourself.
JULIET. Here’s such a coil. Come, what says Romeo?
NURSE. Have you got leave to go to shrift today?
JULIET. I have.
NURSE. Then hie you hence to Friar Lawrence’ cell;
25There stays a husband to make you a wife.
Now comes the wanton blood up in your cheeks,
They’ll be in scarlet straight at any news.
Hie you to church. I must another way,
To fetch a ladder by the which your love
30Must climb a bird’s nest soon when it is dark.
I am the drudge, and toil in your delight;
But you shall bear the burden soon at night.
Go. I’ll to dinner; hie you to the cell.
JULIET. Hie to high fortune! Honest Nurse, farewell.

From Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, Act 2 Scene 5.

Starting with this conversation, explore how Shakespeare presents the relationship between Juliet and the Nurse.

Write about:

  • how Shakespeare presents the relationship between Juliet and the Nurse in this conversation
  • how Shakespeare presents the relationship between Juliet and the Nurse in the play as a whole.

[30 marks]
AO4 [4 marks]

Question 5

34 marks

Read the following extract from Act 3 Scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet and then answer the question that follows.

At this point in the play Tybalt has challenged Romeo to fight. Romeo, who has just secretly married Juliet, has refused.

1MERCUTIO. O calm, dishonourable, vile submission!
[Draws.] Alla stoccata carries it away.
Tybalt, you rat-catcher, will you walk?
TYBALT. What wouldst thou have with me?
5MERCUTIO. Good King of Cats, nothing but one of your nine lives; that I mean to
make bold withal, and, as you shall use me hereafter, dry-beat the rest
of the eight. Will you pluck your sword out of his pilcher by the ears?
Make haste, lest mine be about your ears ere it be out.
TYBALT. [Drawing.] I am for you.
10ROMEO. Gentle Mercutio, put thy rapier up.
MERCUTIO. Come, sir, your passado.
[They fight.]
ROMEO. Draw, Benvolio; beat down their weapons.
Gentlemen, for shame, forbear this outrage,
15Tybalt, Mercutio, the Prince expressly hath
Forbid this bandying in Verona streets.
Hold, Tybalt! Good Mercutio!
[Exeunt Tybalt with his Partizans.]
MERCUTIO. I am hurt.
20A plague o’ both your houses. I am sped.
Is he gone, and hath nothing?
BENVOLIO. What, art thou hurt?
MERCUTIO. Ay, ay, a scratch, a scratch. Marry, ’tis enough.
Where is my page? Go villain, fetch a surgeon.
25[Exit Page.]
ROMEO. Courage, man; the hurt cannot be much.
MERCUTIO. No, ’tis not so deep as a well, nor so wide as a church door, but ’tis
enough, ’twill serve. Ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a
grave man. I am peppered, I warrant, for this world. A plague o’ both
30your houses. Zounds, a dog, a rat, a mouse, a cat, to scratch a man to
death. A braggart, a rogue, a villain, that fights by the book of
arithmetic!—Why the devil came you between us? I was hurt under your
arm.

From Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, Act 3 Scene 1.

Starting with this extract, explore how Shakespeare presents Mercutio.

Write about:

  • how Shakespeare presents Mercutio in this extract
  • how Shakespeare presents Mercutio in the play as a whole.

[30 marks]
AO4 [4 marks]

Question 6

34 marks

Read the following extract from Act 3 Scene 5 of Romeo and Juliet and then answer the question that follows.

At this point in the play Lady Capulet has told Juliet she is to marry Paris on Thursday, and Juliet has refused. Capulet has just arrived and asked whether his wife has given Juliet the news.

1LADY CAPULET. Ay, sir; but she will none, she gives you thanks.
I would the fool were married to her grave.
CAPULET. Soft. Take me with you, take me with you, wife.
How, will she none? Doth she not give us thanks?
5Is she not proud? Doth she not count her blest,
Unworthy as she is, that we have wrought
So worthy a gentleman to be her bridegroom?
JULIET. Not proud you have, but thankful that you have.
Proud can I never be of what I hate;
10But thankful even for hate that is meant love.
CAPULET. How now, how now, chopp’d logic? What is this?
Proud, and, I thank you, and I thank you not;
And yet not proud. Mistress minion you,
Thank me no thankings, nor proud me no prouds,
15But fettle your fine joints ’gainst Thursday next
To go with Paris to Saint Peter’s Church,
Or I will drag thee on a hurdle thither.
Out, you green-sickness carrion! Out, you baggage!
You tallow-face!
20LADY CAPULET. Fie, fie! What, are you mad?
JULIET. Good father, I beseech you on my knees,
Hear me with patience but to speak a word.
CAPULET. Hang thee young baggage, disobedient wretch!
I tell thee what,—get thee to church a Thursday,
25Or never after look me in the face.
Speak not, reply not, do not answer me.
My fingers itch. Wife, we scarce thought us blest
That God had lent us but this only child;
But now I see this one is one too much,
30And that we have a curse in having her.
Out on her, hilding.

From Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, Act 3 Scene 5.

Starting with this extract, explore how Shakespeare presents Juliet’s relationship with her parents.

Write about:

  • how Shakespeare presents Juliet’s relationship with her parents in this extract
  • how Shakespeare presents Juliet’s relationship with her parents in the play as a whole.

[30 marks]
AO4 [4 marks]

Question 7

34 marks

Read the following extract from Act 4 Scene 3 of Romeo and Juliet and then answer the question that follows.

At this point in the play it is the night before Juliet’s wedding to Paris. She has just sent away her mother and the Nurse, and is alone with the potion Friar Lawrence has given her.

1JULIET. Farewell. God knows when we shall meet again.
I have a faint cold fear thrills through my veins
That almost freezes up the heat of life.
I’ll call them back again to comfort me.
5Nurse!—What should she do here?
My dismal scene I needs must act alone.
Come, vial.
What if this mixture do not work at all?
Shall I be married then tomorrow morning?
10No, No! This shall forbid it. Lie thou there.
[Laying down her dagger.]
What if it be a poison, which the Friar
Subtly hath minister’d to have me dead,
Lest in this marriage he should be dishonour’d,
15Because he married me before to Romeo?
I fear it is. And yet methinks it should not,
For he hath still been tried a holy man.
How if, when I am laid into the tomb,
I wake before the time that Romeo
20Come to redeem me? There’s a fearful point!
Shall I not then be stifled in the vault,
To whose foul mouth no healthsome air breathes in,
And there die strangled ere my Romeo comes?

From Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, Act 4 Scene 3.

Starting with this speech, explore how far Shakespeare presents Juliet as a strong female character.

Write about:

  • how Shakespeare presents Juliet in this speech
  • how far Shakespeare presents Juliet as a strong female character in the play as a whole.

[30 marks]
AO4 [4 marks]

Question 8

34 marks

Read the following extract from Act 5 Scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet and then answer the question that follows.

At this point in the play Romeo is in exile in Mantua, waiting for news from Verona.

1ROMEO. If I may trust the flattering eye of sleep,
My dreams presage some joyful news at hand.
My bosom’s lord sits lightly in his throne;
And all this day an unaccustom’d spirit
5Lifts me above the ground with cheerful thoughts.
I dreamt my lady came and found me dead,—
Strange dream, that gives a dead man leave to think!—
And breath’d such life with kisses in my lips,
That I reviv’d, and was an emperor.
10Ah me, how sweet is love itself possess’d,
When but love’s shadows are so rich in joy.
Enter Balthasar.
News from Verona! How now, Balthasar?
Dost thou not bring me letters from the Friar?
15How doth my lady? Is my father well?
How fares my Juliet? That I ask again;
For nothing can be ill if she be well.
BALTHASAR. Then she is well, and nothing can be ill.
Her body sleeps in Capel’s monument,
20And her immortal part with angels lives.
I saw her laid low in her kindred’s vault,
And presently took post to tell it you.
O pardon me for bringing these ill news,
Since you did leave it for my office, sir.
25ROMEO. Is it even so? Then I defy you, stars!
Thou know’st my lodging. Get me ink and paper,
And hire post-horses. I will hence tonight.

From Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, Act 5 Scene 1.

Starting with this extract, explore how Shakespeare presents ideas about fate.

Write about:

  • how Shakespeare presents ideas about fate in this extract
  • how Shakespeare presents ideas about fate in the play as a whole.

[30 marks]
AO4 [4 marks]