1.
allusion: a reference to another work of literature, person, or event
2.
aside: a line spoken by an actor to the audience but not intended for others on the stage
3.
comedy: light and humorous drama with a happy ending
4.
comic relief: A humorous scene or speech intended to lighten the mood
5.
dramatic irony: when a reader is aware of something that a character isn't
6.
foil: enhance by contrast
7.
foreshadowing: the use of hints and clues to suggest what will happen later in a plot
8.
How does Friar Laurence feel about Romeo's request?: Not happy at first, because Romeo falls easily in love, but he finally agrees in the hopes of turning "the households' rancor to pure love"
9.
How does Juliet feel about the prospect of marriage?: Uncertain.
10.
How does Juliet respond when she finds out she is to marry Paris?: She's not happy. Threatens suicide.
11.
How does Juliet surprise her father when she comes home from Friar Laurence's cell?: She agrees to marry Paris.
12.
How does Lord Capulet respond to Juliet's refusal to marry Paris?: The threatens to disown her.
13.
How does Romeo manage to see Juliet after the party?: "Loves light wings".
14.
How is Romeo's reaction to Juliet's "dead" body dramatically ironic?: She's still "beautiful". We know that is because she's still allive.
15.
iambic: one unstressed syllable followed by one stressed syllable
16.
metaphor: a figure of speech in which an expression is used to refer to something that it does not literally denote in order to suggest a similarity (direct comparison, not using "like" or "as")
17.
monologue: a (usually long) dramatic speech by a single actor
18.
oxymoron: a figure of speech consisting of two apparently contradictory terms
19.
pentameter: a verse line having five metrical feet
20.
Pun: a humorous play on words
21.
Simile: comparison using like or as
22.
situational irony: An outcome that turns out to be very different from what was expected, the difference between what is expected to happen and what actually does
23.
soliloquy: a (usually long) dramatic speech intended to give the illusion of unspoken reflections
24.
sonnet: a verse form consisting of 14 lines with a fixed rhyme scheme
25.
tragedy: A serious form of drama dealing with the downfall of a heroic or noble character
26.
tragic hero: A literary character who makes an error of judgment or has a fatal flaw that, combined with fate and external forces, brings on a tragedy
27.
verbal irony: sarcasm
28.
What change does Capulet make to the wedding plans?: Moves them up a day.
29.
What did the Globe Theater look like?: Partially open to the elements, better seats covered, the "penny seats" for the "groundlings" were available for attendees to stand. Audience members were pretty roudy and responded to the action.
30.
What does Paris ask of Capulet?: For Juliet's hand in marriage.
31.
What does Romeo confide in Benvolio?: He's in love with Roseline and she's not in "love" with him.
32.
What fearful thoughts does Juliet have before she takes the potion?: Friar Laurence will try to kill her.
It won't work.
It will work but she'll wake up only to suffocate.
It will work, but she'll wake up only to lose her mind in the dark with her dead ancestors waiting for Romeo to save her.
33.
What happens to Romeo and Juliet?: Romeo drinks poison, Juliet stabs herself with a dagger.
34.
What is iambic pentameter?: The primary poetic technique employed in Romeo and Juliet. Most lines consist of 10 syllables with the stress placed on the second syllable in each pair.
35.
What is Paris's dieing wish?: To be laid in the tomb next to Juliet.
36.
What is the subject of Tybalt's letter to Romeo?: Dual!
37.
What news does Balthasar bring Romeo from Verona?: Juliet's dead.
38.
What plan does Friar Laurence devise to get Juliet out of her marriage with Paris?: Take a potion that will make her appear dead for 42 hours. Romeo will come and take her from the tomb to live in Mantua and wait until everything blows over.
39.
What sign of hope ends the play?: Families agree to erect a monument to their dead children.
40.
What was Shakespeare doing during the "lost years"?: Studying, traveling.
41.
What was typical of the Shakespearean stage of the time?: Limited staging, no lighting, elaborate costuming.
42.
Where did the productions of Shakespeare plays take place?: Globe theater, partially open to the elements, limited lighting, scenery, and staging. Productions took place during the day to accomodate light.
43.
Where was Shakespeare born?: Stratford-upon-Avon
44.
Who acted during Shakespeare's time?: Men and boys played female parts. Older men played older women for comedic affect.
45.
Who kills whom?: Romeo kills Tybalt because Tybalt killed Mercutio.
46.
Why didn't Friar Laurences' letter to Romeo get delivered?: Friar John was held back on suspicion of being in contact with the plague.
47.
Why does Benvolio urge Romeo to go to the party?: To find other women.
48.
Why does Juliet become angry with the Nurse and cut off personal communication with her?: The Nurse advises Juliet to marry Paris anyway, since nobody knows about her first marriage to Romeo.
49.
Why does Romeo initially refuse to fight Tybalt?: They are newly related by marriage.
50.
Why does Tybalt leave the party in anger?: Capulet won't kick Romeo out of the party.
51.
Why doesn't the Prince kill Romeo as he said he would?: Romeo was avenging Mercutio's murder. Mercutio was the Prince's kinsman.
52.
Why has Montegue been worried about Romeo?: He's been moping around, not sleeping much, and shutting himself in his room during the day.
53.
Why is the prince angry with Capulet and Montegue?: They've been fighting for some time.
54.
Why must Friar Laurence send a letter to Mantua?: So Romeo knows what's happening and doesn't overreact.
55.
Why was iambic pentameter important?: It is what "smart authors" did to prove they could follow a form. It also mimicked natural spoken English. Finally, it made for a rhythm that allowed for easy memorization of lines and recognition of lines in the audience.
