Week 14 Lesson Plans

Week 14 Lesson Plans
Monday
Wach Act V of Romeo and Juliet
Tuesday
Brown Bag Exam on Acts I-V
Wednesday
Watch Modern Version of Romeo and Juliet

Week 13 Lesson Plans

Here are the assignments for week 13


Homework
Act 4 notes Due Thursday
Romeo and Juliet summaries
Act 5 questions due Monday (you can use these note on your test)
Romeo and Juliet Test Tuesday Nov. 25th
Notes for grammar on using the right word

Memoirs

I am still offering 30 points extra credit for a new copy of your memoir to be included in our up coming book. The recent computer disaster ate all the memoirs. Be sure to send me a new copy.

Romeo and Juliet Project

Here are the directions for your Romeo and Juliet group project. The project deals with current issues faces teens. The project is due Nov.18th. We will go to the computer lab Nov.10th and Nov.17th

Check out this scrap blog

Google House Fire

Today due to some computer problems at work and my own stupidity, I deleted my school: docs, calendar, igoogle, and worst of all my classroom blog. I lost hundreds of documents, posts, research, and dates. For six months, I have been working daily on creating a completely digital classroom. I had recently completed this ambitious goals and today I lost hundreds of hours of work.

I am licking my wounds, picking up the scrapes, and starting again. It will take my months to recreate my work, but I am staring a new blog tonight for my students.

Extra Credit for Week 11

Please Visit Guide to Grammar and Writing and take two quizzes. The quizzes are at the bottom of the notes page. To get the extra credit, just post your name and quiz score to the comment section below.

Commas
Subject Verb Agreement

Weekly Lesson Plans

Week 12 Lesson Plans
Act III
Notes and Questions
Homework Due Thursday



See all Romeo and Juliet Notes

EOC Terms

EOC TERMS

Style is the particular way in which a writer uses language. Style reflects an author’s personality. Factors that contribute to an author’s style include level of formality, use of figurative language, diction or word choice, sentence patterns, and methods of organization.

Tone is the author’s attitude toward both the subject and readers or listeners. In conversations, you can hear a speaker’s tone in the way words and phrases are spoken. When reading, you can “hear” tone in an author’s choice of words and details. The tone of a literary work can often be described with a single word such as: pompous, playful, serious, personal, sarcastic, or friendly .

Perspective is the viewpoint or opinion an author expresses about the subject, either directly or indirectly. Bias occurs when a writer makes a one-sided presentation (for example, by ignoring relevant facts or by using emotional language that unfairly sways readers’ or listeners’ feelings).

Purpose is the author’s reason for writing. Common purposes are to inform, to persuade, to honor, to entertain, to explain, and to warn.

ricks for Passing the Editing and Composition section of the English I EOC

Introduction

The first section that you will encounter on the English I EOC is the editing and composition section. This part of the exam tests your reading and grammar skills. The problem with this section of the test is English teachers. English teachers are not the best test writers. In grammar and reading, there is often more than one right answer. Sometimes the answer choices given are very different from your own opinions. So even if you are great at grammar, this test can still be difficult. The good news is there are some short cuts you can use to outsmart the test makers and improve your score.

Hint One: Be Familiar with the Test

If you are familiar with the types of questions on the test, you won't waste time trying to figure out what the question is asking you to do. Instead you can go straight for the right answer. Try taking some practice tests before the real EOC. This way you can learn how the test is set-up. Over spring break take home one the EOC practice test books. You can get one from your English teacher. There is nothing worse than the feeling of looking at a test and having no idea what the test is asking of you. Don't be that person. Take some practice tests.

Hint Two: Avoiding Mass Confusion

The bozo test makers thought it would be a good idea to number all the sentences on the essays. This can cause big time confusion because it is easy to mix up the number of the sentence with the number of the question. Try highlighting the sentence that the question asks about. That way you won't waste time looking for the sentence over and over again. Remember you can mark all over the test booklet to help you find the answers.

Hint Three: An Essay You Don't Have to Read

Because this section is a grammar test and not a reading comprehension test, there is no reason to read the whole essay. You must simply read the sentences and paragraphs that the questions refer to. Some students, however, find it easier to read the whole essay first to scan for mistakes. If you like to read the essay before the questions, use a highlighter to mark any mistakes you find as you read. Try some practice tests to decide which style you like best.

Hint Four: Why Can't They Just Say What They Mean?

One of the problems students experience on the EOC is that they don't understand the question. Even great English students, sometimes have problems figuring out what a question means. Here are some key words that will help you figure out how to answer the questions correctly. Be sure to circle these words when you see them in a question. No matter what you are told, you can write on your test.

Key Words

• Fragment

Question: Which sentence is a fragment?

A fragment is an incomplete sentence. It is a missing a subject, verb, or complete thought. Often fragments start with words like when or if. The test wants you to find a incomplete sentence. All of the other answer choices will be complete sentences. You can spot the answer by crossing out all of the complete sentences first.

• Written Correctly

How could this sentence be written correctly?

This question wants you to find a complete sentence. All of the other choices will be sentence fragments. Simply eliminate all of the sentence fragments first, and you will be left with the correct answer. Sentence fragments and "written correctly' questions are usually right next to each other on the test and ask about the same sentences. Sometimes if you look closely the test will even give away an answer in the question.

• Run-on

Which sentence is a run-on?

This question wants you to find two sentences smashed together as one. Often a comma joins these sentences together. Remember a comma is not strong enough to join to complete sentences together. In this question all of the other answer choices will be complete sentences. To find the right answer look for a sentence that has two subjects and two verbs and is missing a coordinating conjunction.

• Combine

How could sentences one and two best be combined to enhance conciseness and variety?

These questions are hard. They want you to choose a compound sentence that does not change the meaning of the original sentences. Some of the answer choices will be run-on sentences or fragments and are easy to eliminate. Other answer choices will complete sentences, but they change the meaning of the sentences and must eliminate. You have to choose a correct sentence that keeps the meaning of the sentence the same. YUCK!

• Enhance and Conciseness

How could sentences one and two best be combined to enhance conciseness and variety?

Enhance is a fancy way of saying to make better. Conciseness means to make shorter and easier to read. You will see these to words in sentence combining questions.

• Sentence Varity

How could sentences one and two best be combined to enhance conciseness and variety?

Variety means to come up with different types of sentences. Often the correct answer might start with a subordinating conjunction (when, although, even though) or a prepositional phrase (to, at, during).

• Improve Organization

Which of the following improves the organization of the third paragraph?

In this question the test wants you to rearrange sentences so that the paragraph will be easier to read. Be sure to read the whole paragraph through a couple of times before you may your decision. You might also want to highlight the sentences that are possible answer choices. Often the right answer will include moving a sentence to the end of the paragraph because it sums up the main ideas in the paragraph and makes a good conclusion.

• Main idea

Which sentence best describes the main idea of this essay?

The main idea of a paragraph or chapter is what the whole selection is about. It is the most important idea in the paragraph, chapter, or essay. In this question you have to choose the sentence that describes the whole essay not just a part of it. The rest of the answer choices will be supporting details that only tell about part of the essay.

Using the right word click here to download notes for the grammar part of the test.

Drama Terms

Drama Terms

Intro to Shakespeare

Dramatic Elements

Contradiction between a character’s understanding and the actual situation

Aside
Short remark/speech delivered only for audience’s benefit
Often sarcastic
Usually reveal character’s true feelings, unbeknown to others on stage
Audiences tend to connect with characters who deliver asides, as they feel like their confidant

Soliloquy
Long speech while character is on stage alone
Audience is supposedly overhearing the private thoughts of character
Usually reveal character’s true feelings

Monologue
•Long speech addressing other characters on stage
•“Friends, Romans, countrymen…lend me your ears.” (Julius Caesar)

•Script
A script is the written words and directions of a play

•Plot
The plot is the storyline or arrangement of action.

•Character
A character is a person portrayed in a drama.

•Story Organization
The story organization is how a story is told – the beginning, middle and end.

•Setting
The setting is where the action takes place.

•Dialogue
A dialogue is a spoken conversation between two characters.

•Scenery
The scenery is theatrical equipment such as curtains, backdrops, and platforms to communicate the environment. An example might be trees to show a forest environment.


Acts and scenes are the basic units of drama. A drama may consist of one or more acts, each of which may contain any number of scenes.

•Stage directions tell how the work is to be performed, or staged. Providing details about sets, lighting, sound effects, props, costumes, and acting, directions are often printed in italics and set off in brackets. Some playwrights use abbreviations to provide additional direction about where on or offstage a speech may be delivered. These include O.S. for offstage; D.S., for downstage, or close to the audience, and U.S. for upstage, or far from the audience.

Poetry Notes

Poetry Terms

Blank Verse Power Point Notes
Poetry Terms Power Point
Sonnet Power Point

Poetry a rhythmic compressed language that uses comparisons and images to appeal to a reader's imagination and emotions.

Narrative poetry-a poem that tells a story

Lyric poetry-a pome that expresses emotion

Ballad-a poem that is meant to be sung

Rhyme-two or more words that repeat the same sound

Meter-the words create a kind of beat

Symbols-Some words feel special. They represent something beyond their literal meaning.

Repetition- Some phrases or words are repeated.

hyperbole-extreme exaggeration

meter-alternating lines of stressed and unstressed syllables that create a beat.

Common meter- alternating lines of iambic tetrameter and iambic trimeter.

Syllable- the smallest unit of spoken language

Iamb-two syllable units. Stress is placed on the second syllable

Tetrameter- four iambs (8 syllables that have a unstressed, stressed pattern)

Trimeter-three iambs (6 syllables that have a unstressed, stressed pattern)

Short Story Notes

Nonfiction-People, places, and events are real, and the story is told by a real person.
See page 2-5 of your textbook

Figurative Language- Writing that is not meant to be taken literally. It is used to create vivid impressions by comparing two unlike things.
She was as big as a house.
Here hair glowed like fire.

Metaphor is a direct comparison
if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.

Simile is an indirect comparison
She was as big as a house

Plot-the events of a story. A story must a have an exposition, rising action, climax, and falling action. (Beginning, Middle, and End)

Setting is the time and place of a story

Theme is the big idea in the story

Conflict- the big problem in the story -
Man against Man - where a character or characters in a story pose a problem to another.-
Man against Nature - where natural conditions (calamities and disasters) pose a problem to the character(s).-
Man against Himself - where the character's own imperfections pose a problem to the character.
Man against Society - where the rules, norms, values, systems and structures of a society pose a problem to the characters.




Irony is the difference between appearance and reality.

mood the feeling a story creates in the reader
eerie, suspenseful, dark, spooky
uplifting, sad, funny

Dialect is the form of language spoken by a particular group.
Dialect effects the pronunciation, vocabulary, and sentence structure.
Listen to examples online and compare to transcript
English

Characterization creating and developing a characters personality and appearance. Characterization is done through action, dialogue, and description.

Foreshadowing-hints to future events in the story.
Short Story Terms Power Point
Foreshadowing in MDG (the shots, animal cry, and blood Rainsford sees on the island)

Protagonist: Main Character in the story

Antagonist: The person the character struggles against
(these characters are not always good or bad)

Dynamic and Static characters
Dynamic character is a character who changes during the course of the story. (Rainsford)
Static character is a character who stays the same. (Grandma Cain)

Grammar Notes

Grammar Power Point Review

Action Verb-A verb is an action anything you can do is a verb.
Run, jump, play, read, think, wish, create, cry, panic, fart

Being Verb- a verb is a state of being. Being means the words: be, been, being, is, are, and was, were

Helping Verbs-Being verbs are called helping verbs when they are next to action verbs.
Be, been, being, is, are, was, and were
was being, should be, had been, might have been
do, does, did,
shall, should, will, would, can, could,
may, might, must

Helping verbs are next to action verbs. Helping verbs help complete the action.
Be, been, being, is, are, was, and were
was being, should be, had been, might have been
do, does, did,
shall, should, will, would, can, could,
may, might, must
Find the verbs in these sentences
I should have finished my homework.
I am running five miles tonight.
Michael will be talking to his mother tomorrow.


Noun is a person place thing or idea

Concrete noun is a person place or thing

Abstract noun is an idea

Pronoun takes the place of nouns that name a person or thing
I, me, she, her, he, him, we, you, they, it

Adjective describe a noun
young, pretty, sexy, red, tall, short, fat, gooey
Adverb describes a verb, adjective, or an adverb
very, often, slow, fast,

He skillfully creates superb dishes.
Nan played exceptionally well this spring.
We eagerly went to the beach.

Interjection a word that expresses emotion. It has no other relations to any other words in the sentence. oh, wow, yikes
Conjunction join words and sentences together
and, but, or, nor, so, yet
My sister and I went to school.
The dog died but not the cat.
We played and ate all day.
My mom is a nurse, and my dad is a doctor.

A Complete Sentence-has a noun, a verb, and a complete thought.

Sentences that can be used to correct run-on sentences

A run-on sentence is complete sentences smashed together as one. Here are three options for correcting a run-on.

Example run-on
Kelly came with us, Sue stayed home.

This sentence is wrong because a comma is not strong enough to hold to ideas together.

Option 1 A comma and a conjunction
Kelly came with us, but Sue stayed home.

Option 2 Semicolon
Kelly came with us; Sue stayed home.

Option 3 Complex Sentence
Although Kelly came with us, Sue stayed home.

Comma Notes
• Use a comma to separate the elements in a series (three or more things), including the last two. "He hit the ball, dropped the bat, and ran to first base."
• Use a comma + a little conjunction (and, but, for, nor, yet, or, so) to connect two independent clauses, as in "He hit the ball well, but he ran toward third base."
• Use a comma to set off introductory elements, as in "Running toward third base, he suddenly realized how stupid he looked."
• Use a comma to set off parenthetical elements, as in "The Founders Bridge, which spans the Connecticut River, is falling down." By "parenthetical element," we mean a part of a sentence that can be removed without changing the essential meaning of that sentence.
• Appositives are almost always treated as parenthetical elements.
• Calhoun's ambition, to become a goalie in professional soccer, is within his reach.
• Eleanor, his wife of thirty years, suddenly decided to open her own business.
• Use a comma to separate coordinate adjectives. You could think of this as "That tall, distinguished, good looking fellow" rule (as opposed to "the little old lady"). If you can put an and or a but between the adjectives, a comma will probably belong there. For instance, you could say, "He is a tall and distinguished fellow" or "I live in a very old and run-down house." So you would write, "He is a tall, distinguished man" and "I live in a very old, run-down house." But you would probably not say, "She is a little and old lady," or "I live in a little and purple house," so commas would not appear between little and old or between little and
• Use a comma to set off quoted elements. Summing up this argument, Peter Coveney writes, "The purpose and strength of the romantic image of the child had been above all to establish a relation between childhood and adult consciousness."
• "The question is," said Alice, "whether you can make words mean so many things."
• "I should like to buy an egg, please," she said timidly. "How do you sell them?"
• Grammar English's Famous Rule of Punctuation: Never use only one comma between a subject and its verb.
Subject Verb Agreement Notes
• Basic Principle: Singular subjects need singular verbs; plural subjects need plural verbs. My brother is a nutritionist. My sisters are mathematicians.
• The indefinite pronouns anyone, everyone, someone, no one, nobody are always singular and, therefore, require singular verbs.
• Everyone has done his or her homework.
• Somebody has left her purse.
Some indefinite pronouns — such as all, some — are singular or plural depending on what they're referring to. (Is the thing referred to countable or not?) Be careful choosing a verb to accompany such pronouns.
• Some of the beads are missing.
• Some of the water is gone.
The conjunction or does not conjoin (as and does): when nor or or is used the subject closer to the verb determines the number of the verb. Whether the subject comes before or after the verb doesn't matter; the proximity determines the number.
• Either my father or my brothers are going to sell the house.
• Neither my brothers nor my father is going to sell the house.

Capitalization
The first word of every sentence.
The first-person singular pronoun, I.
The first, last, and important words in a title. (The concept "important words" usually does not include articles, short prepositions (which means you might want to capitalize "towards" or "between," say), the "to" of an infinitive, and coordinating conjunctions. This is not true in APA Reference lists (where we capitalize only the first word), nor is it necessarily true for titles in other languages. Also, on book jackets, aesthetic considerations will sometimes override the rules.)
Proper nouns
Specific persons and things: George W. Bush, the White House, General Motors Corporation.
Specific geographical locations: Hartford, Connecticut, Africa, Forest Park Zoo, Lake Erie, the Northeast, the Southend. However, we do not capitalize compass directions or locations that aren't being used as names: the north side of the city; we're leaving the Northwest and heading south this winter. When we combine proper nouns, we capitalize attributive words when they precede place-names, as in Lakes Erie and Ontario, but the opposite happens when the order is reversed: the Appalachian and Adirondack mountains. When a term is used descriptively, as opposed to being an actual part of a proper noun, do not capitalize it, as in "The California deserts do not get as hot as the Sahara Desert."
Names of celestial bodies: Mars, Saturn, the Milky Way. Do not, howver, capitalize earth, moon, sun, except when those names appear in a context in which other (capitalized) celestial bodies are mentioned. "I like it here on earth," but "It is further from Earth to Mars than it is from Mercury to the Sun.
Names of newspapers and journals. Do not, however, capitalize the word the, even when it is part of the newspaper's title: the Hartford Courant.
Days of the week, months, holidays. Do not, however, capitalize the names of seasons (spring, summer, fall, autumn, winter). "Next winter, we're traveling south; by spring, we'll be back up north."
Historical events: World War I, the Renaissance, the Crusades.
Races, nationalities, languages: Swedes, Swedish, African American, Jewish, French, Native American. (Most writers do not capitalize whites, blacks.)
Names of religions and religious terms: God, Christ, Allah, Buddha, Christianity, Christians, Judaism, Jews, Islam, Muslims.
Names of courses: Economics, Biology 101. (However, we would write: "I'm taking courses in biology and earth science this summer.")
Brand names: Tide, Maytag, Chevrolet.
Names of relationships only when they are a part of or a substitute for a person's name. (Often this means that when there is a modifier, such as a possessive pronoun, in front of such a word, we do not capitalize it.)
Let's go visit Grandmother today. Let's go visit my grandmother today.
I remember Uncle Arthur. I remember my Uncle Arthur. My uncle is unforgettable.
This also means that we don't normally capitalize the name of a "vocative" or term of endearment:
Can you get the paper for me, hon?
Drop the gun, sweetie. I didn't mean it.


Capitalizing People's Titles
and the Names of Political Entities
One of the most frequently asked questions about capitalization is whether or not to capitalize people's job titles or the names of political or quasi-political entities. Most writing manuals nowadays seem to align themselves with the tendency in journalistic circles: less is better. When a title appears as part of a person's name, usually before the name, it is capitalized: Professor Farbman (or Professor of Physics Herschel Farbman), Mayor Perez, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell. On the other hand, when the title appears after the name, it is not capitalized: Herschel Farbman, professor of history; Eddie Perez, mayor of the city of Hartford; Juan Carlos, king of Spain. Although we don't capitalize "professor of history" after the individual's name, we would capitalize department and program names when they are used in full*: "He worked in the Department of Behavioral Sciences before he started to teach physics." (We do not capitalize majors or academic disciplines unless they refer to a language, ethnic group, or geographical entity: Roundbottom is an economics major, but he loves his courses in French and East European studies.)

1. FOUR WAYS TO COMBINE SENTENCES
   1. Use a period (S1. S2.)

Ø The girl liked the boy. The boy did not like the girl.

2. Use a semicolon (S1; s2.)

Ø The girl liked the boy; the boy did not like the girl.

3. Use a comma and a conjunction (S1, cc s2.)

Ø The girl liked the boy, but the boy did not like the girl.

4. Use a semicolon, a transition word, and a comma (S1; t, s2.)

Ø The girl liked the boy; however, the boy did not like the girl.

2. COMMA RULES
   1. Between two adjectives of equal rank

Ø The hot, sandy beach is beautiful.

2. Between three or more parallel items in a series

Ø I like hiking, running, and bowling.

Ø Jennifer ate cereal, grapefruit, and bacon.

Ø I went to the mall, played with my dog, and ran six miles.

3. After introductory phrases

Ø In the middle of the night, I got up to get some water.

Ø Under the large oak tree, we ate grapes and crackers.

Ø When I am late for school, my first period teacher gets angry.

Ø If you won’t leave me alone, I will go to the principal.

Ø As you can see, our football team is the best.

Ø Although I really like Italian food, Chinese is my favorite.

4. To introduce quotes or to end quotes and continue a thought

Ø John said, “Come here for a second.”

Ø “You are so funny,” Amy laughed.

5. To set off nouns of direct address (in other words, to set off names when someone is talking to someone else and using his or her name)

Ø Tim, could you come here?

Ø Just listen, Maggie, and you will understand what I am talking about.

Ø I really want you to come back home, Ted.

6. To set off nonessential information (extra information that is not needed to make the sentence a complete thought)

Ø The interstate, which was built in 1953, makes it easier to get to work.

Ø Morganton, located twenty miles from here, is overpopulated.

Ø The math teacher, I believe, is the best we have.

Ø This class, in my opinion, is very boring.

7. To set off appositives (when something is renamed)

Ø Kim, a girl in my class, yelled at the teacher.

Ø Mrs. Jones, my third grade teacher, was really nice.

8. Between two sentences joined with a conjunction (FANBOYS = for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so)

Ø I like to play basketball, and I like to play football.

Ø Jennifer runs track, but she doesn’t play volleyball.

Ø I can go with you, or I can stay at John’s house.

Ø I will study, for I want to go to college.

Ø She does not like carrots, so she picked them out of her salad.

9. Between a city and a state

Ø I live in Asheville, North Carolina.

Ø I work in Marion, North Carolina.

3. CAPITALIZATION
   1. Capitalize proper nouns
   2. Capitalize all languages, continents, countries, cities, and nationalities

Ø American, British, German, New York, Russian, South America, Marion, Georgia, Vietnamese, etc.

4. WATCH FOR SPELLING ERRORS

5. PARALLELISM
   1. The same grammatical forms/structures must be used to balance related ideas in a sentence

Ø I like to run, to play, and to sing.

Ø I enjoy going to the mountains, traveling to the beach, and flying to the Bahamas.

Ø My parents promised to buy me a video camera and to let me use it on a field trip.

6. REMEMBER THE CORRECT FORM OF PRONOUNS
   1. These are not words: Hisself, Theirself, Theirselves, Themselfs
   2. These are the correct words: Himself and Themselves

7. “Lets” is NOT a word (you must use an apostrophe before the s!)
   1. Let’s = let us

Ø Let’s go to the mall.

Ø Let’s eat at McDonald’s.

8. PUNCTUATING TITLES
   1. Underline anything that can stand alone

Ø Novels

Ø Plays

Ø Epics

Ø Movies

Ø CDs

2. Use quotations marks for anything that is shorter or is a part of something larger

Ø Short Stories

Ø Poems

Ø Songs

Ø Television Programs

3. Some of the selections we read in English I are To Kill a Mockingbird, “The Scarlet Ibis,” The Odyssey, “Casey at the Bat,” and Romeo and Juliet.
4. My favorite song is “Crash Into Me,” and my favorite album is Purple Rain.

9. VERB TENSE IN A PASSAGE
   1. Remember that most selections are written in present tense. If the verb in question is in past tense, quickly scan other verbs in the selection to see what tense they are in . . . Nine times out of ten, the passage will be written in present tense.

10. WRITE OUT NUMBERS
    1. Always write out numbers 1 – 10

Ø I have one cat and two dogs.

Ø My family owns three cars.

2. Write out numbers 10 – 99 if there is a choice
3. Always write out any number that begins a sentence (even if it is larger than 100)

Ø Four hundred men marched through Berlin.

Ø One million dollars is the prize money.

11. INTERRUPTING WORDS
    1. Some words can function as both transition words and interrupters

Ø These transition words come between two complete sentences. They are preceded by a semicolon and followed by a comma.

1. I like lasagna; however, spaghetti is my favorite food.

2. Jenna is pretty; moreover, she is homecoming queen.

3. I run cross country; furthermore, I run track.

Ø These interrupters simply interrupt the normal flow of the sentence and do not join two sentences. Commas surround them.

1. Sheila, however, is too loud.

2. I ran to the store, but John, however, walked.

3. However, the mall closes at nine.

12. DOUBLE NEGATIVES
    1. Do not use two negative words in one sentence

Ø Not, no, none, nothing, never, hardly, barely, scarcely

Ø couldn’t, shouldn’t, wouldn’t, won’t, can’t, couldn’t, don’t, doesn’t, wasn’t, isn’t, weren’t, aren’t

13. SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT
    1. Singular subjects require singular verbs (singular verbs end in “s”)

Ø Ms. Ward wants her students to do well on the EOC.

2. Plural subjects require plural verbs (plural verbs do not end in “s”)

Ø The students want to do well on the EOC.

3. Make sure you identify the true subject à your subject will not come after the preposition “of”

Ø One of the girls wants to go to the dance.

Ø Many of the students want to go to the dance.

14. ACTIVE VS. PASSIVE VOICE
    1. Use active voice in writing
    2. Active Voice = subject comes before the verb

Ø Ms. Ward teaches her students English.

3. Passive Voice = verb comes before the subject

Ø The students are taught English by Ms. Ward.

4. To find the subject, identify the verb and ask who or what is completing the action of the verb à make sure the sentence is active by determining if the subject appears before the verb in the sentence à if not, re-write the sentence by moving the subject in front of the verb and making the verb agree with the new subject

15. POSSESSIVE NOUNS
    1. Be sure apostrophes in possessive nouns are used correctly
    2. Rules for making nouns possessive

Ø Singular: add ‘s (cat’s tail)

Ø Plural that ends in “s”: add ‘ after the s (cats’ tails)

Ø Plural that doesn’t end in “s”: add ‘s (children’s books)

3. Remember not to put apostrophes in possessive pronouns

Ø His, hers, yours, ours, theirs, its

16. INCORRECT USAGE
    1. Would of, should of, could of à INCORRECT!

Ø Would have, should have, could have

17. FRAGMENTS
    1. Group of words that does not express a complete thought
    2. Make sure the sentence has a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought

18. RUN-ONS
    1. Two or more sentences joined incorrectly

Ø No punctuation or conjunctions

Ø No comma before coordinating conjunction

Ø Several sentences joined with conjunctions

Ø Two sentences joined with only a comma

19. COMMA SPLICE
    1. Incorrectly joining two sentences with only a comma
    2. Must put a conjunction after the comma

Ø I was sick on Monday, I stayed home from school. (comma splice)

Ø I was sick on Monday, so I stayed home from school. (correct)

20. Your = possessive pronoun (means belonging to you)

You’re = contraction of “you are”

1. Your mother wants you to call her.
2. You’re going to do well on this test, right?

21. Their = possessive pronoun (means belonging to them)

There = referring to a place or point

They’re = contraction of “they are”

a. Their mother wants them to come home.

b. The tree over there is the one we want to climb.

c. They’re coming to the movies with us tonight.

22. Its = possessive pronoun (means belonging to it)

It’s = contraction of “it is”

1. It’s a crying shame you failed that test.

b. I have a dog. Its mother was a boxer, and its father was a golden lab.

Act Summarizes for Romeo and Juliet

English I

Ms. Harrington

Romeo and Juliet

Act 1 Summaries

Prologue

As a prologue to the play, the Chorus enters. In a fourteen-line sonnet, the Chorus describes two noble households (called “houses”) in the city of Verona. The houses hold an “ancient grudge” (Prologue.2) against each other that remains a source of violent and bloody conflict. The Chorus states that from these two houses, two “star-crossed” (Prologue.6) lovers will appear. These lovers will mend the quarrel between their families by dying. The story of these two lovers, and of the terrible strife between their families, will be the topic of this play.

Act I, scene i

Sampson and Gregory, two servants of the house of Capulet, stroll through the streets of Verona. With bawdy banter, Sampson vents his hatred of the house of Montague. The two exchange punning remarks about physically conquering Montague men and sexually conquering Montague women. Gregory sees two Montague servants approaching, and discusses with Sampson the best way to provoke them into a fight without breaking the law. Sampson bites his thumb at the Montagues—a highly insulting gesture. A verbal confrontation quickly escalates into a fight. Benvolio, a kinsman to Montague, enters and draws his sword in an attempt to stop the confrontation. Tybalt, a kinsman to Capulet, sees Benvolio’s drawn sword and draws his own. Benvolio explains that he is merely trying to keep the peace, but Tybalt professes a hatred for peace as strong as his hatred for Montagues, and attacks. The brawl spreads. A group of citizens bearing clubs attempts to restore the peace by beating down the combatants. Montague and Capulet enter, and only their wives prevent them from attacking one another. Prince Escalus arrives and commands the fighting stop on penalty of torture. The Capulets and Montagues throw down their weapons. The Prince declares the violence between the two families has gone on for too long, and proclaims a death sentence upon anyone who disturbs the civil peace again. He says that he will speak to Capulet and Montague more directly on this matter; Capulet exits with him, the brawlers disperse, and Benvolio is left alone with his uncle and aunt, Montague and Lady Montague.

Benvolio describes to Montague how the brawl started. Lady Montague asks whether Benvolio has seen her son, Romeo. Benvolio replies that he earlier saw Romeo pacing through a grove of sycamores outside the city; since Romeo seemed troubled, Benvolio did not speak to him. Concerned about their son, the Montagues tell Benvolio that Romeo has often been seen melancholy, walking alone among the sycamores. They add that they have tried to discover what troubles him, but have had no success. Benvolio sees Romeo approaching, and promises to find out the reason for his melancholy. The Montagues quickly depart.

Benvolio approaches his cousin. With a touch of sadness, Romeo tells Benvolio that he is in love with Rosaline, but that she does not return his feelings and has in fact sworn to live a life of chastity. Benvolio counsels Romeo to forget her by gazing on other beauties, but Romeo contends that the woman he loves is the most beautiful of all. Romeo departs, assuring Benvolio that he cannot teach him to forget his love. Benvolio resolves to do just that.

Act I, scene ii

On another street of Verona, Capulet walks with Paris, a noble kinsman of the Prince. The two discuss Paris’ desire to marry Capulet’s daughter, Juliet. Capulet is overjoyed, but also states that Juliet—not yet fourteen—is too young to get married. He asks Paris to wait two years. He assures Paris that he favors him as a suitor, and invites Paris to the traditional masquerade feast he is holding that very night so that Paris might begin to woo Juliet and win her heart. Capulet dispatches a servant, Peter, to invite a list of people to the feast. As Capulet and Paris walk away, Peter laments that he cannot read and will therefore have difficulty accomplishing his task.

Romeo and Benvolio happen by, still arguing about whether Romeo will be able to forget his love. Peter asks Romeo to read the list to him; Rosaline’s name is one of those on the list. Before departing, Peter invites Romeo and Benvolio to the party—assuming, he says, that they are not Montagues. Benvolio tells Romeo that the feast will be the perfect opportunity to compare Rosaline with the other beautiful women of Verona. Romeo agrees to go with him, but only because Rosaline herself will be there.

Act I, scene iii

In Capulet’s house, just before the feast is to begin, Lady Capulet calls to the Nurse, needing help to find her daughter. Juliet enters, and Lady Capulet dismisses the Nurse so that she might speak with her daughter alone. She immediately changes her mind, however, and asks the Nurse to remain and add her counsel. Before Lady Capulet can begin to speak, the Nurse launches into a long story about how, as a child, an uncomprehending Juliet became an innocent accomplice to a sexual joke. Lady Capulet tries unsuccessfully to stop the wildly amused Nurse. An embarrassed Juliet forcefully commands that the Nurse stop.

Lady Capulet asks Juliet what she thinks about getting married. Juliet replies that she has not given it any thought. Lady Capulet observes that she gave birth to Juliet when she was almost Juliet’s current age. She excitedly continues that Juliet must begin to think about marriage because the “valiant Paris” has expressed an interest in her (I.iii.76). Juliet dutifully replies that she will look upon Paris at the feast to see if she might love him. A servingman enters to announce the beginning

Act I, scene iv

Romeo, Benvolio, and their friend Mercutio, all wearing masks, have gathered with a group of mask-wearing guests on their way to the Capulets’ feast. Still melancholy, Romeo wonders how they will get into the Capulets’ feast, since they are Montagues. When that concern is brushed aside, he states that he will not dance at the feast. Mercutio begins to gently mock Romeo, transforming all of Romeo’s statements about love into blatantly sexual metaphors. Romeo refuses to engage in this banter, explaining that in a dream he learned that going to the feast was a bad idea. Mercutio responds with a long speech about Queen Mab of the fairies, who visits people’s dreams. The speech begins as a flight of fancy, but Mercutio becomes almost entranced by it, and a bitter, fervent strain creeps in. Romeo steps in to stop the speech and calm Mercutio down. Mercutio admits that he has been talking of nothing, noting that dreams are but “the children of an idle brain” (I.v.97).

Benvolio refocuses their attention on actually getting to the feast. Romeo voices one last concern: he has a feeling that the night’s activities will set in motion the action of fate, resulting in untimely death. But, putting himself in the hands of “he who hath the steerage of my course,” Romeo’s spirits rise, and he continues with his friends toward the feast (I.v.112).

Act I, scene v

In the great hall of the Capulets, all is a-bustle. The servants work feverishly to make sure all runs smoothly, and set aside some food to make sure they have some enjoyment of the feast as well. Capulet makes his rounds through groups of guests, joking with them and encouraging all to dance.

From across the room, Romeo sees Juliet, and asks a servingman who she is. The servingman does not know. Romeo is transfixed; Rosaline vanishes from his mind and he declares that he has never been in love until this moment. Moving through the crowd, Tybalt hears and recognizes Romeo’s voice. Realizing that there is a Montague present, Tybalt sends a servant to fetch his rapier. Capulet overhears Tybalt and reprimands him, telling him that Romeo is well regarded in Verona, and that he will not have the youth harmed at his feast. Tybalt protests, but Capulet scolds him until he agrees to keep the peace. As Capulet moves on, Tybalt vows that he will not let this indignity pass.

Meanwhile, Romeo has approached Juliet and touched her hand. In a dialogue laced with religious metaphors that figure Juliet as a saint and Romeo as a pilgrim who wishes to erase his sin, he tries to convince her to kiss him, since it is only through her kiss that he might be absolved. Juliet agrees to remain still as Romeo kisses her. Thus, in the terms of their conversation, she takes his sin from him. Juliet then makes the logical leap that if she has taken Romeo’s sin from him, his sin must now reside in her lips, and so they must kiss again.

Just as their second kiss ends, the Nurse arrives and tells Juliet that her mother wants to speak with her. Romeo asks the Nurse who Juliet’s mother is. The Nurse replies that Lady Capulet is her mother. Romeo is devastated. As the crowd begins to disperse, Benvolio shows up and leads Romeo from the feast. Juliet is just as struck with the mysterious man she has kissed as Romeo is with her. She comments to herself that if he is already married, she feels she will die (I.v.131). In order to find out Romeo’s identity without raising any suspicions, she asks the Nurse to identify a series of young men. The Nurse goes off and returns with the news that the man’s name is Romeo, and that he is a Montague. Overcome with anguish that she loves a Montague, Juliet follows her nurse from the hall.

Romeo and Juliet – Act II

Act II, prologue

The Chorus delivers another short sonnet describing the new love between Romeo and Juliet: the hatred between the lovers’ families makes it difficult for them to find the time or place to meet and let their passion grow; but the prospect of their love gives each of them the power and determination to elude the obstacles placed in their path.

Act II, scene i

Having left the feast, Romeo decides that he cannot go home. He must instead try to find Juliet. He climbs a wall bordering the Capulet property and leaps down into the Capulet orchard. Benvolio and Mercutio enter, calling out for Romeo. They are sure he is nearby, but Romeo does not answer. Exasperated and amused, Mercutio mocks Romeo’s feelings for Rosaline in an obscene speech. Mercutio and Benvolio exit under the assumption that Romeo does not want to be found. In the orchard, Romeo hears Mercutio’s teasing. He says to himself, “He jests at scars that never felt a wound” (II.i.43).

Juliet suddenly appears at a window above the spot where Romeo is standing. Romeo compares her to the morning sun, far more beautiful than the moon it banishes. He nearly speaks to her, but thinks better of it. Juliet, musing to herself and unaware that Romeo is in her garden, asks why Romeo must be Romeo—a Montague, and therefore an enemy to her family. She says that if he would refuse his Montague name, she would give herself to him; or if he would simply swear that he loved her, she would refuse her Capulet name. Romeo responds to her plea, surprising Juliet, since she thought she was alone. She wonders how he found her and he tells her that love led him to her. Juliet worries that Romeo will be murdered if he is found in the garden, but Romeo refuses to budge, claiming that Juliet’s love would make him immune to his enemies. Juliet admits she feels as strongly about Romeo as he professes he loves her, but she worries that perhaps Romeo will prove inconstant or false, or will think Juliet too easily won. Romeo begins to swear to her, but she stops him, concerned that everything is happening too quickly. He reassures her, and the two confess their love again. The Nurse calls for Juliet, and Juliet goes inside for a moment. When she reappears, she tells Romeo that she will send someone to him the next day to see if his love is honorable and if he intends to wed her. The Nurse calls again, and again Juliet withdraws. She appears at the window once more to set a time when her emissary should call on him: they settle on nine in the morning. They exult in their love for another moment before saying good night. Juliet goes back inside her chamber, and Romeo departs in search of a monk to aid him in his cause.

Act II, scene ii

In the early morning, Friar Lawrence enters, holding a basket. He fills the basket with various weeds, herbs, and flowers. While musing on the beneficence of the Earth, he demonstrates a deep knowledge of the properties of the plants he collects. Romeo enters and Friar Lawrence intuits that Romeo has not slept the night before. The friar fears that Romeo may have slept in sin with Rosaline. Romeo assures him that did not happen, and describes his new love for Juliet, his intent to marry her, and his desire that the friar consent to marry them that very day. Friar Lawrence is shocked at this sudden shift from Rosaline to Juliet. He comments on the fickleness of young love, Romeo’s in particular. Romeo defends himself, noting that Juliet returns his love while Rosaline did not. In response, the friar comments that Rosaline could see that Romeo’s love for her “did read by rote, that could not spell.” Remaining skeptical at Romeo’s sudden change of heart, Friar Lawrence nonetheless agrees to marry the couple. He expresses the hope that the marriage of Romeo and Juliet might end the feud ravaging the Montagues and Capulets.

Act II, scene iii

Later that morning, just before nine, Mercutio and Benvolio wonder what happened to Romeo the previous night. Benvolio has learned from a Montague servant that Romeo did not return home; Mercutio spouts some unkind words about Rosaline. Benvolio also relates that Tybalt has sent a letter to Romeo challenging him to a duel. Mercutio responds that Romeo is already dead, struck by Cupid’s arrow; he wonders aloud whether Romeo is man enough to defeat Tybalt. When Benvolio comes to Romeo’s defense, Mercutio launches into an extended description of Tybalt. He describes Tybalt as a master swordsman, perfectly proper and composed in style. According to Mercutio, however, Tybalt is also a vain, affected “fashionmonger” (II.iii.29). Mercutio disdains all that Tybalt stands for.

Romeo arrives. Mercutio immediately begins to ridicule him, claiming that Romeo has been made weak by love. As a way of mocking what he believes is Romeo’s overwrought love for Rosaline, Mercutio takes the part of Romeo and compares Rosaline to all the most famous beauties of antiquity, finding Rosaline far superior. Then Mercutio accuses Romeo of abandoning his friends the previous night. Romeo does not deny the charge, but claims his need was great, and so the offense is forgivable. From this proceeds intricate, witty, and wildly sexual verbal jousting.

The Nurse enters, trailed by the servant, Peter. The Nurse asks if any of the three young men know Romeo, and Romeo identifies himself. Mercutio teases the Nurse, insinuating that she is a harlot, thus infuriating her. Benvolio and Mercutio take their leave to have dinner at Montague’s house, and Romeo says he will follow shortly. The Nurse warns Romeo that he had better not attempt to “deal double” with Juliet, and Romeo assures her he is not. He asks the Nurse to tell Juliet to find some way to attend confession at Friar Lawrence’s cell that afternoon; there they will be married. The Nurse agrees to deliver the message. The Nurse also agrees to set up a cloth ladder so that Romeo might ascend to Juliet’s room on their wedding night.

Act II, scene iv

In the Capulet orchard, Juliet impatiently waits for her Nurse, whom she sent to meet Romeo three hours earlier. At last the Nurse returns, and Juliet anxiously presses her for news. The Nurse claims to be too tired, sore, and out of breath to tell Juliet what has happened. Juliet grows frantic, and eventually the Nurse gives in and tells her that Romeo is waiting at Friar Lawrence’s cell to marry her. The Nurse departs to wait in the ally for Romeo’s servant, who is to bring a ladder for Romeo to use to climb up to Juliet’s chamber that night to consummate their marriage.

Act II, scene v

Romeo and Friar Lawrence wait for Juliet to arrive at the cell. An ecstatic Romeo brashly states that he does not care what misfortune might come, as it will pale in comparison to the joy he feels right now. Friar Lawrence counsels Romeo to love moderately and not with too much intensity, saying, “these violent delights have violent ends” (II.v.9). Juliet enters and Romeo asks her to speak poetically of her love. Juliet responds that those who can so easily describe their “worth” are beggars, her love is far too great to be so easily described. The lovers exit with Friar Lawrence and are wed.

Act III, scene i

As they walk in the street under the boiling sun, Benvolio suggests to Mercutio that they go indoors, fearing that a brawl will be unavoidable should they encounter Capulet men. Mercutio replies that Benvolio has as quick a temper as any man in Italy, and should not criticize others for their short fuses. Tybalt enters with a group of cronies. He approaches Benvolio and Mercutio and asks to speak with one of them. Annoyed, Mercutio begins to taunt and provoke him. Romeo enters. Tybalt turns his attention from Mercutio to Romeo, and calls Romeo a villain. Romeo, now secretly married to Juliet and thus Tybalt’s kinsman, refuses to be angered by Tybalt’s verbal attack. Tybalt commands Romeo to draw his sword. Romeo protests that he has good reason to love Tybalt, and does not wish to fight him. He asks that until Tybalt knows the reason for this love, he put aside his sword. Mercutio angrily draws his sword and declares with biting wit that if Romeo will not fight Tybalt, he will. Mercutio and Tybalt begin to fight. Romeo, attempting to restore peace, throws himself between the combatants. Tybalt stabs Mercutio under Romeo’s arm, and as Mercutio falls, Tybalt and his men hurry away. Mercutio dies, cursing both the Montagues and the Capulets: “A plague o’ both your houses” (III.i.87), and still pouring forth his wild witticisms: “Ask for me tomorrow, and / you shall find me a grave man” (III.i.93–94). Enraged, Romeo declares that his love for Juliet has made him effeminate, and that he should have fought Tybalt in Mercutio’s place. When Tybalt, still angry, storms back onto the scene, Romeo draws his sword. They fight, and Romeo kills Tybalt. Benvolio urges Romeo to run; a group of citizens outraged at the recurring street fights is approaching. Romeo, shocked at what has happened, cries “O, I am fortune’s fool!” and flees.

The Prince enters, accompanied by many citizens, and the Montagues and Capulets. Benvolio tells the Prince the story of the brawl, emphasizing Romeo’s attempt to keep the peace, but Lady Capulet, Tybalt’s aunt, cries that Benvolio is lying to protect the Montagues. She demands Romeo’s life. Prince Escalus chooses instead to exile Romeo from Verona. He declares that should Romeo be found within the city, he will be killed.

Act III, scene ii

In Capulet’s house, Juliet longs for night to fall so that Romeo will come to her “untalked of and unseen” (III.ii.7). Suddenly the Nurse rushes in with news of the fight between Romeo and Tybalt. But the Nurse is so distraught, she stumbles over the words, making it sound as if Romeo is dead. Juliet assumes Romeo has killed himself, and she resigns to die herself. The Nurse then begins to moan about Tybalt’s death, and Juliet briefly fears that both Romeo and Tybalt are dead. When the story is at last straight and Juliet understands that Romeo has killed Tybalt and been sentenced to exile, she curses nature that it should put “the spirit of a fiend” in Romeo’s “sweet flesh” (III.ii.81–82). The Nurse echoes Juliet and curses Romeo’s name, but Juliet denounces her for criticizing her husband, and adds that she regrets faulting him herself. Juliet claims that Romeo’s banishment is worse than ten thousand slain Tybalts. She laments that she will die without a wedding night, a maiden-widow. The Nurse assures her, however, that she knows where Romeo is hiding, and will see to it that Romeo comes to her for their wedding night. Juliet gives the Nurse a ring to give to Romeo as a token of her love.

Summary: Act III, scene iii

In Friar Lawrence’s cell, Romeo is overcome with grief, and wonders what sentence the Prince has decreed. Friar Lawrence tells him he is lucky: the prince has only banished him. Romeo claims that banishment is a penalty far worse than death, since he will have to live, but without Juliet. The friar tries to counsel Romeo but the youth is so unhappy that he will have none of it. Romeo falls to the floor. The Nurse arrives, and Romeo desperately asks her for news of Juliet. He assumes that Juliet now thinks of him as a murderer and threatens to stab himself. Friar Lawrence stops him and scolds him for being unmanly. He explains that Romeo has much to be grateful for: he and Juliet are both alive, and after matters have calmed down, Prince Escalus might change his mind. The friar sets forth a plan: Romeo will visit Juliet that night, but make sure to leave her chamber, and Verona, before the morning. He will then reside in Mantua until news of their marriage can be spread. The Nurse hands Romeo the ring from Juliet, and this physical symbol of their love revives his spirits. The Nurse departs, and Romeo bids Friar Lawrence farewell. He must prepare to visit Juliet and then flee to Mantua.

Act III, scene iv

Capulet, Lady Capulet, and Paris walk together. Capulet says that because of the terrible recent events, he has had no time to ask his daughter about her feelings for Paris. Lady Capulet states that she will know her daughter’s thoughts by the morning. Paris is about to leave when Capulet calls him back and makes what he calls “a desperate tender of my child’s love” (III.iv.12–13). Capulet says he thinks his daughter will listen to him, then corrects himself and states that he is sure Juliet will abide by his decision. He promises Paris that the wedding will be held on Wednesday, then stops suddenly and asks what day it is. Paris responds that it is Monday; Capulet decides that Wednesday is too soon, and that the wedding should instead be held on Thursday.

Act III, scene v

Just before dawn, Romeo prepares to lower himself from Juliet’s window to begin his exile. Juliet tries to convince Romeo that the birdcalls they hear are from the nightingale, a night bird, rather than from the lark, a morning bird. Romeo cannot entertain her claims; he must leave before the morning comes or be put to death. Juliet declares that the light outside comes not from the sun, but from some meteor. Overcome by love, Romeo responds that he will stay with Juliet, and that he does not care whether the Prince’s men kill him. Faced with this turnaround, Juliet declares that the bird they heard was the lark; that it is dawn and he must flee. The Nurse enters to warn Juliet that Lady Capulet is approaching. Romeo and Juliet tearfully part. Romeo climbs out the window. Standing in the orchard below her window, Romeo promises Juliet that they will see one another again, but Juliet responds that he appears pale, as one dead in the bottom of a tomb. Romeo answers that, to him, she appears the same way, and that it is only sorrow that makes them both look pale. Romeo hurries away as Juliet pulls in the ladder and begs fate to bring him back to her quickly.

Lady Capulet calls to her daughter. Juliet wonders why her mother would come to speak to her so early in the morning. Unaware that her daughter is married to Romeo, Lady Capulet enters the room and mistakes Juliet’s tears as continued grief for Tybalt. Lady Capulet tells Juliet of her deep desire to see “the villain Romeo” dead (III.v.80). In a complicated bit of punning every bit as impressive as the sexual punning of Mercutio and Romeo, Juliet leads her mother to believe that she also wishes Romeo’s death, when in fact she is firmly stating her love for him. Lady Capulet tells Juliet about Capulet’s plan for her to marry Paris on Thursday, explaining that he wishes to make her happy. Juliet is appalled. She rejects the match, saying “I will not marry yet; and when I do, I swear / It shall be Romeo—whom you know I hate— / Rather than Paris” (III.v.121–123). Capulet enters the chamber. When he learns of Juliet’s determination to defy him he becomes enraged and threatens to disown Juliet if she refuses to obey him. When Juliet entreats her mother to intercede, her mother denies her help.

After Capulet and Lady Capulet storm away, Juliet asks her Nurse how she might escape her predicament. The Nurse advises her to go through with the marriage to Paris—he is a better match, she says, and Romeo is as good as dead anyhow. Though disgusted by her Nurse’s disloyalty, Juliet pretends to agree, and tells her Nurse that she is going to make confession at Friar Lawrence’s. Juliet hurries to the friar, vowing that she will never again trust the Nurse’s counsel. If the friar is unable to help her, Juliet comments to herself, she still has the power to take her own life.

nglish I

Ms. Harrington

Romeo and Juliet

Act IV Summaries

Act IV, scenes i

In his cell, Friar Lawrence speaks with Paris about the latter’s impending marriage to Juliet. Paris says that Juliet’s grief about Tybalt’s death has made her unbalanced, and that Capulet, in his wisdom, has determined they should marry soon so that Juliet can stop crying and put an end to her period of mourning. The friar remarks to himself that he wishes he

were unaware of the reason that Paris’ marriage to Juliet should be delayed

Juliet enters, and Paris speaks to her lovingly, if somewhat arrogantly. Juliet responds indifferently, showing neither affection nor dislike. She remarks that she has not married him yet. On the pretense that he must hear Juliet’s confession, Friar Lawrence ushers Paris away, though not before Paris kisses Juliet once. After Paris leaves, Juliet asks Friar Lawrence for help, brandishing a knife and saying that she will kill herself rather than marry Paris. The Friar proposes a plan: Juliet must consent to marry Paris; then, on the night before the wedding, she must drink a sleeping potion that will make her appear to be dead; she will be laid to rest in the Capulet tomb, and the Friar will send word to Romeo in Mantua to help him retrieve her when she wakes up. She will then return to Mantua with Romeo, and be free to live with him away from their parents’ hatred. Juliet consents to the plan wholeheartedly. Friar Lawrence gives her the sleeping potion.

Act IV, scene ii

Juliet returns home, where she finds Capulet and Lady Capulet preparing for the wedding. She surprises her parents by repenting her disobedience and cheerfully agreeing to marry Paris. Capulet is so pleased that he insists on moving the marriage up a day, to Wednesday—tomorrow. Juliet heads to her chambers to, ostensibly, prepare for her wedding. Capulet heads off to tell Paris the news.

Act IV, scene iii

In her bedchamber, Juliet asks the Nurse to let her spend the night by herself, and repeats the request to Lady Capulet when she arrives. Alone, clutching the vial given to her by Friar Lawrence, she wonders what will happen when she drinks it. If the friar is untrustworthy and seeks merely to hide his role in her marriage to Romeo, she might die; or, if Romeo is late for some reason, she might awaken in the tomb and go mad with fear. She has a vision in which she sees Tybalt’s ghost searching for Romeo. She begs Tybalt’s ghost to quit its search for Romeo, and toasting to Romeo, drinks the contents of the vial.

Act IV, scene iv

Early the next morning, the Capulet house is aflutter with preparations for the wedding. Capulet sends the Nurse to go wake Juliet. She finds Juliet dead and begins to wail, soon joined by both Lady Capulet and Capulet. Paris arrives with Friar Lawrence and a group of musicians for the wedding. When he learns what has happened, Paris joins in the lamentations. The Friar reminds them all that Juliet has gone to a better place, and urges them to make ready for her funeral. Sorrowfully, they comply, and exit.

Left behind, the musicians begin to pack up, their task cut short. Peter, the Capulet servant, enters and asks the musicians to play a happy tune to ease his sorrowful heart. The musicians refuse, arguing that to play such music would be inappropriate. Angered, Peter insults the musicians, who respond in kind. After singing a final insult at the musicians, Peter leaves. The musicians decide to wait for the mourners to return so that they might get to eat the lunch that will be served.

Romeo and Juliet: Act V Summaries

Summary: Act V, scene i

On Wednesday morning, on a street in Mantua, a cheerful Romeo describes a wonderful dream he had the night before: Juliet found him lying dead, but she kissed him, and breathed new life into his body. Just then, Balthasar enters, and Romeo greets him happily, saying that Balthasar must have come from Verona with news of Juliet and his father. Romeo comments that nothing can be ill in the world if Juliet is well. Balthasar replies that nothing can be ill, then, for Juliet is well: she is in heaven, found dead that morning at her home. Thunderstruck, Romeo cries out “Then I defy you, stars” (V.i.24).

He tells Balthasar to get him pen and paper (with which he writes a letter for Balthasar to give to Montague) and to hire horses, and says that he will return to Verona that night. Balthasar says that Romeo seems so distraught that he is afraid to leave him, but Romeo insists. Romeo suddenly stops and asks if Balthasar is carrying a letter from Friar Lawrence. Balthasar says he is not, and Romeo sends his servant on his way. Once Balthasar is gone, Romeo says that he will lie with Juliet that night. He goes to find an apothecary, a seller of drugs. After telling the man in the shop that he looks poor, Romeo offers to pay him well for a vial of poison. The Apothecary says that he has just such a thing, but that selling poison in Mantua carries the death sentence. Romeo replies that the Apothecary is too poor to refuse the sale. The Apothecary finally relents and sells Romeo the poison. Once alone, Romeo speaks to the vial, declaring that he will go to Juliet’s tomb and kill himself.

Act V, scene ii

At his cell, Friar Lawrence speaks with Friar John, whom he had earlier sent to Mantua with a letter for Romeo. He asks John how Romeo responded to his letter (which described the plan involving Juliet’s false death). Friar John replies that he was unable to deliver the letter because he was shut up in a quarantined house due to an outbreak of plague. Friar Lawrence becomes upset, realizing that if Romeo does not know about Juliet’s false death, there will be no one to retrieve her from the tomb when she awakes. (He does not know that Romeo has learned of Juliet’s death and believes it to be real.) Sending for a crowbar, Friar Lawrence declares that he will have to rescue Juliet from the tomb on his own. He sends another letter to Romeo to warn him about what has happened, and plans to keep Juliet in his cell until Romeo arrives.

Act V, scene iii

In the churchyard that night, Paris enters with a torch-bearing servant. He orders the page to withdraw, then begins scattering flowers on Juliet’s grave. He hears a whistle—the servant’s warning that someone is approaching. He withdraws into the darkness. Romeo, carrying a crowbar, enters with Balthasar. He tells Balthasar that he has come to open the Capulet tomb in order to take back a valuable ring he had given to Juliet. Then he orders Balthasar to leave, and, in the morning, to deliver to Montague the letter Romeo had given him. Balthasar withdraws, but, mistrusting his master’s intentions, lingers to watch.

From his hiding place, Paris recognizes Romeo as the man who murdered Tybalt, and thus as the man who indirectly murdered Juliet, since it is her grief for her cousin that is supposed to have killed her. As Romeo has been exiled from the city on penalty of death, Paris thinks that Romeo must hate the Capulets so much that he has returned to the tomb to do some dishonor to the corpse of either Tybalt or Juliet. In a rage, Paris accosts Romeo. Romeo pleads with him to leave, but Paris refuses. They draw their swords and fight. Paris’ page runs off to get the civil watch. Romeo kills Paris. As he dies, Paris asks to be laid near Juliet in the tomb, and Romeo consents.

Romeo descends into the tomb carrying Paris’ body. He finds Juliet lying peacefully, and wonders how she can still look so beautiful—as if she were not dead at all. Romeo speaks to Juliet of his intention to spend eternity with her, describing himself as shaking “the yoke of inauspicious stars / From this world-wearied flesh” (V.iii.111–112). He kisses Juliet, drinks the poison, kisses Juliet again, and dies.

Just then, Friar Lawrence enters the churchyard. He encounters Balthasar, who tells him that Romeo is in the tomb. Balthasar says that he fell asleep and dreamed that Romeo fought with and killed someone. Troubled, the friar enters the tomb, where he finds Paris’ body and then Romeo’s. As the friar takes in the bloody scene, Juliet wakes.

Juliet asks the friar where her husband is. Hearing a noise that he believes is the coming of the watch, the friar quickly replies that both Romeo and Paris are dead, and that she must leave with him. Juliet refuses to leave, and the friar, fearful that the watch is imminent, exits without her. Juliet sees Romeo dead beside her, and surmises from the empty vial that he has drunk poison. Hoping she might die by the same poison, Juliet kisses his lips, but to no avail. Hearing the approaching watch, Juliet unsheathes Romeo’s dagger and, saying, “O happy dagger, / This is thy sheath,” stabs herself (V.iii.171). She dies upon Romeo’s body.

Chaos reigns in the churchyard, where Paris’ page has brought the watch. The watchmen discover bloodstains near the tomb; they hold Balthasar and Friar Lawrence, who they discovered loitering nearby. The Prince and the Capulets enter. Romeo, Juliet, and Paris are discovered in the tomb. Montague arrives, declaring that Lady Montague has died of grief for Romeo’s exile. The Prince shows Montague his son’s body. Upon the Prince’s request, Friar Lawrence succinctly tells the story of Romeo and Juliet’s secret marriage and its consequences. Balthasar gives the Prince the letter Romeo had previously written to his father. The Prince says that it confirms the friar’s story. He scolds the Capulets and Montagues, calling the tragedy a consequence of their feud and reminding them that he himself has lost two close kinsmen: Mercutio and Paris. Capulet and Montague clasp hands and agree to put their vendetta behind them. Montague says that he will build a golden statue of Juliet, and Capulet insists that he will raise Romeo’s likeness in gold beside hers. The Prince takes the group away to discuss these events, pronouncing that there has never been “a story of more woe / Than this of Juliet and her Romeo” (v.iii.309).