Act II, scenes 1-3

ACT 2 SCENE 2 

1.  Juliet is on the balcony outside her bedroom but cannot hear the words that Romeo says to himself as he looks at her from the hiding place below.  Answer the following questions about lines 2-26:

a.       Romeo repeats the light and dark images he introduced when he saw Juliet for the first time.  Why does Romeo compare Juliet to the sun?

b.      Why does he want the sun to kill the envious moon?

c.       Why is the moon envious?

d.      Why does he compare Juliet’s eyes to the stars?

e.      Why is this comparison to stars another example of foreshadowing?

2. Highlight lines 36-39.  Juliet is still unaware that Romeo is nearby.  Paraphrase these lines.

3.  Highlight lines 41-42.  Paraphrase lines 41-52.  What is Juliet’s attitude toward the feud that has separated the two families?

4.  After Juliet asks some pertinent questions (lines 65-84), she realizes that Romeo has overheard her intimate thoughts about him.  How does her attitude change in lines 90-111?  What is she worried about?

5.  Why does Juliet object to Romeo’s swearing on the moon (lines 114-116)?

6. Juliet speaks of her fears in lines 125-127.  Explain.

7.  Paraphrase lines 150-155.

ACT 2 SCENE 3 

 1.  Friar Laurence is introduced in a lengthy soliloquy in which he philosophizes about nature and about mankind.  Paraphrase his speech (lines 1-31).

2.  What does Romeo tell Friar Laurence, and what does he want from the Friar (lines 48-68)?

3.  What is Friar Laurence’s reaction to hearing of Romeo’s new love (lines 69-85)?

4. Highlight lines 97-99.  What reason does Friar Laurence give for agreeing to marry Romeo and Juliet?