Homework Answers Act 3

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Act 3 Homework – Romeo and Juliet


Act 3 Sc 1

1. Do you think that Mercutio’s description of Benvolio in lines 5-29 is accurate?

Yes, because he refers to instances of Benvolio's rash behaviour (quote evidence) or no, because Benvolio's name suggests he is a peacekeeper, his actions so far have been peaceful, and perhaps Mercutio is projecting hisown personality onto Benvolio

2. What do you think Tybalt and Benvolio think of Romeo’s strange behaviour?

He is probably confused, either thinking that Rome has gone mad, is winding them up, or is playing a trick on Tybalt.

3. When Romeo and Tybalt argue, Tybalt’s words provoke
conflict, while Romeo’s try to quell the fight.
Comment on the use of the words ‘love’, ‘villain; and ‘injuries/injured’ at this point (lines 57-69)

Tybalt uses 'love' almost sarcastically to mean 'hate'. He is saying he loves Romeo so little, that the best he can call him is a 'villain'. Romeo's love, on the other hand, is sincere, and he protests at being called a villain, due to his 'reason to love' Tybalt.

4.Benvolio, the peacemaker, is strangely silent when Romeo asks for his help to intervene between Tybalt and Mercutio. Why do you think this is?

Several possible reasons - he perhaps doesn't want to get into a fight in case he is sentenced to death by the prince. It could also be that, like Mercution, he is secretly hoping for a confrontation.

5. From a playwright’s point of view, why do you think Mercutio was killed in this scene? Were any of the other
characters to blame in any way for his death?

The death of Mercutio is a turning point in the action - the events of this scene lead to Romeo's banishment, and the eventual deaths of Romeo and Juliet. Mercutio's curse on the houses also ties in with the theme of fate. If he had not been killed at this point, the author would have needed another device to precipitate the central characters' demise. Romeo could be blamed for getting in the way - if the fight had not been interrupted the resuly may have been different. Benvolio could be blamed for not intervening. Tybalt....well obviously!

6. Can you think of any reason that Lord and Lady Capulet stay silent at the end of this scene?

They could be in shock at Tybalt's death, or considering their next demand. They could also be recognising the fact that Tybalt began the fight, which implicates their family.

7. Who kills who in this scene?

Tybalt kills Mercutio. Romeo kills Tybalt.

Act 3 Sc 2

1. List references to dark and light in this scene.

Fiery-footed steeds;cloudy night; close curtain, love performing night; agrees with night; civil night; all in black; black mantle; day in night; wings of night; new snow upon a raven's back; black brow'd night; little stars; face of heaven; love with night; garish sun.

2. Once again the nurse takes a long time to get to her point. What is the reason for this in this scene?

She feels distraught at Tybalt's death. She does not know how to break the news, and cannot get the words out. It is unlikely, although possible, that she is deliberately misleading Juliet about who has died in order to play with her emotions.

3. Give examples of oxymoron used by Juliet in this scene.
What do they say about her state of mind?

O serpent heart, hid with a flowering face; did ever dragon keep so fair a cave?; beautiful tyrant; fiend angelical; Dove feather'd raven; wolvish ravening lamb; despised substance of divinest show; damned saint; honourable villain.

This suggests that Juliet is entirely confused about her feelings, at once despising Romeo for what he has done, and simultaneously loving him as much as ever.

Act 3 Sc 3

1.Read up to line 70. Do you feel sorry for Romeo or do you think he is over-reacting?

Entirely personal answer - make sure that you have given reasons though. I think he's over-reacting, and that it's typical of the over-emotional behaviour he has displayed thruoghout, but that's just me!

2. Draw comparisons between Romeo’s cursing of his name, and Juliet’s ‘what’s in a name’ speech from Act 2 Sc 2.

They both consider the fact that a name is not a part of the body, and ask why it is so important: Romeo: "O, tell me, friar, tell me,In what vile part of this anatomy doth my name lodge? Tell me, that I may sack the hateful mansion." Juliet: "What's Montague? It is nor hand, nor foot,nor arm, nor face, nor any other part belonging to a man. O, be some other name!"

There are other valid examples - back up with quotes.

3. What are the reasons that the Friar says Romeo has for being happy?

a) Juliet is alive,For whose dear sake thou wast but lately dead;There art thou happy: (Juliet's alive)

b)Tybalt would kill thee,But thou slew'st Tybalt; there are thou happy too: (you could have been killed by Tybalt, but you killed your attacker instead.)

c)The law that threaten'd death becomes thy friend and turns it to exile; there art thou happy: (you should have been put to death, but you've been banished instead.)

4. What plan does Friar Lawrence think of to reunite Romeo and Juliet after Romeo is banished?

Romeo has to go to Juliet for their wedding night, then go off to Mantua. The Friar will speak to the Prince on Romeo's behalf to try to make him understand the true situation and pardon Romeo.

Act 3 Sc 4

1. How is Lord Capulet reacting to Tybalt’s death? Compare this to Lady Capulet’s reaction.

Lord Capulet's reaction is quite stoic (calm, unemotional) - Look you, she loved her kinsman Tybalt dearly, And so did I:–Well, we were born to die.

Lady Capulet is distraught, as seen in scene 1 of this act: - Tybalt, my cousin! O my brother's child!O prince! O cousin! husband! O, the blood is spilt O my dear kinsman! Prince, as thou art true,For blood of ours, shed blood of Montague.O cousin, cousin!

2. What does Capulet tell Paris about the scale of the wedding?

It is to be a small affair, because of the recent death of Tybalt (it would be inappropriate to have a huge celebration) - "Tybalt being slain so late,It may be thought we held him carelessly,Being our kinsman, if we revel much:Therefore we'll have some half a dozen friends."

Act 3 Sc 5

1. In what ways did Juliet try to convince Romeo that it was still night?

"it is not yet near day:It was the nightingale, and not the lark" - She tries to convince Romeo that they are hearing a bird of night, not morning.

"Yon light is not day-light, I know it, I:It is some meteor that the sun exhales" - She pretends that the light outside is a shooting star, not dawn.

2. We know, during the start of the scene, that Lady C is on her way to tell Juliet of her marriage. How does this affect our enjoyment of the scene?

It detracts from our enjoyment, because as sweet as the scenebetween R + J is, we know it cannot last, and that bad news is on the way to Juliet even as she bids farewell to her husband. It also adds tension to the scene - will Romeo be caught?

3. Comment on Romeo and Juliet’s last words to each other, with reference to the theme of fate.

JULIET
O God, I have an ill-divining soul!Methinks I see thee, now thou art below,As one dead in the bottom of a tomb:Either my eyesight fails, or thou look'st pale.

This fateful speech foreshadows their eventual destinies, and their final 'meeting' in Capulet's tomb.

4. In lines 141-145, why does Capulet refer to Juliet as ‘she’?

He is almost disowning her. As soon as she disobeys him, sheis no longer worth speaking to as a person, she reverts to being his 'property'. He is ignoring her, and referring to her as if she is not present, because he no longer considers her opinion significant.

5.Why do you think the nurse advises Juliet to marry Paris?

She may actually believe that Paris is the better match for Juliet, more worthy of her. She could also be looking to smooth out a difficult situation with an easy answer. In addition, if it was to be found out that she helped the lovers in their illicit marriage, her position or even her life may have been in danger.

6. Juliet plays many parts in this scene – the teasing lover, the dutiful daughter, the disobedient daughter, the child in need of help etc. Find the lines in the scene where she is really herself, where she really means whatshe says.

Yon light is not day-light, I know it, I:It is some meteor that the sun exhales,To be to thee this night a torch-bearer,And light thee on thy way to Mantua:Therefore stay yet;

Yet let me weep for such a feeling loss.

Villain and he be many miles asunder.–God Pardon him! I do, with all my heart;And yet no man like he doth grieve my heart.

Is there no pity sitting in the clouds,That sees into the bottom of my grief?