Scene by Scene Synopsis
Scene: Verona and Mantua.
Prologue: The Chorus tells, in a Sonnet, that the play will concern a pair of lovers whose deaths shall end the
conflict between their feuding families.
Act I, Scene 1: Samposon and Gregory, servants of the Capulet family, encounter Abram and Balthazar, of the
Montague household, in a street in Verona. They fight; Benvolio appears and tries to stop them, but Tybalt
enters and insists on dueling with him. Some Citizens attempt to break up the brawl, as Capulet and Montague
join in, to the dismay of their wives, Lady Capulet and Lady Montague. The Prince arrives and chastises both
families. He declares that any further fighting will be punished with death. The Prince and the Capulets depart,
and the Montagues discuss with their nephew Benvolio the mysterious melancholy that afflicts their son
Romeo. As Romeo approaches, his parents leave Benvolio to interrogate him. Benvolio learns that Romeo is in
love with a woman who is sworn to chastity and ignores him. Benvolio recommends that his cousin consider
other women, but Romeo declares that his love's beauty will eclipse all others.
Act I, Scene 2: Paris seeks Capulet's permission to marry his daughter Juliet. Capulet argues that Juliet is too
young, but he says that, if Paris can win Juliet's affections at the banquet planned for the coming night, he will
give his consent. He gives a Servant a list of guests with instructions to deliver invitations, and he and Paris
depart. Romeo and Benvolio pass by, and the Servant seeks their assistance, for he is illiterate. Romeo reads
the list of guests, which includes the name of his beloved, Rosaline. He and Benvolio decide to attend the
banquet in disguise, Romeo wishing to see Rosaline and Benvolio hoping that the sight of many beautiful
women will cure his friend's love sickness.
Act I, Scene 3: The Nurse reminisces at length about Juliet's childhood. Lady Capulet tells Juliet about her
father's plans for her marriage, and Juliet coolly agrees to ' consider Paris out of filial duty.
Act I, Scene 4: Romeo, Benvolio, and Mercutio arrive at the banquet. Romeo asserts that he will not dance,
due to his melancholy, and he is teased by Mercutio, who humorously enlarges on his probable enchantment
by Queen Mab. The group proceeds to the party, although Romeo expresses darkly ominous feelings.
Act I, Scene 5: Four servants joke among themselves as they clear away the dinner. While the guests dance,
Romeo first notices Juliet and is enthralled by her beauty. Tybalt recognizes him and rages against his
presence. Capulet orders him to be peaceful, and he leaves in disgust. Romeo addresses Juliet, and their love
immediately blossoms as they kiss. Juliet is called to her mother, and Romeo learns who she is from the Nurse.
He is dismayed to learn that her family is his family's rival, and she, when learning his identity from the Nurse,
is similarly distressed.
Act II, Prologue: The Chorus recounts, in another sonnet, that Romeo and Juliet cannot easily meet, their
families being enemies, but their passion enables them to find a way.
Act II, Scene 1: Romeo separates himself from his friends as they leave the party. Presuming he has gone in
search of Rosaline, they depart.
Act II, Scene 2: Juliet appears at a high window and Romeo, in the garden below, admires her beauty.
Believing herself to be alone, she soliloquizes about her love for Romeo, regretting that he is a Montague. He
reveals himself, and they speak of their love and exchange vows. Juliet is called away by the Nurse, but she
returns to say that she will send a messenger to Romeo the next day, to whom he can convey a plan for them
to marry. She leaves but returns once more, and they exchange loving farewells.
Act II, Scene 3: Friar Laurence, picking herbs, muses on their capacity to kill or cure. Romeo arrives and tells
him of his new love and asks his help in marrying her. The Friar agrees, hoping that their alliance will end their
families' feuding.
Scene: Verona and Mantua.
Prologue: The Chorus tells, in a Sonnet, that the play will concern a pair of lovers whose deaths shall end the
conflict between their feuding families.
Act I, Scene 1: Samposon and Gregory, servants of the Capulet family, encounter Abram and Balthazar, of the
Montague household, in a street in Verona. They fight; Benvolio appears and tries to stop them, but Tybalt
enters and insists on dueling with him. Some Citizens attempt to break up the brawl, as Capulet and Montague
join in, to the dismay of their wives, Lady Capulet and Lady Montague. The Prince arrives and chastises both
families. He declares that any further fighting will be punished with death. The Prince and the Capulets depart,
and the Montagues discuss with their nephew Benvolio the mysterious melancholy that afflicts their son
Romeo. As Romeo approaches, his parents leave Benvolio to interrogate him. Benvolio learns that Romeo is in
love with a woman who is sworn to chastity and ignores him. Benvolio recommends that his cousin consider
other women, but Romeo declares that his love's beauty will eclipse all others.
Act I, Scene 2: Paris seeks Capulet's permission to marry his daughter Juliet. Capulet argues that Juliet is too
young, but he says that, if Paris can win Juliet's affections at the banquet planned for the coming night, he will
give his consent. He gives a Servant a list of guests with instructions to deliver invitations, and he and Paris
depart. Romeo and Benvolio pass by, and the Servant seeks their assistance, for he is illiterate. Romeo reads
the list of guests, which includes the name of his beloved, Rosaline. He and Benvolio decide to attend the
banquet in disguise, Romeo wishing to see Rosaline and Benvolio hoping that the sight of many beautiful
women will cure his friend's love sickness.
Act I, Scene 3: The Nurse reminisces at length about Juliet's childhood. Lady Capulet tells Juliet about her
father's plans for her marriage, and Juliet coolly agrees to ' consider Paris out of filial duty.
Act I, Scene 4: Romeo, Benvolio, and Mercutio arrive at the banquet. Romeo asserts that he will not dance,
due to his melancholy, and he is teased by Mercutio, who humorously enlarges on his probable enchantment
by Queen Mab. The group proceeds to the party, although Romeo expresses darkly ominous feelings.
Act I, Scene 5: Four servants joke among themselves as they clear away the dinner. While the guests dance,
Romeo first notices Juliet and is enthralled by her beauty. Tybalt recognizes him and rages against his
presence. Capulet orders him to be peaceful, and he leaves in disgust. Romeo addresses Juliet, and their love
immediately blossoms as they kiss. Juliet is called to her mother, and Romeo learns who she is from the Nurse.
He is dismayed to learn that her family is his family's rival, and she, when learning his identity from the Nurse,
is similarly distressed.
Act II, Prologue: The Chorus recounts, in another sonnet, that Romeo and Juliet cannot easily meet, their
families being enemies, but their passion enables them to find a way.
Act II, Scene 1: Romeo separates himself from his friends as they leave the party. Presuming he has gone in
search of Rosaline, they depart.
Act II, Scene 2: Juliet appears at a high window and Romeo, in the garden below, admires her beauty.
Believing herself to be alone, she soliloquizes about her love for Romeo, regretting that he is a Montague. He
reveals himself, and they speak of their love and exchange vows. Juliet is called away by the Nurse, but she
returns to say that she will send a messenger to Romeo the next day, to whom he can convey a plan for them
to marry. She leaves but returns once more, and they exchange loving farewells.
Act II, Scene 3: Friar Laurence, picking herbs, muses on their capacity to kill or cure. Romeo arrives and tells
him of his new love and asks his help in marrying her. The Friar agrees, hoping that their alliance will end their
families' feuding.
