Scene Summaries
Scene 1
It is Sunday, and the streets of Verona are busy. Two Capulet servants, Sampson and Gregory, are
teasing each other quite rudely and as early as the seventh line mention how much they hate a rival
family, the Montagues. When the Montague servants – Abram and Balthasar – arrive, Sampson bites his
thumb at them (which is rude but not illegal). Insulted, Abram confronts Sampson and a fight begins.
Benvolio (Romeo’s cousin) tries to stop it, but Tybalt refuses to help, and the fight turns into a riot that is
eventually broken up by the town guards. The Prince threatens death to anyone who disturbs the peace
again. Romeo enters after the scene and tells his friend Benvolio that he wants nothing to do with
violence. He also admits to being lovesick because the woman he loves (Rosaline) doesn’t want to know
him.
Scene 2
Paris visits Lord Capulet, asking permission to marry his daughter, Juliet. We learn she is not quite 14
years old, and Capulet tells Paris to wait two more years. Nevertheless, Capulet invites Paris (so that he
can impress Juliet) to a masked ball, or party, at their house. Capulet then hands his servant,Peter a list
of names and orders the man to invite everyone on the list to the party. Out on the streets, Peter runs
into Romeo and Benvolio, who are talking about Rosaline. Peter cannot read, so he asks them to help
him interpret the list. Romeo and Benvolio comply, and upon reading the list, they discover that
Rosaline will be at the Capulets' party. They decide to attend - even though it is a Capulet party, they will
be able to disguise their identities by wearing masks.
Scene 3
At the Capulet home, Lady Capulet asks the nurse to call Juliet to come and see her. While they wait for
her arrival, the Nurse moans about the fact that Juliet will only be fourteen in under two weeks. When
Juliet arrives, the Nurse tells an embarrassing story about how her late husband had once made an
inappropriate sexual joke about Juliet when she was an infant. The Nurse keeps telling her endless tales
until Juliet orders her to stop.
Lady Capulet tells Juliet about Paris’s intention to marry her. The mother describes Paris as beautiful,
comparing him to a fine book that only lacks a cover. Juliet does not promise anything to her mother,
but she does agree to study Paris that night
Scene 4
It’s now Sunday evening, and several guests, among them Romeo, Benvolio and Mercutio, are outside
Capulet’s house where there was a party being held. Mercutio’s light-hearted and clever banter
contrasts with Romeo’s depressed mood over Rosaline, though it’s obvious Mercutio has his own dark
side too. Romeo admitted his concern as to attending the party at the Capulets(rivals)
, Important Quotes
Act 1 Scene 1
• Benvolio: 68-69 Do but keep the peace.. Put up thy sword, or manage it to part these
men with me.
• Prince Escalus: 97-100 If ever you disturb our streets again, your lives shall pay the forfeit of the
peace. For this time all the rest depart away. You, Capulet, shall go along with me.
• Montague: 133;141 Many a morning hath he there been seen, with tears augmenting the fresh
morning's dew, / And private in his chamber pens himself, shuts up his windows, locks fair
daylight out, and makes himself an artificial night.
• Romeo: 224 She hath forsworn to love, and in that vow Do I live dead that live to tell it now.
228-9 O, teach me how I should forget to think! [Benvolio says look at other pretty girls]
Act 1 Scene 2
• Paris: 6 But now, my lord, what say you to my suit? [to Capulet about marrying Juliet]
• Capulet: 7, 10-11, 16 7 But saying o'er what I have said before
10-11 Let two more summers wither in their pride Ere we may think her ripe to be a bride.
16-But woo her, gentle Paris, get her heart
• Capulet: 19 Lies my consent and fair according voice. [I give my consent when I hear her
agreeing voice.]
• Romeo: 71, 95-96 On the list of guests] my fair niece Rosaline;
95-96 One fairer than my love? The all seeing sun Ne'er saw her match since first the world
begun
• Benvolio: 88-90 Go thither, and with unattainted eye Compare her face with some that I shall
show, and I will make thee think thy swan a crow.
Act 1 Scene 3
• Lady Capulet: 63-65 , 74 Marry, that "marry" is the very theme I came to talk of. Tell me,
daughter Juliet, how stands your disposition to be married?
The valiant Paris seeks you for his love
• Juliet: 66, 97-99 66- It is an honor that I dream not of.
97-99 I'll look to like, if looking liking move;
But no more deep will I endart mine eye
Than your consent gives strength to make it fly.
•
Act 1 Scene 4
• Romeo 14-16 Not I, believe me. You have dancing shoes
With nimble soles; I have a soul of lead
So stakes me to the ground I cannot move.
Scene 1
It is Sunday, and the streets of Verona are busy. Two Capulet servants, Sampson and Gregory, are
teasing each other quite rudely and as early as the seventh line mention how much they hate a rival
family, the Montagues. When the Montague servants – Abram and Balthasar – arrive, Sampson bites his
thumb at them (which is rude but not illegal). Insulted, Abram confronts Sampson and a fight begins.
Benvolio (Romeo’s cousin) tries to stop it, but Tybalt refuses to help, and the fight turns into a riot that is
eventually broken up by the town guards. The Prince threatens death to anyone who disturbs the peace
again. Romeo enters after the scene and tells his friend Benvolio that he wants nothing to do with
violence. He also admits to being lovesick because the woman he loves (Rosaline) doesn’t want to know
him.
Scene 2
Paris visits Lord Capulet, asking permission to marry his daughter, Juliet. We learn she is not quite 14
years old, and Capulet tells Paris to wait two more years. Nevertheless, Capulet invites Paris (so that he
can impress Juliet) to a masked ball, or party, at their house. Capulet then hands his servant,Peter a list
of names and orders the man to invite everyone on the list to the party. Out on the streets, Peter runs
into Romeo and Benvolio, who are talking about Rosaline. Peter cannot read, so he asks them to help
him interpret the list. Romeo and Benvolio comply, and upon reading the list, they discover that
Rosaline will be at the Capulets' party. They decide to attend - even though it is a Capulet party, they will
be able to disguise their identities by wearing masks.
Scene 3
At the Capulet home, Lady Capulet asks the nurse to call Juliet to come and see her. While they wait for
her arrival, the Nurse moans about the fact that Juliet will only be fourteen in under two weeks. When
Juliet arrives, the Nurse tells an embarrassing story about how her late husband had once made an
inappropriate sexual joke about Juliet when she was an infant. The Nurse keeps telling her endless tales
until Juliet orders her to stop.
Lady Capulet tells Juliet about Paris’s intention to marry her. The mother describes Paris as beautiful,
comparing him to a fine book that only lacks a cover. Juliet does not promise anything to her mother,
but she does agree to study Paris that night
Scene 4
It’s now Sunday evening, and several guests, among them Romeo, Benvolio and Mercutio, are outside
Capulet’s house where there was a party being held. Mercutio’s light-hearted and clever banter
contrasts with Romeo’s depressed mood over Rosaline, though it’s obvious Mercutio has his own dark
side too. Romeo admitted his concern as to attending the party at the Capulets(rivals)
, Important Quotes
Act 1 Scene 1
• Benvolio: 68-69 Do but keep the peace.. Put up thy sword, or manage it to part these
men with me.
• Prince Escalus: 97-100 If ever you disturb our streets again, your lives shall pay the forfeit of the
peace. For this time all the rest depart away. You, Capulet, shall go along with me.
• Montague: 133;141 Many a morning hath he there been seen, with tears augmenting the fresh
morning's dew, / And private in his chamber pens himself, shuts up his windows, locks fair
daylight out, and makes himself an artificial night.
• Romeo: 224 She hath forsworn to love, and in that vow Do I live dead that live to tell it now.
228-9 O, teach me how I should forget to think! [Benvolio says look at other pretty girls]
Act 1 Scene 2
• Paris: 6 But now, my lord, what say you to my suit? [to Capulet about marrying Juliet]
• Capulet: 7, 10-11, 16 7 But saying o'er what I have said before
10-11 Let two more summers wither in their pride Ere we may think her ripe to be a bride.
16-But woo her, gentle Paris, get her heart
• Capulet: 19 Lies my consent and fair according voice. [I give my consent when I hear her
agreeing voice.]
• Romeo: 71, 95-96 On the list of guests] my fair niece Rosaline;
95-96 One fairer than my love? The all seeing sun Ne'er saw her match since first the world
begun
• Benvolio: 88-90 Go thither, and with unattainted eye Compare her face with some that I shall
show, and I will make thee think thy swan a crow.
Act 1 Scene 3
• Lady Capulet: 63-65 , 74 Marry, that "marry" is the very theme I came to talk of. Tell me,
daughter Juliet, how stands your disposition to be married?
The valiant Paris seeks you for his love
• Juliet: 66, 97-99 66- It is an honor that I dream not of.
97-99 I'll look to like, if looking liking move;
But no more deep will I endart mine eye
Than your consent gives strength to make it fly.
•
Act 1 Scene 4
• Romeo 14-16 Not I, believe me. You have dancing shoes
With nimble soles; I have a soul of lead
So stakes me to the ground I cannot move.
