Romeo and Juliet: Act 2 Summary

• The play is set in Verona, Italy, where the Montagues and Capulets are enemies.
• Prince Escalus warns that further fighting will be punishable by death.
• Romeo, a Montague, is lovesick for Rosaline, and Benvolio suggests he move on.
• Juliet, a Capulet, is being pressured to marry Paris.
• Romeo and Juliet meet at a Capulet masquerade ball and fall in love.
• Tybalt recognizes Romeo and wants to fight him, but Lord Capulet intervenes.

The Love Story & Secret Marriage

• Romeo overhears Juliet confessing her love on her balcony.
• They plan to marry secretly the next day.
• Friar Lawrence agrees to help, hoping to end the family feud.
• The Nurse helps deliver messages between Romeo and Juliet.
• Romeo and Juliet get married in secret.

Conflict & Tragedy

• Tybalt challenges Romeo to a duel, but Romeo refuses.
• Mercutio fights Tybalt and is killed.
• Romeo kills Tybalt in rage and is banished from Verona by the Prince.
• Juliet is heartbroken but stays loyal to Romeo.
• Romeo and Juliet spend one night together before he flees to Mantua.
• Juliet's parents force her to marry Paris.

Juliet's Fake Death

• Juliet asks Friar Lawrence for help.
• He gives her a potion to appear dead for 42 hours.
• Juliet drinks the potion, and her family buries her.

The Tragic Ending

• Romeo hears news of Juliet's death and buys poison.
• Romeo kills Paris at Juliet's tomb.
• Romeo drinks poison and dies.
• Juliet wakes up, finds Romeo dead, and stabs herself.
• The families end their feud after discovering their children's bodies.

Key Themes & Ideas

• The lovers are described as "star-crossed," meaning their fate is predetermined.
• Their deaths were foreshadowed.
• Romeo and Juliet's love is intense and impulsive.
• The play contrasts their love with Paris's arranged love for Juliet.
• The family feud leads to multiple deaths, demonstrating the destructive nature of hatred.
• The play highlights the impulsiveness of youth versus the rigid traditions of the older generation.
• Friar Lawrence and the Nurse attempt to help but make poor choices.

Key Characters

• Romeo is passionate, emotional, and acts impulsively.
• Juliet is intelligent, strong-willed, and defies her family.
• Tybalt is aggressive, hot-tempered, and loyal to the Capulets.
• Mercutio is witty and playful, but serious when fighting Tybalt.
• Friar Lawrence is wise but makes risky choices, such as giving Juliet the potion.
• The Nurse serves as Juliet's mother figure but is not always reliable.

Important Literary Devices

• Dramatic irony occurs when the audience knows something the characters do not, like Juliet's fake death.
• Romeo predicts his own death, which is an example of foreshadowing.
• The play uses light and dark imagery, describing their love as bright but existing in the night.
• Juliet uses oxymorons like "O brawling love! O loving hate!" to express her mixed emotions.

Answering Analytical Questions

• When analyzing a passage: read carefully, identify key themes and literary devices, explain how the language creates meaning, and link it to the rest of the play.
• Romeo is introduced as moody and lovesick in Act 1, Scene 1.
• He speaks in oxymorons to show his confusion about love.
• Romeo's romantic nature contrasts with Mercutio's playful attitude.

Comparative Writing (Written vs. Visual Text)

• Written text (play) uses dialogue to describe the setting.
• Visual text (movie/scene) shows the setting with colors, lighting, and costumes.
• Emotions are expressed through soliloquies and monologues in the play while in movies emotions are expressed through facial expressions, music, and body language.
• Conflict is described through language and metaphors, shown through fast-paced action, camera angles, and sound effects.
• In Baz Luhrmann’s film, the Capulet and Montague feud is shown with gang violence and guns.
• Shakespeare’s play uses poetic language; the film uses fast editing and dramatic music.

Final Tips for the Exam

• Memorize key quotes.
• Practice analyzing extracts using the PEEL method (Point, Evidence, Explanation, Link).
• Compare written versus visual texts by focusing on techniques (language versus visuals).
• Write clear and structured answers with examples.