note: I cannot guarantee that this study guide covers all the information on the test, nor that all the information on this study guide will be on the test.

the multiple choice section

what you need to know

for the multiple choice section, there will be questions where you match the description of a character to the correct character using a bank of characters. the second section is quote identification, where you will match a given quote to the character that said it. for this section, make sure you know the characters, their significance to the story, and their physical and personality traits. to prepare for the quote identification section, you can look for quotes online to review. I recommend that you at least skim through the play to get a refresher on some of the events and quotes.

character list

• romeo - the son of the montagues, falls in love with juliet, secretly marries her, kills tybalt, is banished to mantua, comes back to kill himself due to juliet’s alleged death

• montague/lady montague - romeo’s parents, enemies of capulet, lady montague dies of grief from romeo’s exile

• benvolio - a montague, romeo’s kinsman/cousin, tries to break up violence, tries to help romeo forget about rosaline

• juliet - the daughter of the capulets, falls in love with romeo, secretly marries him, is forced to marry paris, eventually stabs herself due to romeo’s death

• capulet/lady capulet - juliet’s parents, enemies of montague, try to marry her to paris

• tybalt - a capulet, juliet’s cousin, aggressive/violent (especially toward montagues) and quick to start a fight, kills mercutio, killed by romeo

• the nurse - juliet’s faithful caregiver since infancy, provides comic relief with speeches and inappropriate jokes, helps juliet with romeo, advises juliet to marry paris

• friar lawrence - a franciscan friar, friend to romeo and juliet, secretly marries romeo and juliet, helps them with plans using a sleep potion

• prince escalus - the prince of verona, tries to maintain public peace by breaking up street fights between the montagues/capulets and threatening them with death if it happens again, chooses to banish romeo for killing tybalt

• mercutio - a kinsman of the prince, romeo’s close friend, provides comic relief with often sexual wordplay jokes, hot-tempered, killed by tybalt

• paris - a kinsman of the prince, a suitor of juliet preferred by capulet, killed by romeo

timeline

sunday

a.m.

• act 1, scene 1

• act 1, scene 2

p.m.

• act 1, scene 3

• act 1, scene 4

• act 1, scene 5

monday

a.m.

• act 2, scene 1

• act 2, scene 2

• act 2, scene 3

p.m.

• act 2, scene 4

• act 2, scene 5

• act 2, scene 6

• act 3, scene 1

• act 3, scene 2

• act 3, scene 3

• act 3, scene 4

tuesday

a.m.

• act 3, scene 5

• act 4, scene 1

p.m.

• act 4, scene 2

• act 4, scene 3

wednesday

a.m.

• act 4, scene 4

• act 4, scene 5

thursday

a.m.

• act 5, scene 1

friday

a.m.

• act 5, scene 2

• act 5, scene 3

the written section

shakespearean sonnets

poems with specific rules:

• in iambic pentameter:

  • a line in shakespeare measures five iambs

  • “iamb” - a series of 2 syllables: first is unstressed, second is stressed

  • a “u” above an unstressed syllable and a “/” above a stressed syllable is used to identify the stressed syllables

• 14 lines

• rhyme scheme: ABABCDCDEFEFGG

  • another way to think about it: 3 sets of 4 lines where alternating lines rhyme, then a rhyming couplet at the end

in shakespearean sonnets, shakespeare typically presents a problem early in the poem, and then will spend the rest of the poem working toward resolving the problem. the couplet can be the secret to unlocking the poem’s meaning.

literary devices

• soliloquy - when an actor delivers a long speech when they are alone onstage for the purpose of sharing their thoughts with the audience

  • ***not to be confused with a monologue, where the person is aware that people are listening

  • example: “but soft, what light through yonder window breaks? … “ (romeo speaking about juliet to audience, act 2 scene 2)

• aside - either a quick comment that is thrown out to the audience or a comment that is directed at a select group of other characters

  • example: “is the law of our side if I say “ay”?” (sampson speaking to gregory, act 1 scene 1)

• paradox - a statement that seems to contradict itself but in fact has truth to it

  • example: “that I must love a loathèd enemy.” (juliet to romeo, act 1 scene 5)

• oxymoron - a combination of 2 words that contradict each other

  • example: “gentle sin” (romeo speaking to juliet, act 1 scene 5)

• double entendre - a phrase that has multiple meanings; one is sexual in nature

  • example: “my naked weapon is out.” (sampson speaking to gregory about his sword with a sexual meaning, act 1 scene 1)

• pun - using words that have multiple meanings or words that sound very alike

  • example: “we’ll measure them a measure and be gone.” (benvolio using two meanings of measure as a wordplay)

• extended metaphor - a series of metaphors (or other figurative devices) that all deal with the same subject

  • example: “read o’er the volume of young paris’ face, … “ (lady capulet repeatedly comparing paris to a book of love, act 1 scene 3)

• dramatic irony - when the audience knows something that the characters onstage don’t

  • example: “beauty’s ensign yet is crimson in thy lips and in thy cheeks … “ (romeo speaking about juliet looking alive when she is supposedly dead, act 5 scene 3)

about the brain

• amygdala - part of the brain that evaluates threat

  • every stimulus goes to the amygdala first

  • most developed part of the brain at birth; first part to fully develop

  • people with overdeveloped amygdala see the world in black and white and tend to overreact or have mood swings

  • example: romeo killing tybalt after mercutio’s death (overdeveloped amygdala)

• pre-frontal cortex - part of the brain that accesses all parts of the brain; the “central processing unit”

  • makes logical decisions based on the information it takes in

  • least developed part of the brain when you are young; one of the last parts to fully develop

  • example: romeo deciding to kill himself after juliet’s supposed death (underdeveloped pre-frontal cortex)

• dopamine/serotonin - chemicals that make you happy

  • in your body as a reward system

  • becoming reliant on dopamine can cause an imbalance that can cause disorders like depression

  • example: romeo’s happiness when with juliet

• norepinephrine/adrenaline - hormones that play a role in how you react, part of your “fight-or-flight” response

  • norepinephrine - encourages your body to release adrenaline

  • adrenaline - speeds everything up and gets ready to act

  • example: how romeo killing tybalt after mercutio’s death (norepinephrine caused release of adrenaline, resulting in romeo’s reaction)

• phenethylamine (PEA) - natural amphetamine

  • releases dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin

  • example: romeo’s excitement/happiness in seeing juliet at the capulet party (dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin released)

• oxytocin - a bonding chemical that makes you feel connected to someone

  • creates a sense of safety/security

  • released through contact

  • levels are highest at sex, childbirth, and breastfeeding

  • example: romeo and juliet kissing (release of oxytocin through contact)

hopefully this study guide helps! please reach out if you have any questions. good luck, you’ve got this! :)