Romeo and Juliet
Act IV Study Guide (Suffering)

Scene i

What excuse does Juliet use in order to see Friar Lawrence?

According to Paris, why has Capulet moved up the date for the wedding?

Whom does Juliet meet at Friar Lawrence’s cell? What is he doing there?

What is the Friar’s scheme for reuniting Romeo and Juliet?

How is Romeo to be told of the plan?

Scene ii

How and why does Capulet’s mood change during this scene?

What important change does he make in the wedding plans?

How does this change affect the timing of Friar’s plan?

Scene iii

What request does Juliet make of the Nurse and her mother? What excuse does she give?

Why does Juliet take a dagger to bed with her?

Juliet has some doubts about the mixture in the vial. What is her fear about Friar Lawrence?

What are Juliet’s fears about waking up before Romeo arrives?

Scene iv

What are Lady Capulet, the Nurse, Capulet, and the servants doing as the scene opens?

What mood are all of the people mentioned in the previous question in?

What is the dramatic irony of this scene?

Scene v

Capulet uses figurative language to describe his dead daughter in lines 27-29. What kind of figure of speech does he use, and what does it mean?

In lines 65-70, Friar Lawrence chides Juliet’s family for something. What is it, and what reasons does he give?

The Capulets were ready to have a wedding feast. How will all of the preparations for the feast be changed by Juliet’s “death”?