ACT I - Scene II Practice Quiz — Romeo and Juliet
by William Shakespeare — tap or click to flip
Practice Quiz: ACT I - Scene II
Why does Count Paris visit Lord Capulet at the beginning of Act 1, Scene 2?
Paris wants to ask Capulet for permission to marry his daughter Juliet.
How old is Juliet according to Capulet in this scene?
Juliet is not yet fourteen years old. Capulet says she "hath not seen the change of fourteen years."
What condition does Capulet set for Paris regarding marrying Juliet?
Capulet tells Paris he must woo Juliet and win her heart first, saying "my will to her consent is but a part" — Juliet must agree to the match.
What event does Capulet invite Paris to attend?
Capulet invites Paris to an "old accustom'd feast" (a traditional masquerade party) at his house that evening.
Why can't the Capulet servant deliver the invitations on his own?
The servant is illiterate — he cannot read the names on the guest list that Capulet has given him.
How do Romeo and Benvolio learn about the Capulet feast?
The illiterate servant asks Romeo to read the guest list aloud. After reading it, Romeo and Benvolio are invited by the servant to attend.
Why does Romeo agree to attend the Capulet feast?
Romeo agrees because Rosaline, the woman he is infatuated with, is on the guest list. He insists he will go only to see her.
What does Capulet's line "the earth hath swallowed all my hopes but she" reveal about him?
It reveals that Juliet is his only surviving child — he has lost other children — which explains his protectiveness and reluctance to marry her off too young.
How does Benvolio's personality contrast with Romeo's in this scene?
Benvolio is pragmatic and rational, advising Romeo to look at other women to cure his lovesickness. Romeo is emotional and obsessive, insisting no one can match Rosaline.
What is the dramatic function of the Capulet servant (Peter) in this scene?
Peter provides comic relief through his confusion over trades and his illiteracy. He also serves as a plot device: his inability to read leads him to Romeo, setting fate in motion.
What does Paris represent as a character in this scene?
Paris represents the socially acceptable, arranged-marriage path for Juliet — he is wealthy, titled (a Count), and approved by Capulet, making him the "proper" choice versus Romeo.
How does the theme of fate manifest in Act 1, Scene 2?
A chain of coincidences — an illiterate servant, a chance encounter with Romeo, and Romeo's ability to read — conspires to bring Romeo to the Capulet feast where he will meet Juliet.
How does Shakespeare explore the theme of youth versus age in this scene?
Capulet notes that old men like himself can keep the peace while implying young men are rash. He also considers Juliet too young for marriage, while Paris argues "younger than she are happy mothers made."
How is love portrayed negatively in this scene?
Benvolio calls love a "rank poison" and an "infection." Romeo describes being in love as being "bound more than a madman is," "shut up in prison," and "whipp'd and tormented."
What is the dramatic irony when the servant invites Romeo to the feast?
The servant tells Romeo he is welcome as long as he is not a Montague — but the audience knows Romeo is exactly that. This irony foreshadows the forbidden nature of Romeo's presence.
Identify the extended metaphor in Capulet's description of the feast guests.
Capulet compares the young women to "earth-treading stars that make dark heaven light" and likens the delight they bring to the feeling of spring ("well apparell'd April") following winter.
What hyperbole does Romeo use to describe Rosaline?
"The all-seeing sun / Ne'er saw her match since first the world begun" — Romeo claims no woman in history has ever equaled Rosaline's beauty.
What does "plantain leaf" refer to when Romeo says "Your plantain leaf is excellent for that"?
A plantain leaf was a folk remedy used to treat minor wounds. Romeo sarcastically suggests Benvolio's simple cure for love (finding another woman) is as superficial as putting a leaf on a scrape.
What does Benvolio mean by "one fire burns out another's burning"?
He means that a new passion can extinguish an old one — the cure for Romeo's obsession with Rosaline is to find a new love interest.
What is the significance of Romeo reading the guest list aloud?
The list includes both Rosaline (Romeo's current love) and names like Tybalt and Mercutio who will play crucial roles later. It connects Romeo to the Capulet world and foreshadows future conflicts.