Dramatis Personae Practice Quiz — Romeo and Juliet
by William Shakespeare — tap or click to flip
Practice Quiz: Dramatis Personae
Who is Romeo?
Romeo is the son of Lord Montague and the male protagonist of the play. He falls in love with Juliet Capulet, a member of his family's rival house.
Who is Juliet?
Juliet is the daughter of Lord Capulet and the female protagonist. She is roughly thirteen years old and falls in love with Romeo despite the feud between their families.
Who is Mercutio?
Mercutio is a kinsman to Prince Escalus and Romeo's close friend. He is neither a Montague nor a Capulet, and his death is the play's turning point.
Who is Tybalt?
Tybalt is the nephew of Lady Capulet and Juliet's cousin. He is hot-tempered and aggressive, always eager to fight the Montagues.
Who is Benvolio?
Benvolio is Lord Montague's nephew and Romeo's cousin. He is a peacemaker who tries to avoid conflict, serving as a foil to the combative Tybalt.
Who is Friar Laurence?
Friar Laurence is a Franciscan friar who serves as Romeo's mentor and advisor. He secretly marries Romeo and Juliet, hoping their union will end the family feud.
Who is Count Paris?
Paris is a young nobleman and kinsman to Prince Escalus. He seeks to marry Juliet with her father's approval, creating a rival for Romeo.
Who is Prince Escalus?
Prince Escalus is the ruler of Verona who attempts to maintain peace between the feuding Montagues and Capulets. He threatens severe punishment for anyone who disturbs the peace.
What role does Juliet's Nurse play?
The Nurse is Juliet's caretaker and closest confidante. She acts as a go-between for Romeo and Juliet and provides comic relief with her earthy humor.
Who is Balthasar?
Balthasar is Romeo's personal servant. He brings Romeo the news of Juliet's apparent death in Mantua, setting the final tragedy in motion.
Who are Sampson and Gregory?
Sampson and Gregory are servants of the Capulet household. They open the play by provoking a street brawl with Montague servants, establishing the feud's reach into every social level.
What is the central conflict established by the Dramatis Personae?
The character list divides nearly every figure into Montague or Capulet allegiances, establishing the family feud as the play's central conflict from which the romantic tragedy will emerge.
How does the Dramatis Personae reflect the play's social hierarchy?
The list moves from the Prince at the top, through noble families and their kinsmen, down to servants and attendants, mirroring Verona's rigid class structure.
What role does fate play in Romeo and Juliet?
The Chorus introduces the lovers as "star-cross'd," meaning their destiny is governed by the stars. The play presents fate as an inescapable force that dooms the lovers despite their efforts.
What does the phrase "at variance" mean in the Dramatis Personae?
The phrase "at variance with each other" means in conflict or in a state of disagreement. It describes the ongoing feud between the Montague and Capulet families.
What does "Dramatis Personae" mean?
Dramatis Personae is a Latin phrase meaning "persons of the drama." It refers to the list of characters presented at the beginning of a play.
What is a "kinsman" in Shakespeare's usage?
A kinsman is a male relative or family member. In Romeo and Juliet, the term identifies characters' allegiances, such as Paris and Mercutio being kinsmen to the Prince.