Reasons for selection and synopsis
Romeo and Juliet is one of Shakespeare’s most famous tragedies.
It follows the path of two star-crossed youngsters who, ignoring the feud which divides their warring families, fall in love and marry.
However, murder and many unhappy coincidences results in violence and tragedy for the young lovers. The story offers a rich
mix of love, comedy, intimacy and violence and this version cleverly adapts the play for a younger audience.

Before reading…
Ask the children to look at the front cover. What do you think the
book will be about? What things can you see on the front cover?
What sort of story will it be? Who might enjoy it?
Now read the blurb – where any of your predictions correct? How do the reviews on the back persuade you to read the book?

Before reading…
Look carefully at the cast list. Draw lines to match the name of the character to their role in the story.
Romeo                  Son of Lord Montague
Juliet                     Juliet’s nurse
Mercutio               Daughter of Lord Capulet
Benvolio                Friend to Romeo
Tybalt                    Juliet’s father
Lord Capulet        Friend and cousin to Romeo
Nurse                     Cousin to Juliet

This is an extract from the end of the play…
A glooming peace this morning with it brings;
The sun, for sorrow, will not show his head:
Go hence, to have more talk of these sad things;
Some shall be pardon’d, and some punished:
For never was a story of more woe
Than this of Juliet and her Romeo.

What might have happened over the course of the story? Do you
think this is a comedy or a tragedy?

Pages 7 – 15

Vocabulary

Find and copy any words or phrases on pages 8 and 9 that highlight Juliet’s
beauty.
In the play, when Romeo sees Juliet he says, “For I ne’er saw true beauty till
this night.” Can you re-write this in modern, standard English?
When Tybalt sees Romeo, he says, “This, by his voice, should be a
Montague. Fetch me my rapier, boy.” What is a rapier?
Which adjective on page 12 describes Tybalt?
Find and copy a word on page that is similar in meaning to ‘promised’.

Infer

Read to the end of page 7. What do you think is going on? Why?
Why does Romeo think he must be mistaken on page 10?
Read page 11. What might Juliet be thinking when she sees Romeo?
Why do you think Romeo was at the ball in the first place?

Predict 

Read to the end of page 9. Who do you think is watching Juliet?
Read to the end of page 15. Do you think Tybalt will get his revenge on Romeo?

Explain 

At the beginning of the play, the narrator says:
Two households, both alike in dignity,
In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.
Where is the play set? What is a grudge? Who is fighting?

Retrieve 

Can you use the information on page 7 to draw a picture of the setting?
Who has forbidden any more fighting between the families?
Complete the missing words: The story is set in _____________ and begins at a
masked __________. __________ sees ___________ and instantly falls in love
with her. _____________ is furious that ___________ is at the ball as the two
families have been ______________ for a very long time.

Summarise

Summarise this part of the story in five sentences.
Can you re-write this part of the story from Tybalt’s point of view?

Pages 16 – 25

Vocabulary 

Can you find a simile on page 17? What does it mean?
Replace the words in bold with synonyms: Before they could leave, an
elderly woman bustled up to them.
Before Juliet see Romeo in the orchard she says, “O Romeo, Romeo,
wherefore art thou Romeo?” In Shakespearian times ‘wherefore’ meant
‘why’ – doe this change of the meaning of what she is saying?
Use the information on pages 20-23 to write a description of the orchard at
night.

Infer 

What are your first impressions of Juliet’s nurse?
What might Juliet be thinking and feeling when Romeo appears in the
orchard?
Find and copy a word or phrase that tells us Juliet was shocked when she
sae Romeo (pg 22).

Predict 

Read to the end of page 19. Do you think Romeo will leave the house?
Read to the end of page 21. Do you think Romeo will get caught?
Read to the end of page 25. Do you think Romeo and Juliet will live happily
ever after?

Explain 

When Juliet finds out that Romeo is a Montague she says, “My only love
sprung from my only hate!” Can you explain what this means?
Do you think it is realistic that Romeo and Juliet should fall in love so quickly?
Romeo is impulsive. Do you agree? Disagree? Use evidence from the text to
support your answer.
When Romeo sees Juliet on the balcony he says, “But soft, what light
through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun…” What
does Romeo compare Juliet to? Why?

Retrieve 

What warning does the nurse give to Romeo?
Where does Romeo ask Juliet to meet him?
What time does Romeo ask Juliet to meet him the next day?
Who marries the young couple?

Summarise 

Re-tell pages 16 – 19 from the nurse’s point of view.
Re-write the scene in the orchard from Juliet’s point of view.

Pages 26 – 39

Vocabulary 

What does ‘tetchily’ (pg 26) mean? Can you use it in a sentence?
Find and copy a word on page 29 that means the same as ‘rude’ or
‘disrespectful’.

Infer 

Why does Mercutio mop his face with a wet handkerchief on page 26?
How do we know that Mercutio is fed up and feeling impatient on pages 26
and 27?
Why does Romeo refuse to fight Tybalt?
Read to the end of page 33. What might Romeo be thinking and feeling
when Mercutio is stabbed?
What evidence is there to suggest on page 35 that Tybalt is exhausted?

Predict 

Read to the end of page 27. What do you think Romeo will say when he
meets Mercutio and Benvolio?
Read to the end of page 29. What do you think Tybalt will do?
Read to the end of page 39. Do you think the guards will catch up with
Romeo?

Explain 

What do Romeo’s friends think of him?
In the play, when Mercutio dies he says, “I am hurt. A plague o’ both your
houses!” Who does he blame for his death?
When Romeo kills Tybalt in the play he says, “O, I am fortune’s fool!” What
might he mean by this? Is Romeo destined for misfortune? Is he to blame for
this?

Retrieve 

The weather in Verona is cold and wet. True or false?
What is the name of Romeo’s closest friend?
Mercutio thinks that Romeo is running late due to a beautiful girl. True or
false?
Benvolio says that he will fight Tybalt. True or false?

Summarise 

Which three words would you use to describe Tybalt’s character and
personality? Share your ideas with a partner.
Summarise this section of the play in two sentences.

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