This page is a companion to our book “Romeo and Juliet: The Full Doodling Edition”. We also have related articles on the characters in Romeo and Juliet , as well as a handy scene-by-scene summary . All of this can be downloaded in our printable Romeo and Juliet Pocket Study’zine Pack which also includes fun doodling sheets.

Free Printable Romeo and Juliet Study Guide PDF

Download your free printable
Romeo and Juliet StudyZine

Studying Romeo and Juliet? Download this free pocket study guide, which includes four Romeo and Juliet Study’zines with doodling, made for easy printing at home or school.
Choose the best size for your printer and download for free:

Download (Letter Size)

Download (A4 Size)

This guide is a companion to our book

or Learn More…

Looking for themes and symbols in Romeo and Juliet

Themes are recurring preoccupations that appear within a play. Sometimes these take the form of language, sometimes as imagery. Many of Shakespeare’s plays contain similar overarching themes such as conflict and change; but each play also contains its own ‘fingerprint’ of deeper themes too. Here we explore some of the particular themes you can find in Romeo and Juliet.

Love and Hate

Romeo and Juliet is possibly Shakespeare’s most famous play, and everyone quickly recognises that love is the central theme. Equally as important though is the idea of opposing forces, and so hate plays a crucial role too.

Love is represented in many ways, firstly as the stylized ‘Petrarchan Love’ that lovesick Romeo feels for the unattainable Rosaline. Petrarch was an Italian poet whose soppy sonnets were popular in Tudor England. Like Romeo he also revelled in the melancholy of unrequited love; something that the play certainly has fun with – particularly via Romeo’s friends, Benvolio and Mercutio.

Paris steps forward to win Juliet with all the trappings of courtly love. Just as would be expected from a man of his status seeking the daughter of an important family. Love is present in terms of sexuality too; often through coarse and bawdy innuendo like that enjoyed by the Nurse and Mercutio.

In sharp contrast to all this though is the ‘true love’ experienced between Romeo and Juliet. We can easily recognise it as such. It matures as the plot progresses seemingly threatened only by the hate of others.

The play is laced with hate. Beginning, as we learn in the prologue, with the ‘ancient grudge’ of two feuding families; quickly made real through the vicious street fights and duels that end in such tragedy.

Fate and Free Will

More opposing ideas here too. At the very opening of the play the prologue warns us of this, kicking off with the idea of “A pair of star-crossed lovers” for whom fate has already decided the outcomes. It is in the hands of the stars. Tension is created as Romeo and Juliet experience premonitions of ill-fortune, yet neither lose their ability to act in free-will, opposing what others think to be their paths. Romeo even challenges fate directly when he learns of Juliet’s death, “Then I defy you, stars!”

Youth and Age

Many times you’ll see that the perceived differences between young an old fuel the events of the play. Contrast is made between the vigorous and sometimes impetuous emotions of youth against the more cautious wisdom which appears to come from maturity.

We find this in the relationship between Romeo and Friar Lawrence. “I stand on sudden haste” urges Romeo, “Wisely and slow; they stumble that run fast” replies the Friar. Juliet is most clearly a character at odds with the older generation, namely her parents. The classic case of youth versus age. And yet this contrast is complex and should not be thought of as a cliché. At times Juliet’s maturity stands out against her father’s rash hot-headed fury. Indeed, when we think of the plans cooked up by the ‘wise’ friar, and the risks that he brings to the young couple, we might question how much wisdom age has really brought. Yet we feel impressed by his acquired knowledge of herbs, and reassured by his ability to remain calm in adversity.

Death

All of these themes ultimately tie up with the notion of death versus life. The play is full of references to death, both serious and playful. Life seems to be pretty cheap in Verona, and that death is never far away is reflected in richness of the language used to describe it: “death-mark’d love”, “canker death”, “love-devouring death”, “death-darting eye”, “death becomes thy friend”, “womb of death”, “death’s pale flag” and so on. It is the young that die here, their lives cut short early, whilst the older characters muse on the idea of death. “We were born to die” as Capulet puts it. Ultimately death is personified, rising up as a character present in the minds of the players. This is the most startling when Lord Capulet imagines Death, thinking that he has become Juliet’s bridegroom: “Death is my son-in-law, Death is my heir; My daughter he hath wedded”.

Light and Dark

One of the most arresting and recurring symbols used throughout the play is that of light and dark. Romeo and Juliet meet at night, and much of the time we spend with them together is in the hours of darkness. But time and again Romeo sees nothing but light from Juliet, “Juliet is the sun” he says. So much of their shared language concerns light and dark. When we see Juliet anxiously awaiting the arrival of her love she talks of wanting the dark night to come sooner; “Come, night, come Romeo; come thou day in night”.

We can track this motif from the very start to finish. From the lovesick Romeo pining for Rosaline who “makes himself an artificial night”, to the physical darkness of the Capulet tomb where even in apparent death “Her beauty makes this vault a feasting presence full of light”.

Oppositions and Oxymorons

Along with the oppositions we’ve identified in theme and motif, oppositions also turn up spoken in the form of oxymorons. These literary devices are used within the play’s language to heighten the complexity and intensity of the emotions expressed.

For example, confronting his own unrequited love for Rosaline Romeo says “Here’s much to do with hate, but more with love. Why, then, O brawling love! O loving hate!”. With this contradictory outburst ‘loving hate’, Romeo expresses his inner turmoil very neatly. And later, famously, Juliet expresses that “Parting is such sweet sorrow.” Her words cleverly intensify the complex emotion she is obviously feeling, thus helping us to experience them too.

Related articles

Romeo and Juliet Characters: A Quick Study Guide

Romeo and Juliet Summary, a quick scene-by-scene synopsis

Look Inside ‘Romeo and Juliet’ – a Flip-Through Video

The illustrations in this article are from a reader’s own customized version of our book Romeo and Juliet: The Full Doodling Edition which is available at Amazon and from all good bookstores now. Learn more…

This Romeo and Juliet Summary is a companion to our book “Romeo and Juliet: The Full Doodling Edition”. We also have related articles on the themes of Romeo and Juliet, as well as the characters in Romeo and Juliet. All of this can be downloaded in our printable Romeo and Juliet Pocket Study’zine Pack PDF which also includes fun doodling sheets.

Free Printable Romeo and Juliet Study Guide PDF

Download your FREE printable
Romeo and Juliet StudyZine

Studying Romeo and Juliet? Download this free pocket study guide, which includes four Romeo and Juliet Study’zines with doodling, made for easy printing at home or school.
Choose the best size for your printer and download for free:

Download (Letter Size)

Download (A4 Size)

This guide is a companion to our book

or Learn More…

Romeo and Juliet Summary: Act 1

Act 1 Scene I: A Public Place in Verona

On a sun-baked street in Verona, servants of two rival families stir up an argument. Benvolio, a Montague, tries to bring peace just as Tybalt the hot-headed Capulet arrives. Soon it becomes a riot. The two family patriarchs arrive and join the fray. All stops on the arrival of Prince Escalus. Angered by the continuing violence, he threatens execution for any who fight in the streets again. Lord and Lady Montague ask Benvolio the whereabouts of their son, Romeo. Later Romeo speaks sadly to him of his unrequited love for a girl.

Act 1 Scene II: A Street in Verona

Meanwhile, the wealthy Count Paris asks Lord Capulet for his daughter’s hand in marriage. Capulet asks him to wait because Juliet is too young. He invites Paris to the Capulet’s feast. Soon Romeo and Benvolio hear of their rival family’s feast, and knowing that Rosaline will be there Romeo agrees to go.

Act 1 Scene III: A Room in the Capulet’s House

Lady Capulet and Nurse discuss Paris’s proposal. They try to persuade Juliet that he is a good match.

Act 1 Scene IV: A Street in Verona

Romeo, Mercutio, and friends, make their way to the feast. Mercutio teases Romeo with a tale of the fairy-queen Mab. But Romeo’s bad dream makes him uneasy.

Act 1 Scene V: A Hall in the Capulet’s House

At the feast Romeo spots the beautiful Juliet. Tybalt recognises him, and is outraged that Montagues have crashed the Capulet’s party. Lord Capulet rebukes Tybalt for wanting a fight. He leaves in a rage. Romeo and Juliet meet. It is love at first sight. Soon they discover they are in rival families.

Romeo and Juliet Summary: Act 2

Act 2 Scene I: An Open Place by the Capulet’s Garden

After the feast, thinking Romeo still love-sick for Rosaline, Benvolio and Mercutio search for him.

Act 2 Scene II: Capulet’s Garden

Romeo hides in the Capulet’s orchard and watches Juliet at her window. Unaware he is there, and despite the family feuds, she declares love for him. Romeo steps out of the shadows. They share a vow of love. Juliet asks that they make a secret plan to be married.

Act 2 Scene III: Friar Lawrence’s Cell

Early next day Romeo visits Friar Lawrence to ask the Friar to perform a secret wedding. He agrees, hoping it may reconcile the warring families.

Act 2 Scene IV: A Street in Verona

Mercutio jokes about Tybalt’s showy bravado and teases Romeo for his infatuations. The Nurse arrives seeking Romeo, and is crudely taunted by Mercutio. Romeo makes plans with the Nurse for his marriage to Juliet.

Act 2 Scene V: Capulet’s Garden

Nurse returns home to tell the impatient Juliet of the plans for the marriage.

Act 2 Scene VI: Friar Lawrence’s Cell

At the Friar’s cell the two lovers talk of love. They leave for the wedding ceremony.

Romeo and Juliet Summary: Act 3

Act 3 Scene I: A Public Place in Verona

On the street Benvolio fears trouble. Mercutio chides him and tries to provoke Tybalt. But Tybalt wants a quarrel with Romeo. Romeo appears and does not want to fight. He tries to calm Tybalt. Mercutio can’t understand this – so he challenges Tybalt himself. Romeo tries to intervene, but Mercutio is fatally wounded. Realising Mercutio is dead, Romeo fights and kills Tybalt, and then flees. Prince Escalus arrives and demands an explanation from Benvolio. Despite Lady Capulet’s call for Romeo’s death, the Prince decrees that Romeo is banished.

Act 3 Scene II: A Room in Capulet’s House

Knowing nothing of the day’s tragedy, Juliet longs for the arrival of her new husband, Romeo. When the Nurse arrives upset, Juliet wrongly thinks Romeo is dead. She soon learns of the deaths and the banishment. Devastated she threatens suicide, but the Nurse consoles her and promises to find Romeo.

Act 3 Scene III: Friar Lawrence’s Cell

The Friar tells Romeo of the Prince’s decree. Romeo is distraught. When the Nurse arrives speaking of Juliet’s sorrow, he too threatens suicide. The Friar sends Romeo to stay the night with Juliet, imploring him to leave early for Mantua next morning, where he will later send word.

Act 3 Scene IV: A Room in the Capulet’s House

The Capulets tell Paris of Juliet’s apparent grief at the loss of her cousin Tybalt. Lord Capulet rethinks, and plans a quick marriage for his daughter and Paris.

Act 3 Scene V: A Gallery to Juliet’s Chamber

Romeo and Juliet awake from their secret wedding night together. Romeo reluctantly leaves for Mantua. With a moments warning from Nurse, Lady Capulet enters to tell Juliet she is to marry Paris. Juliet refuses. Capulet arrives and is enraged by Juliet’s defiance. Her choice is marriage or disinheritance. The Nurse tries to persuade her to forget Romeo, but she flees to the Friar for help.

Romeo and Juliet Summary: Act 4

Act 4 Scene I: Friar Lawrence’s Cell

When Juliet arrives at the Friar’s cell, Paris is there talking wedding plans. He speaks of his love for Juliet, but she avoids responding. Paris gone, Juliet pleas for the Friar’s help, threatening suicide if she must marry again. The Friar hatches a plan to fake Juliet’s death with a sleeping potion. This will give them time to plan her to escape to Mantua. Juliet takes the potion away, and the Friar writes to Romeo to explain.

Act 4 Scene II: A Hall in the Capulet’s House

Juliet returns to her father seeking forgiveness. He is so pleased that he moves the wedding to the next day.

Act 4 Scene III: Juliet’s Chamber

Having sent the Nurse and her mother away, Juliet plucks up courage, and takes the Friar’s sleeping potion.

Act 4 Scene IV: A Hall in the Capulet’s House

Early in the morning the Capulets are still busy preparing for the wedding. Nurse is sent to wake Juliet to ready her for the ceremony.

Act 4 Scene V: Juliet’s Chamber

The Nurse cannot rouse Juliet, and believes she is dead. Grief spreads quickly as the household discover the tragic scene. As wedding turns into funeral, Friar Lawrence arrives offering consolation and assistance.

Romeo and Juliet Summary: Act 5

Act 5 Scene I: Mantua, a Street

Balthasar takes the news of Juliet’s ‘death’ to Romeo in Mantua. Romeo resolves to return to Verona to die at her grave. He finds a poor apothecary willing to sell him poison.

Act 5 Scene II: Friar Lawrence’s Cell

Friar Lawrence hears that by misfortune his letter to Romeo was not delivered. He realises immediately that his plan has broken. He will hurry to Juliet’s tomb to be there when she awakes from the potion.

Act 5 Scene III: A Churchyard and the Capulet’s Monument

That night Paris is visiting Juliet’s tomb to mourn. Romeo and Balthasar arrive. Romeo breaks into the tomb alone, and when Paris challenges him, he is killed. At the sight of what he believes is Juliet, dead, Romeo takes the poison.

Friar Lawrence rushes in, just as Juliet awakes, Romeo and Paris dead beside her. The Friar hears the watch coming and tries to persuade Juliet to leave. She refuses. He flees alone. Juliet looks on at the lifeless body of Romeo and tries the empty poison bottle. Just as the men arrive, she takes Romeo’s dagger and kills herself. Both Friar Lawrence and Balthasar are arrested. Prince Escalus, the Capulets and Lord Montague arrive. Friar Lawrence explains all to the Prince. Escalus reads Romeo’s letter and tells the feuding families to reflect. Driven by shared grief, Capulet and Montague reconcile. A statue to the tragic couple is promised.

Related articles

Romeo and Juliet Characters: A Quick Study Guide

Romeo and Juliet Themes: A Short Study Guide

Look Inside ‘Romeo and Juliet’ – a Flip-Through Video

How To Read Shakespeare – and Enjoy It! 12 Top Tips.

The illustrations in this Romeo and Juliet Summary are from a reader’s own customized version of our book Romeo and Juliet: The Full Doodling Edition which is available at Amazon and from all good bookstores now. Learn more…

This page is a companion to our book “Romeo and Juliet: The Full Doodling Edition”. We also have related articles on the themes of Romeo and Juliet, as well as a useful scene-by-scene summary. All of this can be downloaded in our printable Romeo and Juliet Pocket Study’zine Pack which also includes fun doodling sheets.

Free Printable Romeo and Juliet Study Guide PDF

Download your FREE printable
Romeo and Juliet StudyZine

Studying Romeo and Juliet? Download this free pocket study guide, which includes four Romeo and Juliet Study’zines with doodling, made for easy printing at home or school.
Choose the best size for your printer and download for free:

Download (Letter Size)

Download (A4 Size)

This guide is a companion to our book:

or Learn More…

Characters from the Montague’s Household

Romeo

Romeo Montague is the well-regarded son of an important Veronese family. He is serious and thoughtful, often led by his heart. Fresh from an unrequited infatuation, Romeo falls instantly in love with Juliet, daughter of the rival Capulet family. He and she marry in secret, and so follows ever-worsening disarray as the family conflict bars their happiness. When Romeo’s close friend Mercutio is killed by Juliet’s cousin Tybalt, he is overcome with a rage for revenge which leaves Tybalt dead, and he banished. Romeo becomes desperate, but finds guidance from his ally Friar Lawrence, with whom he confides. Romeo is loyal and devoted, and his love for Juliet is continually tested. With increasing maturity he never intentionally fails her, but it is his own rash hasty-minded action that often brings tragedy.

Benvolio

Benvolio is a Montague and cousin of Romeo. He spends a lot of time early on trying to help Romeo forget his lovesick infatuation for Rosalind. He is a peace-maker and acts with sense and maturity whenever a conflict is likely to arise. His name means ‘good wisher’, which sums him up nicely. Benvolio disappears from the play after explaining the deaths of Mercutio and Tybalt.

Characters from the Capulet’s Household

Juliet

Juliet is the only daughter of the wealthy Capulet family. She meets Romeo at her family’s feast and instantly falls in love with him, only to discover he is from the rival Montague family. Although she is only thirteen, a wealthy count called Paris is already asking Juliet’s father about her hand in marriage. Initially her father feels she is too young. Juliet confides much in her nurse, who has looked after her since she was a baby. Her relationship with the Nurse is strong, maybe stronger than that with her mother, but it is tested to breaking point by the banishment of Romeo. Juliet is witty and loyal, but marries Romeo in secret. She defies her father and mother, and her increasing maturity can sometimes seem at odds with Romeo’s. Ultimately her resolute character establishes her as the play’s tragic heroine.

Lord Capulet

Capulet is Juliet’s father and patriarch of the wealthy Capulet household. Somewhat contradictory – he is both warm and caring, fun and convivial, but also domineering and hot-headed. He is protective of Juliet but becomes enraged when she disobeys him, threatening to throw her out to poverty. He blindly plays his part in the unfolding tragedy, and ultimately is the first to offer his hand in peace to end the family feud.

Lady Capulet

Juliet’s mother Lady Capulet was also married young. Her relationship with her daughter seems cold, especially compared to that of the Nurse and Juliet; but she is truly distraught at her death. There are hints that hers is a loveless marriage, the convention of which she looks on as merely a transaction.

Tybalt

Juliet’s cousin Tybalt is hot-headed and quarrelsome. He stands in complete contrast to Romeo’s cousin Benvolio. ‘Wild’ and ’bloody’, Tybalt embodies the family feud of the Montagues and the Capulets. It is he that angrily spots Romeo gate-crashing the Capulet’s feast, and it is his bravado that leads ultimately to the tragic duels and their consequences.

Nurse

The Nurse has cared for Juliet her whole life. She is fun, earthy, and enjoys her own naughty innuendo. She is loyal to Juliet, who confides in her fully. Nurse really wants to help Juliet find happiness with Romeo, and makes the secret arrangements for them both. However, when Lord Capulet’s plans for the marriage to Paris seem inevitable, she quickly changes course and makes Juliet feel betrayed. It is telling that Nurse seems insensitive to this moment – and it becomes a tipping point in the whole tragedy.

From the Court of Verona

Escalus

Prince Escalus personifies authority in Verona. His name suggests the scales of the justice. He acts to put an end to the fighting caused by the Capulet and Montague feud. But he shows mercy for Romeo following the killing of Tybalt in revenge for the death of his kinsman Mercutio.

Mercutio

Mercutio is Romeo’s sharp-witted friend and kinsman of the prince. His name suggests ‘Mercurial’ which describes his character well. His humor is cutting and his wordplay clever. He fights Tybalt for Romeo’s honor, not realizing the cause of his friend’s reluctance. His death is a turning point for Romeo.

Paris

Count Paris is a kinsman of Prince Escalus. He is wealthy and confident, and has decided he will marry Juliet. Juliet shows no real interest, but he is determined. It is particularly after Juliet’s death that we see clues that Paris held true feelings of love for Juliet.

Page to Paris

Characters in Mantua

An Apothecary

The Apothecary sells the fatal poison to Romeo, who describes him as thin to the bone with bushy eyebrows and tattered clothes. He seems thoroughly down on his luck willing to risk all for money.

Characters from the Church

Friar Lawrence

Friar Lawrence is a respected holy man, and both friend and advisor to Romeo. In many ways he is wise and well-meaning; helping and calming the young couple in their need. But he is also scheming and naive, hatching high-risk plans that put them at risk. Much of the tragedy that occurs originates with his plans, and in the end he hastily abandons Juliet in the tomb.

Friar John

A fellow Franciscan friar whom Friar Lawrence entrusts with delivering the all-important letter.

Other Citizens of Verona

Relations, Servants, Three Musicians, Citizens,
Maskers, Guards, Watchmen

Related articles

Romeo and Juliet Summary: A Handy Scene-by-Scene Synopsis

Romeo and Juliet Themes: A Short Study Guide

Look Inside ‘Romeo and Juliet’ – a Flip-Through Video

The illustrations in this article are from a reader’s own customized version of our book Romeo and Juliet: The Full Doodling Edition which is available at Amazon and from all good bookstores now. Learn more…

Here’s a new flip-through video tour that we’ve made for the book. It shows just one example of how great it looks having been lovingly customized by a reader. Yours, of course, would look totally personal and different! How ever you want it to.

You can find out more about our ‘Doodle Through Shakespeare’ book here.

or Learn More…

If you’re about to start reading Shakespeare for the first time you might like these top 12 tips on How to Read Shakespeare and enjoy it too!