Act IV, Scene i
In Act II, Scene iii the Friar looked to herbs and plants to
explain the good and evil in all human beings. In Act IV, Scene i, Friar Lawrence once again uses his knowledge of nature
as he tries to help Romeo & Juliet. Now the Friar will use natural elements
to create a drug for Juliet. The potion the Friar mixes is an element of
fantasy in the play. No drug has ever existed, even today, that is exactly like
the Friar’s potion. As you read this scene, think about the dangers in the
Friar’s solution to Romeo & Juliet’s problems.
This scene takes place in Friar Lawrence’s cell.
1.The Friar tells
a.Juliet will be married to 2 men.
b.Paris doesn’t know how Juliet feels about the marriage.
c.Juliet doesn’t love
d.It is too soon after Tybalt’s death for Juliet to marry.
2.______________tells the __________that if he can’t help
her, she will commit _________by _________
herself.
3.Explain the Friar’s unusual plan by completing
the list below.
a.On Wednesday night, Juliet will
go to her room alone and will drink the ________.
b.Immediately, _________will go into a __________that makes
her appear ____________.
c.Thursday morning,
____________will try to awaken ________________.
d.Then Juliet’s family will
prepare her for ____________.
e.To let __________know of
Juliet’s condition, the _________will write a ________to him.
f.Finally, ___________ will remove the awakened
___________from the __________and take her to
___________.
Act IV, Scene ii-iii
During the Middle Ages, burial practices differed for people in the
upper and middle classes. Poor people were usually buried in simple graves. But
the bodies of wealthy people were often placed in a family tomb or vault. These
huge stone structures were built above ground. They were dark and damp places,
filled with ancient bones and sealed with boulders to keep out intruders and
robbers. As you read Scene iii, imagine what it would be like to awaken alone
in such a tomb.
Scene ii begins on Tuesday night. As Juliet’s parents are
making preparations for her wedding, she knocks on their door. She speaks to
her parents as a respectful and obedient daughter.
1._____________asks her parents to
___________her for being so stubborn and ______________.
2.How does Juliet explain her change of
attitude to her parents?____________________________________
Scene iii takes place in Juliet’s bedroom late that night.
Juliet convinces her mother and Nurse to leave her so she can pray. But what
she actually does when they depart is prepare to drink the Friar’s poison.
3.List 3 fears Juliet has about the Friar’s
dangerous plan.
a.___________________________________________________________________ b._________________________________________________________________________
c.___________________________________________________________________
Act IV, Scene iv-v
Death was not a stranger to people in the Middle Ages. Men
and women rarely lived beuond their early forties.
Disease, childbirth, and war all took their toll. To faithful Christians,
however, death was both an ending and a beginning. Even though they knew life
on earth would end, true believers felt they would begin a new life in God’s
kingdom. In Scene v, notice what the Friar says to comfort the grieving Capulets.
The night before the wedding, the Capulets
stay up late to prepare for the banquet.
1.According to ______________Capulet, Lord
____________stayed up late in the past in order to carry on with other
______________________.
Wednesday morning, the Nurse is sent to awaken the bride. To
her horror, she discovers Juliet lying on the bed, apparently dead.
2.When Lord ___________learns of
_______________death he is _____________. He compares death to an
____________________________that lies on __________________, the sweetest
______________
of all the ___________________.
Explain why death & Juliet can be described in this manner.
_______________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
3.What does the Friar tell the nourners in order to comfort
them?___________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
4.Friar _________________and Lord
_______________speak of preparations for _______________
funeral. List three things the family will do to
prepare for her burial.
a.__________________________________________________________
b.__________________________________________________________
c.__________________________________________________________