ELA 8
Romeo & Juliet
Act IV Drama Activity
You will be put into groups to prepare and perform the following act IV
scenes. There are a total of 23 roles.
IV.i (126 lines) – group of 5 -‐ Friar Laurence -‐ Paris -‐ Juliet IV.ii (47 lines) – group of 4 -‐ Capulet -‐ Lady Capulet -‐ Nurse -‐ Servant (minor role) -‐ Juliet (IV.ii and IV.iii together) IV.iii (58 lines) -‐ Juliet -‐ Nurse line 68 onwards: line 77 onwards: IV.iv (30 lines) – group of 4 -‐ Lady Capulet -‐ Nurse -‐ Capulet -‐ First Servant -‐ Second Servant IV.v (142 lines) – group of 7 -‐ Nurse -‐ Lady Capulet -‐ Capulet -‐ Friar Laurence -‐ First Musician -‐ Second Musician -‐ Peter -‐ Meet as a group and decide who will take which roles. -‐ Sit down, and read the scene through for the first time in its entirety together. -‐ Discuss the scene, and how your group can make the presentation of it fun and interesting for the audience. You can adapt it into different themes (ie., Classical Chinese theatre, various pop culture themes (valley girl, cosplay, school cliques, and so on), but the script must remain consistent with your text. -‐ Each character should have at least one costume piece and prop to use. -‐ You will have two classes to prepare together. Use your time well. -‐ You may use your book when you present, but if you have read your scene between FIVE and TEN times, you will begin to know it off by heart, and your presentation will be more natural. -‐ Make sure that you know how to pronounce every word correctly. Focus on phrasing – don’t pause at the end of the line if there is no punctuation. ELA 8
Act IV, Scene i
1. Briefly state the Friar’s solution and plan.
2. Study the imagery present in Scene I. What is notable about it? What purpose does
this imagery serve?
3. Analyze the Friar’s motivations. Why is he willing to become involved in solving
Romeo and Juliet’s marriage problems?
Act IV, Scene ii-iii
1. How does fate again create problems for the lovers in Scene ii?
2. Quote a line from Juliet’s soliloquy that foreshadows her death.
3. Compare Juliet’s isolation with Romeo’s. Does her self-imposed “exile” require more
or less courage than his banishment?
ELA 8
Romeo & Juliet
Act IV Discussion Question
Jot a few notes about the following question to discuss with the class:
One motif developed throughout the play is the contrast between light and dark (or day
and night). What do darkness and light represent? Consider, in your response, the many
instances in which Romeo and Juliet seek to turn day to night, or the shun the light in
favor of darkness.
Romeo & Juliet
Act IV Writing Response
A foil is a character in literature who highlights certain traits of the main character
through contrast. For example, the actions of a coward calls attention to a hero’s bravery.
In a well organized one paragraph response, discuss how either Benvolio serves as a
foil for Tybalt or Mercutio, or how Mercutio serves as a foil for Romeo. Do not offer a
mere character description.
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ELA 8
Romeo & Juliet
Act IV, Scene iv-v
1. What kind of mood do the actions of Scene iv create? How does this contrast with the
mood established in the previous Scene?
2. What purpose does the juxtaposition of Scenes iii, iv, and v serve? Why do you think
Shakespeare arranged them as he did?
3. In Scene v, Capulet says, “Ha! let me see her. Out alas! She’s cold” (line 28). How does his
statement reveal how the Friar’s plan is working?
4. Look back at Paris’ and Lord Capulet’s expressions of grief in Scene v. Would you
describe them as sincere and heartfelt, or artificial? Support your answer.
5. The last part of Scene v is a dialogue between the wedding musicians, who banter back
and forth about what song to play. What purpose does this Scene, which seems quite out
of place, serve?