Romeo & Juliet
Act 3 Study Guide
1. What causes the sword fight between Mercutio and
Tybalt?
Tybalt is trying to fight Romeo, but he won’t fight.
Mercutio gets in the fight to defend Romeo.
2. How is Mercutio killed?
Mercutio is killed when Romeo blocks his sword and
Tybalt stabs him.
3. Why does Romeo kill Tybalt?
Romeo kills Tybalt for revenge for killing Mercutio. He
lets his anger take control.
4. What is Romeos punishment?
Romeo’s punishment for killing Tybalt is banishment.
5. This is Mercutio’s last act. Some people believe that if
Mercutio had remained alive he might have persuaded
Romeo to act more cautiously and realistically. Remember
that Mercutio was not a member of either feuding family he
was related to the prince. Suppose Mercutio had killed
Tybalt in this act as he very nearly did. How would the
action have changed? Do you think the old feud would
have erupted again as it did Explain?
Answers will vary. Discuss.
***6. The turning point of a play takes place when
something happens that turns the action of the play either
upward toward a happy ending or a tragic ending. Why
does Romeos killing of Tybalt become the turning point of
this play that is what actions does this killing set in motion,
actions that will probably lead to tragedy for Romeo and
Juliet?
Romeo killing Tybalt is the turning point in the play
because of the events is causes to happen. Romeo is
banished for this action. This leads to his threats of
suicide, Juliet’s threats of suicide, and they cannot tell
anyone of their marriage. Also, Lord Capulet decides to
have Juliet and Paris marry to help Juliet get over the
sadness about Tybalt’s death (even though that’s not
what she is really upset about). All of these events are
the result of the climax.
7. What does Juliet threaten in scene 2 after learning about
Romeos banishment?
Juliet threatens to kill herself because she doesn’t
believe life is worth living without Romeo.
8. What is the friar’s plan in scene 3?
The Friar tells Romeo to go to Juliet’s that night, but he
must leave before the morning. He is to go to Mantua
and stay there. While he is gone, the Friar will try to
convince the Prince to have mercy on him, find a way to
tell everyone about Romeo and Juliet’s marriage, and
welcome him back to Verona once everything has
settled down.
9. The Nurse has been Juliet’s friend and Counselor
throughout the story. If she had remained her friend and
supporter, the story might have ended differently. How
does the Nurse offend Juliet in this act and cease to be her
friend? How does the Nurse's behavior toward Juliet
contrast with the Friars behavior toward Romeo?
The Nurse says “Shame come to Romeo”. She takes the
Capulet’s side and does not support Juliet and Romeo.
She also states that Juliet should marry Paris and forget
about Romeo. That she will be happier with Paris than
Romeo, and that she should listen to her father. The
Friar behaves differently because he tries to find a way
to make everything work out. He does not blame
Romeo, but gives him a plan and some hope.
10.What plans have her parents made for Juliet in scene 4?
Juliet’s parents decide that she will marry Paris.
11. The last scene in this act, in which Capulet tells Juliet
she will marry the man he wants her to marry, might seem
familiar to you from movies or TV shows or novels. Are
this lord and this lady like fathers and mothers of all
centuries? Is Juliet like all their children? Explain.
Answers will vary.
12. What have the events of this act revealed to you about
the characters of Romeo and Juliet? Explain how the young
lovers are changing. What hard lessons are they learning
about life?
Romeo and Juliet are both very emotional and make
decisions based on their emotions. They are very much
in love and willing to die for their love. They are
learning that they have to suffer the consequences of
their actions. Juliet is also learning that she does not
have as much control over her own life as she would
like.