Question

name: muyu
romeo and juliet – act 1, scenes 1 & 2 worksheet
act 1, scene 1: the street brawl
part a: comprehension questions. answer in complete sentences.

1. which two families are involved in the opening fight?
2. who starts the fight, and why?

3 how do benvolio and tybalt react differently to the conflict?

1. what warning does prince escalus give the citizens of verona?
2. why is romeo not involved in the fight?

part b: character analysis. match the character to the correct description.
character description
benvolio ___ a. loves fighting and hates peace
tybalt ___ b. calm and tries to stop the fight
romeo ___ c. emotional and focused on love
prince escalus ___ d. enforces the law and threatens
punishment

part c: short response

• what does the opening fight suggest about life in verona?

Explanation:

Part A: Comprehension Questions

1. Which two families are involved in the opening fight?

The two families involved in the opening fight are the Montagues and the Capulets. These are the two feuding families at the center of the Romeo and Juliet conflict, and their rivalry drives the opening street brawl.

1. Who starts the fight, and why?

The fight is started by servants of the Capulet family (specifically Sampson and Gregory) who deliberately provoke servants of the Montague family. They do this to uphold the long - standing feud between the Montagues and Capulets, seeking to start a fight as a way to express their family's hostility.

1. How do Benvolio and Tybalt react differently to the conflict?

Benvolio (a Montague) tries to stop the fight. He acts as a peacemaker, attempting to separate the brawlers. In contrast, Tybalt (a Capulet) loves the conflict. He is aggressive, eager to fight, and even tries to draw Benvolio into a more intense fight, showing his hot - headed and combative nature.

1. What warning does Prince Escalus give the citizens of Verona?

Prince Escalus warns the citizens of Verona that if there is another outbreak of fighting between the Montagues and Capulets, those involved will be punished by death. He is fed up with the ongoing violence and wants to put an end to the feud through this severe threat.

1. Why is Romeo not involved in the fight?

Romeo is not involved in the fight because he is preoccupied with his unrequited love for Rosaline. His thoughts are consumed by his romantic feelings and the sadness of being rejected, so he is not focused on the street brawl and the family feud at this moment.

Part B: Character Analysis

• Benvolio: B. Calm and tries to stop the fight (Benvolio’s actions of attempting to break up the brawl show his peaceful and calming nature).
• Tybalt: A. Loves fighting and hates peace (Tybalt’s eagerness to fight and his aggressive behavior during the brawl demonstrate this).
• Romeo: C. Emotional and focused on love (Romeo’s preoccupation with his love for Rosaline, which keeps him from the fight, shows his emotional and love - focused state).
• Prince Escalus: D. Enforces the law and threatens punishment (The prince’s warning of death for those who fight again shows his role in upholding the law and using punishment as a deterrent).

Part C: Short Response

What does the opening fight suggest about life in Verona?
The opening fight suggests that life in Verona is marked by violence and unrest due to the long - standing feud between the Montagues and Capulets. It shows that the feud has permeated the lower levels of society (as even servants are willing to fight), and that the city is in a state of constant tension. The presence of the fight also implies that the law (represented by Prince Escalus) is struggling to maintain order, and that the feud has a strong hold on the community, affecting the daily lives of its citizens.

Answer:

Part A: Comprehension Questions

1. Which two families are involved in the opening fight?

The two families involved in the opening fight are the Montagues and the Capulets. These are the two feuding families at the center of the Romeo and Juliet conflict, and their rivalry drives the opening street brawl.

1. Who starts the fight, and why?

The fight is started by servants of the Capulet family (specifically Sampson and Gregory) who deliberately provoke servants of the Montague family. They do this to uphold the long - standing feud between the Montagues and Capulets, seeking to start a fight as a way to express their family's hostility.

1. How do Benvolio and Tybalt react differently to the conflict?

Benvolio (a Montague) tries to stop the fight. He acts as a peacemaker, attempting to separate the brawlers. In contrast, Tybalt (a Capulet) loves the conflict. He is aggressive, eager to fight, and even tries to draw Benvolio into a more intense fight, showing his hot - headed and combative nature.

1. What warning does Prince Escalus give the citizens of Verona?

Prince Escalus warns the citizens of Verona that if there is another outbreak of fighting between the Montagues and Capulets, those involved will be punished by death. He is fed up with the ongoing violence and wants to put an end to the feud through this severe threat.

1. Why is Romeo not involved in the fight?

Romeo is not involved in the fight because he is preoccupied with his unrequited love for Rosaline. His thoughts are consumed by his romantic feelings and the sadness of being rejected, so he is not focused on the street brawl and the family feud at this moment.

Part B: Character Analysis

• Benvolio: B. Calm and tries to stop the fight (Benvolio’s actions of attempting to break up the brawl show his peaceful and calming nature).
• Tybalt: A. Loves fighting and hates peace (Tybalt’s eagerness to fight and his aggressive behavior during the brawl demonstrate this).
• Romeo: C. Emotional and focused on love (Romeo’s preoccupation with his love for Rosaline, which keeps him from the fight, shows his emotional and love - focused state).
• Prince Escalus: D. Enforces the law and threatens punishment (The prince’s warning of death for those who fight again shows his role in upholding the law and using punishment as a deterrent).

Part C: Short Response

What does the opening fight suggest about life in Verona?
The opening fight suggests that life in Verona is marked by violence and unrest due to the long - standing feud between the Montagues and Capulets. It shows that the feud has permeated the lower levels of society (as even servants are willing to fight), and that the city is in a state of constant tension. The presence of the fight also implies that the law (represented by Prince Escalus) is struggling to maintain order, and that the feud has a strong hold on the community, affecting the daily lives of its citizens.