Romeo & Juliet Lesson 15: Got the Plot? - The Story so Far

In this lesson, students are tasked with recalling and summarising the events of Act One from Shakespeare's classic tragedy, "Romeo & Juliet". The act sets the stage for the unfolding drama and begins with a confrontation between the servants of two feuding families, the Capulets and the Montagues, which escalates into a brawl in the streets of Verona. Romeo, a Montague, is introduced as a lovelorn character pining for Rosaline, who does not reciprocate his feelings, leaving him heartbroken. His kinsman, Benvolio, suggests that Romeo attend the Capulet's grand feast to distract himself and perhaps find interest in other beautiful women present there.

During the Capulet feast, Romeo encounters Juliet, the daughter of Lord Capulet, and the two experience love at first sight. Tybalt, Juliet's hot-tempered cousin, overhears Romeo and recognises his voice, becoming furious upon realising that a Montague has infiltrated their celebration. However, when Tybalt brings this to Lord Capulet's attention, he is instructed to tolerate Romeo's presence, which only serves to inflame Tybalt's anger further. As the evening progresses, Romeo and Juliet share a tender moment and exchange a kiss, only to be interrupted. Romeo is whisked away by his friends, and Juliet is informed by her nurse that the young man she has just kissed is none other than Romeo, a Montague, setting the stage for the tragic love story that ensues.