Description

Plot Structure of Romeo and Juliet

Exposition: Romeo shows his lust for Rosaline; normal conversations in Montague and Capulet families; Mercutio makes fun of Romeo because of Rosaline’s intent to never marry.

Exciting Force: Romeo meets Juliet at the Capulet house and completely forgets about Rosaline.

Rising Action: Romeo needs to secretly marry Juliet fearing that a Capulet and a Montague would never be allowed to marry.

Climax or Turning Point: Tybalt kills Mercutio, then Romeo kills Tybalt. The Prince arrives and orders that Romeo be banished from Verona.

Falling Action: Paris will soon be married to Juliet, and the Capulets do not know about Juliet’s secret marriage. Juliet decides to fake her death with a potion the Friar gives her.

Moment of Final Suspense: Romeo is informed that Juliet is dead when she is really asleep from the potion. Romeo arrives at the Capulet burial vault ready to drink the poison the Apothecary sold him.

Catastrophe: Romeo drinks the poison and dies. Juliet wakes up, finds Romeo dead, and kills herself with a dagger when the Friar is not looking. Both families agree to stop the hatred after the tragedy.