DOWEN COLLEGE LAGOS

NAME OF TEACHER: ONYEUKA, C.A.

TERM/WEEK: SUMMER /WEEK 3

SUBJECT: LITERATURE-IN-ENGLISH

CLASS: SS2

TOPIC: Plot Structure of the play, ‘Romeo and Juliet’ By William Shakespeare.
[IGCSE DRAMA]

E-NOTES:
A street fight breaks out in the Italian city of Verona between the members and servants of
two noble families which have long been enemies, the Capulets and the Montagues. It rages
until prince Escalus, the ruler, arrives to stop it.
Lord and lady Montague, worried by the strange behaviour of their son, Romeo, ask his
cousin Benvolio to discover the reason for it. Romeo tells Benvolio that he is in despair
because his love for Rosaline is not returned. When they discover that Rosaline will be at
Capulets’ feast that evening, Romeo and Benvolio go along in disguise. Romeo, forgetting
his love for Rosaline, is captivated by Juliet’s beauty and confesses his love to her. He is later
shocked to learn that she is a Capulet. Juliet, in her turn, has fallen in love with Romeo and is
upset to discover that he is a Montague. Later that night, Romeo climbed the walls of Juliet’s
garden and hears her talking to herself and revealing her love for him. He promises to prove
his love by marrying her, and at day-break visits Friar Lawrence, who is persuaded to agree
to marry them that afternoon, in the hope that this link between the two families will end their
quarrel.
Juliet’s cousin, the hot-tempered Tybalt, has recognized Romeo despite his disguise at
the feast. He considers Romeo’s presence there, uninvited, an insult to the family and is
determined to revenge it. Tybalt meets Romeo just after his secret marriage, but Romeo who
wants to be on a friendly terms with the Capulets, refuses to fight him. Romeo’s friend,
Mercutio annoyed by what he thinks is Romeo’s cowardice, fights Tybalt himself and is
killed. His death angers Romeo, who fights and killed Tybalt. He is banished from Verona
and sets out for exile in Mantua.
Lord Capulet tries to force Juliet to marry Count Paris, she refuses and seeks advice
from Friar Lawrence, who gives a drug which will make her unconscious for forty-two hours,
on the morning fixed for the marriage, she is found apparently dead and her body is laid in

1
the family tomb. Friar Lawrence sends a message secretly to summon Romeo in Verona to
assist Juliet’s escape, but because of a plague in Verona the message never reaches him.
Meanwhile, Romeo’s servant Balthasar, believes Juliet to be dead hurries to Mantua to
inform Romeo, who buys some poison and hastens back to Verona. At the tomb Paris tries to
prevent Romeo from entering. Romeo kills him and enters the tomb; he drinks the poison and
dies beside Juliet. Friar Lawrence now arrives and finds Juliet waking up, but he is frightened
by the sound of approaching voices and runs away. When she discovers Romeo dead by her
side, Juliet in despair kills herself with his dagger. A crowd from the city reaches the tomb,
and Friar Lawrence unfolds to them the whole tragic story of the two lover. The two families
are at last reconciled.

EVALUATION:
1. Read Act One Scene and summarise it in a page.
2. Write a short note on Samson.

SUBMISSION DATE: 30TH APRIL, 2020.

NOTE:
Please submit to this email address - language@dowencollege.org.ng and copy
onyeukachi2005@yahoo.com