A: In this play, by William Shakespeare, the Montagues and the Capulets, the two most important families in Verona, are bitter enemies. Romeo, the son of Lord Montague, is in love with Lord Capulet's niece, Rosaline. But at a feast given by Capulet, which Romeo attends disguised by a mask, he sees and falls in love with Juliet, Capulet's daughter; and she falls in love with him. After the feast, under her window, he hears Juliet's confession of her love for him and wins her agreement to a secret wedding. With the help of Friar Lawrence they are married the next day. Mercutio, a friend of Romeo, meets Tybalt, of the Capulet family, who is furious about finding out that Romeo was at the feast.

B: Mercutio and Tybalt argue and Mercutio is killed in the fight. Romeo then kills Tybalt, for which he is banished by the Prince. Early the next day, after spending the night with Juliet, he leaves Verona for Mantua on the advice of the Friar, who intends to find a good time to tell the secret of Romeo and Juliet's marriage. Capulet demands that his daughter should marry Count Paris. When Juliet asks the Friar for help, he advises that she should agree to the marriage but on the night before the wedding she should drink a potion that will make it look as if she has died. He will then warn Romeo who will come and rescue her and carry her away to Mantua.

A: However, Romeo misunderstands the message from the Friar and thinks that Juliet has died. He buys poison and comes to the vault where Juliet is buried to have one last look at her before he commits suicide. Outside the vault, he meets Paris who he kills in a fight. Then Romeo, after a last kiss on Juliet's lips, drinks the poison and dies. Juliet wakes up and finds Romeo dead by her side, the cup of poison still in his hands. Guessing what has happened, she stabs herself and dies in her turn. When the Friar tells the two families what has happened they become reconciled.

Go to paraphrases of Act prologue and Act 2 scene 6