Act II

The first act of Romeo and Juliet was packed with conflict, romance, and intrigue. At the end of Act I, the two "star-crossed lovers" meet and fall in love. What will happen next? Will they tell their parents? Will they run away together? Will they give up hope for their mutual love?

In Act II, Romeo and Juliet will make some decisions, and you will see the famous balcony scene. In this scene, the poetic language will be very sophisticated, so you will spend some time reviewing and exploring figurative language and poetic devices. You will also take a look at the significance of stage directions as they are used in Act II.

Essential Questions

• What types of figurative language and poetic devices are used in Shakespeare's plays?
  
• What is the purpose of stage directions in a play?