Act I

Prologue

The Chorus (narrator) tells the audience what will happen in the play.

Act 1, Scene 1

Capulet servants try to get Montague servants to fight. Citizens and the Prince stop them. The Montagues worry about their son Romeo who seems upset.

Act 1, Scene 2

Count Paris asks Capulet for permission to marry Capulet's daughter Juliet. Capulet says his daughter is too young, but invites Paris to a feast. A Capulet servant is given a list of people to invite, but he can't read. He shows the list to Romeo who decides to attend.

Act 1, Scene 3

Lady Capulet and Nurse talk to Juliet about the feast and the possibility of marrying Count Paris.

 Act 1, Scene 4

Romeo, Benvolio, and Mercutio talk about the feast and Mercutio gives his famous Queen Mab speech.

Act 1, Scene 5

Romeo meets and kisses Juliet at the feast. Tybalt, a Capulet, is upset that a Montague, an enemy, has come to a Capulet feast.

Act II

Act 2, Prologue

The Chorus says Romeo and Juliet are upset that they cannot see each other, but love will find a way.

Act 2, Scene 1

After leaving the Capulet home, Romeo decides to go back to see Juliet. Mercutio makes jokes about Romeo.

Act 2, Scene 2

During this famous balcony scene Romeo and Juliet tell each other how in love they are and discuss the problem of being from families that hate each other.

Act 2, Scene 3

Friar Laurence picks plants and talks about how everything has good and bad within it. Romeo comes, says he has fallen in love with Juliet, and asks the Friar to marry them to each other.

Act 2, Scene 4 

Benvolio and Mercutio talk about a challenge that Tybalt has sent to Romeo.  Mercutio says insulting things about Tybalt and love. Mercutio is rude to the Nurse who has come to find out when and where Romeo and Juliet's wedding will take place.

Act 2, Scene 5

Juliet waits for the Nurse to return from Romeo with the wedding plans. The Nurse returns and, after joking around, finally tells Juliet the plans.

Act 2, Scene 6

Friar Laurence gives Romeo advice. Romeo and Juliet talk about how much they love one another, and Friar Laurence leads them off to be married.

Act III

Act 3, Scene 1

Romeo, Benvolio, and Mercutio get into trouble. Tybalt kills Mercutio. Romeo kills Tybalt. The Prince exiles Romeo.

Act 3, Scene 2

Juliet waits for Romeo to come to her on their wedding night. She learns that Tybalt has been killed and Romeo has been exiled. The Nurse says she will get Romeo to come to Juliet before he leaves.

Act 3, Scene 3

Friar Laurence talks to Romeo who is hiding in the friar's room.  Romeo learns from the Nurse how upset Juliet is, and he wants to kill himself. Friar Laurence tells Romeo to go to Juliet and then to the city of Mantua until the Prince lets him return home. Romeo goes to Juliet.

Act 3, Scene 4

Paris visits the Capulets and Lord Capulet says that Juliet will marry him the day after tomorrow.

Act 3, Scene 5

Romeo leaves Juliet's room. Juliet learns she must marry Paris. She decides to get help from Friar Laurence. If he can't help her, she will kill herself.

Act IV

Act 4, Scene 1

Paris talks to Friar Laurence about marrying Juliet. Juliet arrives, and after Paris leaves, tells the Friar she will kill herself rather than marry Paris. The Friar comes up with a plan.

Act 4, Scene 2

Lord Capulet plans Juliet's wedding feast, and Juliet tells him she will marry Paris. Lord Capulet is so happy that he moves the wedding forward to the very next day!

Act 4, Scene 3

Juliet tells her mother and the Nurse to leaver her alone. Then she talks to herself about everything that could wrong with the plan to fake her own death. She drinks the potion that will make it look as though she is dead.

Act 4, Scene 4

The Capulets prepare for the wedding. The Nurse is sent to wake Juliet up.

Act 4, Scene 5

The Nurse finds Juliet and thinks she is dead. All of the Capulets are very upset. Friar Laurence tells them to go ahead with the funeral.

Act V

Act 5, Scene 1

Romeo receives the news that Juliet is dead. He buys poison so that he can return to Verona, kill himself in Juliet's tomb, and join her in death.

Act 5, Scene 2

Friar Laurence learns that Romeo never got the Friar's letter (explaining the plan to fake Juliet's death). Friar Laurence goes to the tomb to be with Juliet when she wakes up.

Act 5, Scene 3

Paris goes to Juliet's grave and sees Romeo. Paris and Romeo fight, and Romeo kills Paris. Romeo drinks poison and dies. Friar Laurence comes and finds Romeo and Paris dead. Juliet wakes up, and Friar Laurence tries to get her to come with him. She refuses and he leaves. Juliet kills herself with Romeo's dagger. Watchmen get Prince Escalus, Friar Laurence, Capulet, Lady Capulet, and Montague. The Friar tells everyone what happened. Montague promises to build a statue of Juliet, and Capulet promises to build one of Romeo.