romeo and juliet

Accueil > Romeo and Juliet > Dossier pédagogique > Synopsis anglais

Act I
Scene one : Monday morning. In the chapel, Romeo helps Friar Laurence to varnish a cross. They discuss the latest quarrel between his father's servants and those of the house of Capulet. Romeo tells the Friar about his love for Rosaline, but the Friar advises him to forget her.
A note falls at their feet : it is an invitation to a masked ball that evening at the Capulets. The Friar suggests to Romeo that he go disguised. He will see Rosaline and be able to compare her to others and perhaps fall out of love.

Scene two : At the Capulets. Juliet works at her embroidery : her nurse tells her that her father wishes her to marry Paris, a handsome young man who will be at the ball this evening. Juliet cannot believe it ; she is not yet 14.

Scene three : Monday evening. The ball. Capulet greets his guests. Juliet arrives, sees Romeo, they fall in love. They part and each discovers that the other is an enemy.

Act II
Scene one : In the Capulets' orchard, Romeo sees Juliet at her window. Talking to herself, she confesses her love and her worries. Romeo steps into the light and confesses his love. The nurse arrives and Romeo is forced to go.

Scene two : Tuesday morning. It is dawn, and the friar is picking herbs. Romeo appears, radiant, and tells the friar what has happened in the night. He asks the friar to marry them this very day. The friar hopes that their love will help to heal the family feud.

Scene three : The nurse visits Romeo. She wants to know if he really loves Juliet. Romeo tells her to send Juliet to the friar's cell so that they can be married.

Scene four : Juliet waits for the nurse to return. But when she arrives she complains that she is tired instead of giving Juliet the news she is desperately waiting for. The nurse at last tells her that they will be married by the friar today.

Scene five : the friar marries Romeo and Juliet.

Act III
Scene one : Tuesday evening. Juliette waits for Romeo in her bedroom. The nurse enters and tells her that her cousin Tybalt has been killed by Romeo in a fight. Romeo's punishment is exile ; he must leave Verona. Juliet is suicidal, torn by the loss of her cousin and her husband. The nurse calms her and promises to bring Romeo to her the same night.

Scene two : In the Friar's cell. Romeo, alone, tells how he came to kill Tybalt. The Friar enters and tells him that he is exiled and must leave Verona. Romeo claims he cannot live without Juliette. The nurse arrives and tells them of Juliet's pain. Romeo takes his dagger and tries to kill himself. The Friar restrains him, and convinces him to flee to Mantua awaiting a possible pardon. Romeo decides to visit Juliet one last time.

Scene three : Wednesday morning. The two lovers , at day break, part. Romeo promises to send news from Mantua via his manservant.

Scene four : Juliet's father announces that she will marry Paris tomorrow. Juliet refuses, her father is furious and threatens to disown her. Capulet leaves and the nurse tries to console Juliet by persuading her that she should marry Paris after all. Juliet sends her from the room.

Act IV
Scene one : Juliet asks the friar to help her. She would die rather than marry Paris. The friar has a better idea : he gives her a drug to take that will send her into a deep sleep. The capulets, thinking she is dead, will take her body to the family tomb. Romeo, forewarned of the plan, will then come and rescue her and take her to Mantua.

Scene two : Juliet pretends to have been to confession and tells her father that she will obey him.

Scene three : Wednesday evening. In her bedroom, Juliet takes the drug and goes to sleep.

Scene four : Thursday morning. The nurse comes to wake Juliet and finds her "dead".

Scene five : Juliet's father mourns her loss.

Scene six : In Mantua, Romeo learns of Juliet's death.

Act V
Scene one : Romeo meets an apothecary and persuades him to sell him a lethal drug.

Scene two : Friday afternoon. Friar Laurence discovers that the messanger he sent to warn Romeo of the plan never arrived in Mantua. Juliet will soon wake but will not find, as she expects, Romeo at her side in the tomb.

Scene three : In the Capulets' tomb. Romeo weeps over the body of Juliet, then takes the apothecary's poison. Juliet awakes to find Romeo dying. She hears a noise outside, takes Romeo's dagger and kills herself. The Friar arrives. He blesses the lovers and curses the two families, cause of their death.