Question

Read the excerpt from Act I, scene i of Romeo and Juliet.

So early walking did I see your son:
Towards him I made; but he was ware of me,

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And stole into the covert of the wood:
I, measuring his affections by my own,
That most are busied when they’re most alone,
Pursu’d my humour not pursuing his,
And gladly shunn’d who gladly fled from me.
What stops Benvolio from approaching Romeo?

A) Romeo told Benvolio to turn away and leave him alone.
B) Benvolio lost track of Romeo in the busy Verona streets.
C) Romeo did not recognize Benvolio when he saw him.
D) Benvolio noticed that Romeo purposely hid from him.

Answer 1

d. benvolio noticed that romeo purposely hid from him

Answer 2

The correct answer is D. Benvolio noticed that Romeo purposely hid from him.

At the beginning of his speech, Benvolio says that he made towards Romeo, "but he was ware of me," so we know that Romeo saw Benvolio following him.

However, then Benvolio says that he "gladly shunn'd who gladly fled from me." This means that Benvolio chose to shun, or avoid, Romeo, who clearly fled from him.

Therefore, Benvolio chooses not to approach Romeo because he sees Romeo is purposely avoiding him.