1. exposition: Romeo falls in love with Juliet, the daughter of his family's enemy
2. rising action: Friar Laurence agrees to marry Romeo and Juliet in hopes that it will create peace between their families
3. turning point: Romeo kills Juliet's cousin, Tybalt, and is exiled
4. falling action: Juliet takes a potion that makes her appear dead
5. denouement: Believing Juliet is dead, Romeo takes his own life; Juliet does the same when she awakens to find Romeo dead
