As a five act play, Romeo and Juliet has a clear division of plot. Act I provides the exposition and Act II has the rising action.  Here are some key features of these acts:

ACT I

• The feud is introduced to the audience with the posturing of Sampson and Gregory, Capulet servants, and Balthasar and Abraham, Montague servant.
• That the feud is problematic is evident with the long speech of the Prince, who warns them that anyone who breaks the peace with be punished by death.
• Romeo's parents seek their son, who is morose over his unrequited love for Rosalind, who is going to a nunnery.
• Benvolio tries to cheer up Romeo, urging him to attend the party for Juliet that the servant who cannot read tells them about.
• Paris discusses his desire to marry Juliet with Lord Capulet, who suggests he wait "two more summers."
• However, Lady Capulet urges her daughter to consider Paris as a suitor, but Juliet reluctantly agrees to "look to like, if looking liking move."
• Mercutio playfully embarks upon a long-winded monologue about Queen Mab in order to entertain, but the serious Romeo impatiently tells him, "Thou talk'st of nothing."
• As they approach the Capulet party, Romeo senses fate, fearing "Some consequence."
• Romeo and the others arrive at the party and he sees Juliet across the room and is starstruck.
• After she talks with Romeo, Juliet, too, is smitten.  When she learns who Romeo is, she exclaims, "My only love sprung from my only hate!"

ACT II

• Totally infatuated with Juliet, Romeo runs from the others and scales the orchard walls to stand under Juliet's balcony where he secretly listens to her.
• When Juliet bemoans that he is a Montague, Romeo speaks aloud, startling her.
• Romeo declares his love for Juliet, swearing by the moon; Juliet cautions him that the moon is fickle, and that they me too rash.
• But Romeo persuades her to declare her "love's faithful vow" for his.
• Romeo departs as the Nurse calls to Juliet, and hurries to the cell of Friar Laurence
• Friar Laurence, in a soliloquy remarks on the herbs that he picks; his speech foreshadows what is to come in the play.

Virtue itself turns vice, being misapplied,

And vice sometime's by action dignified.

• Romeo arrives in the friar's cell and tells him about Juliet; Friar Laurence urges caution:  "Wisely and slow.  They stumble that run fast."
• Mercutios and Benvolio are on a street in Verona, discussing a letter of challenge that Tybalt has sent to the Montagues.
• In a humorous scene the Nurse is the object of Mercutio's ridicule.  Providing comic relief, Mercutio call her a "sail," and she retorts with bawdy jokes.
• Impatiently, Juliet awaits the Nurse's return.  Finally, when the Nurse arrives, she is yet garrulous, but does tell Juliet to go to Friar Laurence's cell where Romeo will marry her.
• Friar Laurence continues to urge caution, saying that "violent delights have violent ends."  He tells Romeo to love moderately so it will last.
• The priest performs the marriage ceremony for Romeo and Juliet.