Romeo and Juliet

All about Will Born in 1564 to John & Mary Arden Born in 1564 to John & Mary Arden Studied classical literature in Greek and Latin in grammar school Studied classical literature in Greek and Latin in grammar school At 18, married Anne Hathaway(8 years his senior) At 18, married Anne Hathaway(8 years his senior) Had 3 children: Susana and twins Judith and Hamnet Had 3 children: Susana and twins Judith and Hamnet established in London as an actor/playwright established in London as an actor/playwright

More about Will… In 1592, he moved to London, leaving his family behind while he pursued a career as an actor and playwright In 1592, he moved to London, leaving his family behind while he pursued a career as an actor and playwright First work: Comedy of Errors First work: Comedy of Errors Died April 23, 1616 Died April 23, 1616

Shakespeare’s Death Died at 53 and wealthy Died at 53 and wealthy Buried at Holy Trinity Church Buried at Holy Trinity Church Good friend for Jesus sake for beare, To digg the dust enclosed heare: Blest be ye man ty spares these stones, And curst be he ty moves my bones Translated Good friend for Jesus sake forbear, To dig the dust enclosed here: Blest be the man that spares these stones, And curst be he who moves my bones

Lord Chamberlain’s Men Became partner in a theater company know as the Lord Chamberlain’s Men Became partner in a theater company know as the Lord Chamberlain’s Men Became popular in London in 1599 Became popular in London in 1599 Built their own playhouse, The Globe Theater Built their own playhouse, The Globe Theater

His Works Tragedies Romeo and Juliet Julius Caesar Romances The Tempest Histories The Life of Henry the Fifth Comedies A Midsummer Night’s Dream Much Ado About Nothing Also wrote 154 sonnets

Elizabethan vs. Modern Theater Considered somewhat a vulgar and rowdy place Considered somewhat a vulgar and rowdy place Actors sometimes arrested as vagabonds Actors sometimes arrested as vagabonds Theaters sometimes shut down because of the content of the plays Theaters sometimes shut down because of the content of the plays Located on the outskirts of town; routinely shut down because of plague Located on the outskirts of town; routinely shut down because of plague

Performances Theaters used little scenery and few props Theaters used little scenery and few props Audience had to imagine the setting according to how the characters described it Audience had to imagine the setting according to how the characters described it All actors were men and boys; improper for women to act in plays All actors were men and boys; improper for women to act in plays

Audience Included people from all statuses: laboring people from the lower class, middle-class merchants, members of Parliament, and lords and ladies Included people from all statuses: laboring people from the lower class, middle-class merchants, members of Parliament, and lords and ladies Pickpockets mingled among the wild and noisy groundlings Pickpockets mingled among the wild and noisy groundlings Noble people sat on cushioned seats in the first- tier balcony Noble people sat on cushioned seats in the first- tier balcony Plays were written for everyone: “from the most able, to him that can but spell” Plays were written for everyone: “from the most able, to him that can but spell”

Will’s Language He actually introduced an estimated 3,000 new words into the English language: He actually introduced an estimated 3,000 new words into the English language: Bedazzlecriticalhurry Sillinessobscenelonely Eyeballalligatorpuking Phrases he created *It’s Greek to me*Fair play *All that glitters is not gold *Break the ice*Too much of a good thing

Types of Characters Tragic hero: a main character that has a tragic flaw (an error in judgment or defect in character that leads to downfall) Tragic hero: a main character that has a tragic flaw (an error in judgment or defect in character that leads to downfall) Foil: a character who contrasts with a central character in order to highlight each other’s strengths, and more usually weaknesses Foil: a character who contrasts with a central character in order to highlight each other’s strengths, and more usually weaknesses Comic Relief: humorous character to break up the seriousness and emotional intensity Comic Relief: humorous character to break up the seriousness and emotional intensity

Types of Logues… Dialogue-conversation between two or more people Dialogue-conversation between two or more people Monologue-long speech made by one character Monologue-long speech made by one character Soliloquy-speech delivered by a character alone on stage that reveals the characters thoughts and feelings Soliloquy-speech delivered by a character alone on stage that reveals the characters thoughts and feelings Aside-statement made by a character in a play that is meant to be heard by the audience only Aside-statement made by a character in a play that is meant to be heard by the audience only

Romeo and Juliet Written between Written between Based on Arthur Brooke’s The Tragicall History of Romeus and Juliet Based on Arthur Brooke’s The Tragicall History of Romeus and Juliet

Things to look for while reading Puns Puns Allusions Allusions Metaphor Metaphor Personification Personification Oxymoron Oxymoron Paradox Paradox Foreshadowing Foreshadowing

Puns A pun is a humorous play on words A pun is a humorous play on words Mercutio-”Nay gentle Romeo, we must have your dance.” Romeo-”Not I, believe me. You have dancing shoes/ With nimble soles; I have a soul of lead…” Romeo-”Not I, believe me. You have dancing shoes/ With nimble soles; I have a soul of lead…”

Allusions An allusion is a reference to a well-known work of art, music, literature, or history. An allusion is a reference to a well-known work of art, music, literature, or history. “At lovers’ perjuries, they say Jove laughs.” Jove is another name for Jupiter, the Roman King of the Gods

Metaphor A metaphor is a direct comparison between two unlike things. A metaphor is a direct comparison between two unlike things. Romeo-”But soft! What light through yonder window breaks?/ It is the East, and Juliet is the sun.”

Personification Personification occurs when an inanimate object or concept is given the qualities of a person or animal. Personification occurs when an inanimate object or concept is given the qualities of a person or animal. Juliet-”For though wilt lie upon the wings of night/ Whiter than new snow on a raven’s back. / Come, gentle night, come loving black-brow’d night.”

Oxymorons An oxymoron describes when two juxtaposed words have opposing or very diverse meanings. An oxymoron describes when two juxtaposed words have opposing or very diverse meanings. Juliet-”Beautiful tyrant! Fiend angelical!”

Paradoxes A paradox is a statement or situation with seemingly contradictory or incompatible components. A paradox is a statement or situation with seemingly contradictory or incompatible components. Juliet-”O serpent heart, hid with a flowering face!”

Foreshadowing Foreshadowing is a reference to something that will happen later in the story. Foreshadowing is a reference to something that will happen later in the story. Juliet-”Give me my Romeo, and, when he shall die, Take him and cut him out in little stars Take him and cut him out in little stars And he will make the face of heaven so fine That all the world will be in love with night And pay no worship to the garish sun.”

Themes Light and dark Light and dark Time Time Fate Fate

Light and Dark Look for references to light and dark: Look for references to light and dark: References to “light” words, such as “torches,” “the sun,” and adjectives that describe light(bright) References to “light” words, such as “torches,” “the sun,” and adjectives that describe light(bright) References to “dark” words, such as “night” and “gloom” References to “dark” words, such as “night” and “gloom”

Time Look for references to time: Look for references to time: References to “time” words, such as “hours” References to “time” words, such as “hours” References to the passage of time, especially if it seems “rushed” References to the passage of time, especially if it seems “rushed”

Fate Look for references to fate: Look for references to fate: Look for instances where events are blamed on “fate,” “destiny,” or “the stars” Look for instances where events are blamed on “fate,” “destiny,” or “the stars”

The Montagues Romeo Romeo Montague Montague Lady Montague Lady Montague Benvolio Benvolio Balthasar Balthasar Baltthasar Lady Montague Lord Montague Romeo

The Capulets Juliet Juliet Capulet Capulet Lady Capulet Lady Capulet Tybalt Tybalt Nurse Nurse Lord Capulet Lady Capulet Tybalt Nurse Juliet

The Others Mercutio Mercutio Friar Lawrence Friar Lawrence Paris Paris Prince Prince Friar Lawrence Paris Mercutio Prince

The Setting Verona and Mantua, Italy Verona and Mantua, Italy