Romeo and Juliet Romeo and Juliet Introduction and Introduction and Background Background William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of

William Shakespeare Shakespeare was born in Shakespeare was born in 1564 and died in He grew up in a town called Stratf0rd-on-Avon and later moved to London to become an actor and playwright. He grew up in a town called Stratf0rd-on-Avon and later moved to London to become an actor and playwright.

The Plays Shakespeare’s plays include comedies, histories—and tragedies such as Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare’s plays include comedies, histories—and tragedies such as Romeo and Juliet. Some of his other famous plays include Julius Caesar, Hamlet, Macbeth, Othello, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Some of his other famous plays include Julius Caesar, Hamlet, Macbeth, Othello, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. In addition, Shakespeare wrote love poems called sonnets. In addition, Shakespeare wrote love poems called sonnets.

Will the real Shakespeare please stand up? Some scholars have suggested Shakespeare, who had little formal education, could not have written such powerful and creative plays. Some scholars have suggested Shakespeare, who had little formal education, could not have written such powerful and creative plays. However, nobody in Shakespeare’s day thought to question his authorship. Apparently, he was just a genius! However, nobody in Shakespeare’s day thought to question his authorship. Apparently, he was just a genius!

Elizabethan Theater Elizabethan Theater Shakespeare’s time period was during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Literature was used and taught very often in London because they thought it was important for them to write. They began to value writing and theater. Shakespeare’s time period was during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Literature was used and taught very often in London because they thought it was important for them to write. They began to value writing and theater. Elizabethan theaters were makeshift, dirty, and loud, but nevertheless they attracted audiences as large as 3,000 from all social classes. Elizabethan theaters were makeshift, dirty, and loud, but nevertheless they attracted audiences as large as 3,000 from all social classes.

Elizabethan Theater Since Ancient Greece, theater had gained popularity and now was a common event and form of entertainment. Since Ancient Greece, theater had gained popularity and now was a common event and form of entertainment. Theater was still extremely political. It addressed “hot” topics that the country was facing. Theater was still extremely political. It addressed “hot” topics that the country was facing. Being an actor was not a highly regarded profession; actors were looked down upon in society. Actors were looked down upon by the church because they used profanity, heresy, or politics. Being an actor was not a highly regarded profession; actors were looked down upon in society. Actors were looked down upon by the church because they used profanity, heresy, or politics.

The Globe Shakespeare’s plays were performed in a theater called the Globe— sometimes called “The Wooden ‘O’” because of its circular shape.

The reconstructed stage of the Globe Theaters had no lighting, so performances took place during the day. Theaters had no lighting, so performances took place during the day. There were few special effects or props; Shakespeare used detailed verbal description to paint a picture of his scenes. There were few special effects or props; Shakespeare used detailed verbal description to paint a picture of his scenes.

Context The time period in which Shakespeare lived—Elizabethan England, named for the queen— influenced the content of his plays as well as the way in which they were performed. Elizabethans believed the earth was flat. Elizabethans believed the earth was flat.

Marriage In Shakespeare’s day, marriages were generally contracts set up by the parents. In Shakespeare’s day, marriages were generally contracts set up by the parents. When Juliet’s parents arrange a marriage for her, it seems strange to us; Shakespeare’s audience would have thought it was completely normal. When Juliet’s parents arrange a marriage for her, it seems strange to us; Shakespeare’s audience would have thought it was completely normal.

Vocabulary Soliloquy: speech where a character speaks to him or herself and inadvertently the audience as a way to reveal thoughts and feelings Soliloquy: speech where a character speaks to him or herself and inadvertently the audience as a way to reveal thoughts and feelings Romeo: But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks? Romeo: But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun. It is the east, and Juliet is the sun. Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, Who is already sick and pale with grief, Who is already sick and pale with grief, That thou her maid art far more fair than she: That thou her maid art far more fair than she: Be not her maid, since she is envious; Be not her maid, since she is envious; Her vestal livery is but sick and green Her vestal livery is but sick and green And none but fools do wear it; cast it off. (2.2) And none but fools do wear it; cast it off. (2.2)

Vocabulary Aside: remark by a character in a play intended to be heard by the audience but not by other characters Aside: remark by a character in a play intended to be heard by the audience but not by other characters Juliet: O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo? Juliet: O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name; Deny thy father and refuse thy name; Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, And I'll no longer be a Capulet. And I'll no longer be a Capulet. Romeo: [Aside.] Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this? (2.2) Romeo: [Aside.] Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this? (2.2)

Vocabulary Monologue: long speech by a character Monologue: long speech by a character Prince: Rebellious subjects, enemies to peace, Prince: Rebellious subjects, enemies to peace, Profaners of this neighbour-stained steel,-- Profaners of this neighbour-stained steel,-- Will they not hear? What, ho! you men, you beasts, Will they not hear? What, ho! you men, you beasts, That quench the fire of your pernicious rage That quench the fire of your pernicious rage With purple fountains issuing from your veins, With purple fountains issuing from your veins, On pain of torture, from those bloody hands On pain of torture, from those bloody hands Throw your mistemper'd weapons to the ground, Throw your mistemper'd weapons to the ground, And hear the sentence of your moved prince. And hear the sentence of your moved prince. Three civil brawls, bred of an airy word, Three civil brawls, bred of an airy word, By thee, old Capulet, and Montague, By thee, old Capulet, and Montague, Have thrice disturb'd the quiet of our streets, Have thrice disturb'd the quiet of our streets, And made Verona's ancient citizens And made Verona's ancient citizens Cast by their grave beseeming ornaments, Cast by their grave beseeming ornaments, To wield old partisans, in hands as old, To wield old partisans, in hands as old, Canker'd with peace, to part your canker'd hate: Canker'd with peace, to part your canker'd hate: If ever you disturb our streets again, If ever you disturb our streets again, Your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace. Your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace. For this time, all the rest depart away: For this time, all the rest depart away: You Capulet; shall go along with me: You Capulet; shall go along with me: And, Montague, come you this afternoon, And, Montague, come you this afternoon, To know our further pleasure in this case, To know our further pleasure in this case, To old Free-town, our common judgment-place. To old Free-town, our common judgment-place. Once more, on pain of death, all men depart. (1.1) Once more, on pain of death, all men depart. (1.1)

Vocabulary Prologue: an introduction or preface Prologue: an introduction or preface Chorus: Two households, both alike in dignity, Chorus: Two households, both alike in dignity, In fair Verona, where we lay our scene, In fair Verona, where we lay our scene, From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean. Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean. From forth the fatal loins of these two foes From forth the fatal loins of these two foes A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life; A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life; Whose misadventured piteous overthrows Whose misadventured piteous overthrows Do with their death bury their parents' strife. Do with their death bury their parents' strife. The fearful passage of their death-mark'd love, The fearful passage of their death-mark'd love, And the continuance of their parents' rage, And the continuance of their parents' rage, Which, but their children's end, nought could remove, Which, but their children's end, nought could remove, Is now the two hours' traffic of our stage; Is now the two hours' traffic of our stage; The which if you with patient ears attend, The which if you with patient ears attend, What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend. (1.1) What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend. (1.1)

Vocabulary Oxymoron: figure of speech that combines contradictory terms Oxymoron: figure of speech that combines contradictory terms Romeo: Here’s much to do with hate, but more with love Romeo: Here’s much to do with hate, but more with love Why, then, O brawling love, O loving hate, Why, then, O brawling love, O loving hate, Oh anything of nothing first create Oh anything of nothing first create O heavy lightness, serious vanity O heavy lightness, serious vanity Misshapen chaos of well-seeming forms Misshapen chaos of well-seeming forms Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health Still-waking sleep, that is not what it is! Still-waking sleep, that is not what it is! This love I feel that feel no love in this. (1.1) This love I feel that feel no love in this. (1.1)

Tragedy Shakespeare’s tragedies also follow a pattern that would have made sense to his audience. Shakespeare’s tragedies also follow a pattern that would have made sense to his audience. Elizabethans believed that people’s decisions and mistakes always had consequences, and that people sometimes had to pay a high price for their mistakes. Elizabethans believed that people’s decisions and mistakes always had consequences, and that people sometimes had to pay a high price for their mistakes. In Shakespeare’s tragedies, the main characters make decisions that upset the proper order of their world and so affect them and everyone around them. The situation is resolved only when others learn lessons from the main characters’ deaths. In Shakespeare’s tragedies, the main characters make decisions that upset the proper order of their world and so affect them and everyone around them. The situation is resolved only when others learn lessons from the main characters’ deaths.

Why we read… So why do we still read plays like Romeo and Juliet? When Shakespeare’s world was so different from ours, what can we learn from his plays? So why do we still read plays like Romeo and Juliet? When Shakespeare’s world was so different from ours, what can we learn from his plays? Well, the plays are not only great, powerful stories—they also teach lessons about life that apply to people in all cultures and time periods, and those lessons can help us when we come across hard times in our own lives. Well, the plays are not only great, powerful stories—they also teach lessons about life that apply to people in all cultures and time periods, and those lessons can help us when we come across hard times in our own lives.

Keep in Mind: Don’t be alarmed by the old-fashioned language: this is really a play about people who are a lot like us, and the difficult words, when you look at them carefully, express emotions anyone can understand. Don’t be alarmed by the old-fashioned language: this is really a play about people who are a lot like us, and the difficult words, when you look at them carefully, express emotions anyone can understand. And remember, the play is POETRY: it’s not supposed to be written exactly the way people talk. The poetry is part of what makes it beautiful and powerful—and worth reading. And remember, the play is POETRY: it’s not supposed to be written exactly the way people talk. The poetry is part of what makes it beautiful and powerful—and worth reading.

Reading the Play Shakespeare’s plays were meant to be performed—they were some of the most popular entertainment of their time. So when we read the play, the point is to try and imagine it happening onstage! Shakespeare’s plays were meant to be performed—they were some of the most popular entertainment of their time. So when we read the play, the point is to try and imagine it happening onstage! Two things to know: Sometimes a character will give a long speech all by herself, revealing her secret thoughts to the audience: this is called a soliloquy. Sometimes a character will give a long speech all by herself, revealing her secret thoughts to the audience: this is called a soliloquy. Sometimes a character will just make a brief comment to the audience that the other characters don’t hear; this is called an aside. Sometimes a character will just make a brief comment to the audience that the other characters don’t hear; this is called an aside. Because of the minimal props and scenery, the action in Shakespeare’s plays had to be conveyed through words and conversations. A conversation between characters is called DIALOGUE.

So Who’s Who Here? So Who’s Who Here? Shakespeare’s plays can have LOTS of characters. Let’s try to get them straight in our minds… First of all, all of the characters in Romeo and Juliet Romeo and Juliet are arranged around a central conflict between two rival families: the Montagues and the Capulets. are arranged around a central conflict between two rival families: the Montagues and the Capulets.

The Montagues Romeo Montague Romeo’s Dad Lady Montague Romeo’s mother Mercutio Romeo’s best friend Benvolio Romeo’s cousin

The Capulets juliet Capulet Juliet’s father Lady Capulet Juliet’s Mother Tybalt Juliet’s cousin Nurse Juliet’s nanny

The Peacemakers: The Prince of Verona: This ruler tries to mediate between the feuding families. This ruler tries to mediate between the feuding families. He is pretty tired of all the bloodshed caused by their “ancient grudge.” He is pretty tired of all the bloodshed caused by their “ancient grudge.” Friar Lawrence: This religious leader is respected as a holy man by both sides, and would like to see them reconciled. This religious leader is respected as a holy man by both sides, and would like to see them reconciled. As a friar, he’s interested not only in religion, but also in medicinal herbs— which becomes important later. As a friar, he’s interested not only in religion, but also in medicinal herbs— which becomes important later.

And finally… One other “character”: The Chorus The Chorus The Chorus is not a part of the action, but a speaker who comes onstage to make comments on the action. The Chorus is kind of like a TV announcer in contemporary life—as far as the characters know, the chorus doesn’t exist, but he helps explain things to us.