Introduction to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet

Background Information Born Stratford-on-Avon Well-to-do, affluent while alive Most quoted, other than the Bible

William Shakespeare Born 1564, died 1616 Wrote 37 plays Wrote over 150 sonnets Actor, poet, playwright

William Shakespeare: Interesting Facts The first of eight children born to John and Mary Shakespeare. His birthday is celebrated on April 23, 1564 and he died April 23, 1616. He attended the King’s New School where classes began at 6 AM (summer) and 7 AM (winter) and lasted till 5 PM. In 1964, William Shakespeare became the first person other than royalty to appear on a United Kingdom stamp. In his will, he left his wife his “second best bed” with its furnishings.

Words of Wisdom from Shakespeare “To be or not to be; that is the question.” –Hamlet “Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none.” –All’s Well That Ends Well “Be not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon 'em.” –Twelfth Night “It’s not enough to speak, but to speak true.” –Midsummer Night’s Dream

The Products of Shakespeare Out of his 37 plays the top 6 most popular are: Hamlet Othello Macbeth Romeo and Juliet The Tempest Julius Caesar

Types of Plays Shakespeare wrote: Comedies - light and amusing, usually with a happy ending Tragedies –serious dramas with disastrous endings Histories – involve events or persons from history

The Theatre The Globe Theatre: Open ceiling Three stories high No artificial lighting Plays were shown during daylight hours only

Spectators Wealthy people got to sit on benches The poor (called “groundlings”) had to stand and watch from the courtyard There was much more audience participation than today

Actors Only men and boys Young boys whose voices had not changed played the women’s roles It would have been indecent for a woman to appear on stage

Romeo and Juliet Considered a tragedy Tells the story of two teenagers who risk everything for love Shakespeare is exploring which is stronger: love or hate

Facts Written by William Shakespeare in about 1591 Based on Arthur Brooke's The Tragicall History of Romeus and Juliet

The Montagues Lord Montague – father of Romeo Lady Montague – mother of Romeo Romeo Montague – in love with Juliet Benvolio – nephew of Montague and friend of Romeo Balthasar – servant to Romeo Abram – servant to Montague

The Capulets Lord Capulet – father of Juliet Lady Capulet – mother of Juliet Juliet Capulet – in love with Romeo Tybalt – nephew of Lady Capulet Nurse – takes care of Juliet Peter – servant to Juliet’s Nurse

Other Characters Prince Escalus – ruler of Verona Mercutio – kinsman of the Prince and friend of Romeo Friar Laurence – a Franciscan priest Friar John – another Franciscan priest Count Paris – a young nobleman

Escalus, Prince of Verona Romeo and Juliet Montagues Montague Lady Montague Romeo Mercutio Friar Laurence Benvolio Balthasar Abraham Capulets Capulet Lady Capulet Juliet Tybalt Nurse Paris Samson Gregory Peter Characters Neutral Friar John The Apothecary Escalus, Prince of Verona

Montagues

Capulets

Others

Romeo and Juliet Vocabulary Anon= In a minute Fair= Pretty Hither= Here Methinks= I think Woo= To date Soft= Wait Wherefore= Why

Setting of Romeo and Juliet The play is set in the thirteenth or fourteenth century in Italy in Verona and Mantua. Much of the action takes place in Juliet's house. The Capulets and the Montagues, the main families of the play, are from noble lineage and wealth; they dress well, live in fancy surroundings, and are served by many attendants. The play's basic setting, therefore, is rich and elegant.

Quotes from Romeo and Juliet "What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." "Good night, good night! parting is such sweet sorrow, that I shall say good night till it be morrow." "For never was a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo."

Things to think about… What would you do if your parents did not approve of someone you were dating? How important is the opinion of your family in decisions that you make? Does violence solve problems?

Video Clips Intro to Shakespeare The characters in Romeo and Juliet

The Prologue

Two households…

Both alike in dignity…

In fair Verona, where we lay our scene…

From ancient grudge break to new mutiny…

makes civil hands unclean. Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.

From forth the fatal loins of these two foes,

A pair of star-cross’d lovers take their life.

The Prologue (Partner Analysis) Chorus   1    Two households, both alike in dignity,   2    In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,   3    From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,   4    Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.   5    From forth the fatal loins of these two foes   6    A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life;   7    Whose misadventured piteous overthrows   8    Do with their death bury their parents' strife.   9    The fearful passage of their death-mark'd love,  10    And the continuance of their parents' rage,  11    Which, but their children's end, nought could remove,  12    Is now the two hours' traffic of our stage;  13    The which if you with patient ears attend,  14    What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.

“Romeo & Juliet” Literary Terms

a story written to be performed by actors Drama a story written to be performed by actors

a long speech expressing the thoughts of a character alone on stage Soliloquy a long speech expressing the thoughts of a character alone on stage

a speech by one character in a play, story, or poem Monologue a speech by one character in a play, story, or poem

Prologue an opening speech that introduces the play’s main characters, plot, and setting

Tragedy a work of literature, especially a play, that results in a catastrophe for the main character.

Tragic hero a character of noble birth with the potential for greatness, but due to a tragic flaw in his character makes an error in judgment that leads to his death

Aside a short speech delivered by an actor in a play traditionally directed at the audience.

Comic Relief a technique that is used to interrupt a serious part of a literary work by introducing a humorous character or situation.

a conversation between characters Dialogue a conversation between characters

poetry written in unrhymed iambic pentameter Blank Verse poetry written in unrhymed iambic pentameter

a character that provides a contrast to another character – Dramatic Foil a character that provides a contrast to another character – opposites

Suspense a feeling of uncertainty about the outcome of events in a story – a way to keep the reader interested

when a reader expects one outcome and the opposite occurs Irony when a reader expects one outcome and the opposite occurs

Sonnet a fourteen line lyric poem traditionally written in iambic pentameter

A series of five stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry Iambic Pentameter A series of five stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry

Couplet a pair of rhyming lines in poetry

Sonnets A fourteen line lyric poem, usually written in rhymed iambic pentameter Themes: Love Friendship Mortality Immortality of poetry

Sonnets A sonnet consists of three quatrains and one couplet

A quatrain is a series of four rhymed lines Sonnets A quatrain is a series of four rhymed lines

Sonnets First quatrain: the subject is revealed and why it is loved is explained Second quatrain: describe what is special about the subject – be descriptive and imaginative Third Quatrain: A problem arises with loving the subject

Sonnets A couplet is a series of two rhymed lines Summarizes and leaves the reader with a new, concluding image

Sonnets Rhyme Scheme – a pattern of rhyme in a poem Sonnet Rhyme Scheme: ABAB/CDCD/EFEF/GG

Sonnets Iambic Pentameter: five beats of alternating unstressed and stressed syllables (“da-DUH”); ten syllables per line. Meter means rhythm.

Sonnets “Who’s wood / these are / I think / I know /his house” “Is in / the village / though he / will not / mind me / stopping”

Look for… Puns Allusions Metaphor Personification Oxymorons Paradoxes Foreshadowing

Puns A pun is a humorous play on words. Mercutio – “Nay, gentle Romeo, we must have you dance.” Romeo – “Not I, believe me. You have dancing shoes / With nimble soles; I have a soul of lead…” (Act I Sc. 4)

Allusions An allusion is a reference to a well known work of art, music, literature, or history. “At lovers’ perjuries, they say Jove laughs.” (Act II, Sc. 2) Jove is another name for Jupiter, the Roman King of the Gods.

Metaphor 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.” (Act II Sc. 2)

Personification Personification occurs when an inanimate object or concept is given the qualities of a person or animal. Juliet— “For thou 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” (Act III Sc. 2)

Oxymorons An oxymoron describes when two juxtaposed words have opposing or very diverse meanings. Juliet – “Beautiful tyrant! fiend angelical!” (Act III Sc.2)

Paradoxes A paradox is statement or situation with seemingly contradictory or incompatible components. Juliet – “O serpent heart, hid with a flowering face!” (Act III Sc. 2)

Foreshadowing 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, 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.” (Act III Sc. 2)

Themes Light and dark Time Fate

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

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

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