William Shakespeare Widely regarded as the greatest writer in English Literature

Shakespeare Stratford-upon-Avon, England Stratford-upon-Avon, England

Childhood Father was John ; Mother was Mary Father was John ; Mother was Mary In 1567 he became Bailiff of Stratford; like a modern-day Mayor. In 1567 he became Bailiff of Stratford; like a modern-day Mayor. William was the 3 rd child. Legend says he was born on April 23 rd. He died exactly 52 years later. William was the 3 rd child. Legend says he was born on April 23 rd. He died exactly 52 years later. Shakespeare attended very good schools Shakespeare attended very good schools

Family When Will was 18, he married 26 year old Anne Hathaway. When Will was 18, he married 26 year old Anne Hathaway. NOT THIS ONE NOT THIS ONE

More Family They had 3 Kids: They had 3 Kids: Susanna (Baptised 6 months after their wedding) Susanna (Baptised 6 months after their wedding) Twins: Hamnet and Judith Twins: Hamnet and Judith Hamnet died at age 11. Hamnet died at age 11.

Shakespeare started out as an actor started out as an actor wrote 37 plays wrote 37 plays about 154 sonnets about 154 sonnets

Stage Celebrity Actor for Lord Chamberlain’s Men (London theater co.) Actor for Lord Chamberlain’s Men (London theater co.) Also > principal playwright for them Also > principal playwright for them 1599> Lord Ch. Co. built Globe Theater where most of Sh. Play’s were performed 1599> Lord Ch. Co. built Globe Theater where most of Sh. Play’s were performed

Shakespeare wrote: Comedies Comedies Histories Histories Tragedies Tragedies

Romeo and Juliet Written about 1595 Written about 1595 Considered a tragedy Considered a tragedy

The Theater Plays produced for the general public Plays produced for the general public Roofless>open air Roofless>open air No artificial lighting No artificial lighting Courtyard surrounded by 3 levels of galleries Courtyard surrounded by 3 levels of galleries

Spectators Wealthy got benches Wealthy got benches “Groundlings”>poorer people stood and watched from the courtyard (“pit”) “Groundlings”>poorer people stood and watched from the courtyard (“pit”) All but wealthy were uneducated/illiterate All but wealthy were uneducated/illiterate Much more audience interaction than today Much more audience interaction than today

Staging Areas Stage>platform that extended into the pit Stage>platform that extended into the pit Dressing & storage rooms in galleries behind & above stage Dressing & storage rooms in galleries behind & above stage second-level gallery> upper stage> famous balcony scene in R & J second-level gallery> upper stage> famous balcony scene in R & J Trap door>ghosts Trap door>ghosts “Heavens”> angelic beings “Heavens”> angelic beings

Differences Almost no scenery Almost no scenery Settings > actors used references in dialogue Settings > actors used references in dialogue Elaborate costumes Elaborate costumes Plenty of props Plenty of props Fast-paced, colorful>2-3 hours! Fast-paced, colorful>2-3 hours!

Actors Only men and boys Only men and boys Young boys whose voices had not changed play women’s roles Young boys whose voices had not changed play women’s roles Would have been considered indecent for a woman to appear on stage Would have been considered indecent for a woman to appear on stage

Elizabethan (QE1) Words An,and: If An,and: If Anon: Soon Anon: Soon Aye: Yes Aye: Yes But:Except for But:Except for E’en:Even E’en:Even E’er: Ever E’er: Ever

QE1 Words (contin.) Haply:Perhaps Haply:Perhaps Happy:Fortunate Happy:Fortunate Hence:Away, from her Hence:Away, from her Hie:Hurry Hie:Hurry Marry:Indeed Marry:Indeed

QE1 Words (contin.) Whence:Where Whence:Where Wilt:Will, will you Wilt:Will, will you Withal:In addition to Withal:In addition to Would:Wish Would:Wish

Blank Verse Much of R & J is written in Blank Verse: Much of R & J is written in Blank Verse: unrhymed verse unrhymed verse iambic (unstressed, stressed) iambic (unstressed, stressed) pentameter( 5 “feet” to a line) pentameter( 5 “feet” to a line) ends up to be 10 syllable lines ends up to be 10 syllable lines

THE CHARACTERS

Romeo and Juliet Romeo - The son and heir of Montague and Lady Montague. Romeo - The son and heir of Montague and Lady Montague. A young man of about sixteen, Romeo is handsome, intelligent, and sensitive. A young man of about sixteen, Romeo is handsome, intelligent, and sensitive. He lives in the middle of a violent feud between his family and the Capulets, but he is not at all interested in violence. His only interest is love. He lives in the middle of a violent feud between his family and the Capulets, but he is not at all interested in violence. His only interest is love. -At the beginning of the play he is madly in love with a woman named Rosaline, but the instant he lays eyes on Juliet, he falls in love with her and forgets Rosaline. -At the beginning of the play he is madly in love with a woman named Rosaline, but the instant he lays eyes on Juliet, he falls in love with her and forgets Rosaline.

Romeo and Juliet Juliet - The daughter of Capulet and Lady Capulet. Juliet - The daughter of Capulet and Lady Capulet. -A beautiful thirteen-year-old girl. -Romeo is the son of her family’s great enemy.

Romeo and Juliet Friar Lawrence - A Franciscan friar, friend to both Romeo and Juliet. Friar Lawrence - A Franciscan friar, friend to both Romeo and Juliet. - Friar Lawrence secretly marries the impassioned lovers in hopes that the union might eventually bring peace to Verona. -As well as being a Catholic holy man, Friar Lawrence is also an expert in the use of seemingly mystical potions and herbs.

Romeo and Juliet Mercutio - A kinsman to the Prince, and Romeo’s close friend. Mercutio - A kinsman to the Prince, and Romeo’s close friend. -He can be quite hotheaded, and hates people who are affected, pretentious, or obsessed with the latest fashions.

Romeo and Juliet The Nurse - Juliet’s nurse, the woman who raised Juliet when she was a baby and has cared for Juliet her entire life. The Nurse - Juliet’s nurse, the woman who raised Juliet when she was a baby and has cared for Juliet her entire life. -A vulgar, long-winded, and sentimental character, the Nurse provides comic relief with her frequently inappropriate remarks and speeches. (connects to commoners)

Romeo and Juliet Tybalt - A Capulet, Juliet’s cousin on her mother’s side. Tybalt - A Capulet, Juliet’s cousin on her mother’s side. -Vain, fashionable, supremely aware of courtesy and the lack of it, he becomes aggressive, violent, and quick to draw his sword when he feels his pride has been injured. -Once drawn, his sword is something to be feared. -He loathes Montagues.

Romeo and Juliet Capulet - The patriarch of the Capulet family, father of Juliet, husband of Lady Capulet, and enemy, for unexplained reasons, of Montague. Capulet - The patriarch of the Capulet family, father of Juliet, husband of Lady Capulet, and enemy, for unexplained reasons, of Montague. -He truly loves his daughter,but never listens to her. -He seems to think that what is best for her is a “good” match with Paris.

Romeo and Juliet Lady Capulet - Juliet’s mother, Capulet’s wife. Lady Capulet - Juliet’s mother, Capulet’s wife. -A woman who herself married young (by her own estimation she gave birth to Juliet at close to the age of fourteen). -she is eager to see her daughter marry Paris. -She relies on the Nurse for moral and pragmatic support.

Romeo and Juliet Montague - Romeo’s father, the patriarch of the Montague clan and bitter enemy of Capulet. Montague - Romeo’s father, the patriarch of the Montague clan and bitter enemy of Capulet. Lady Montague - Romeo’s mother, Montague’s wife. Lady Montague - Romeo’s mother, Montague’s wife. -She dies of grief after Romeo is exiled from Verona.

Romeo and Juliet Paris - A kinsman of the Prince, and the suitor of Juliet most preferred by Capulet. Paris - A kinsman of the Prince, and the suitor of Juliet most preferred by Capulet. Benvolio - Montague’s nephew, Romeo’s cousin and thoughtful friend. Benvolio - Montague’s nephew, Romeo’s cousin and thoughtful friend. He makes a genuine effort to defuse violent scenes in public places, though Mercutio accuses him of having a nasty temper in private. He makes a genuine effort to defuse violent scenes in public places, though Mercutio accuses him of having a nasty temper in private. He spends most of the play trying to help Romeo get his mind off Rosaline, even after Romeo has fallen in love with Juliet. He spends most of the play trying to help Romeo get his mind off Rosaline, even after Romeo has fallen in love with Juliet.

Romeo and Juliet Prince Escalus - The Prince of Verona. Prince Escalus - The Prince of Verona. A kinsman of Mercutio and Paris. A kinsman of Mercutio and Paris. As the seat of political power in Verona, he is concerned about maintaining the public peace at all costs. As the seat of political power in Verona, he is concerned about maintaining the public peace at all costs.

Romeo and Juliet Friar John - A Franciscan friar charged by Friar Lawrence with taking the news of Juliet’s false death to Romeo in Mantua. (small character) Friar John - A Franciscan friar charged by Friar Lawrence with taking the news of Juliet’s false death to Romeo in Mantua. (small character)

Romeo and Juliet Balthasar - Romeo’s dedicated servant. Balthasar - Romeo’s dedicated servant. Sampson & Gregory - Two servants of the house of Capulet, who, like their master, hate the Montagues. Sampson & Gregory - Two servants of the house of Capulet, who, like their master, hate the Montagues.

Romeo and Juliet Abram - Montague’s servant, who fights with Sampson and Gregory in the first scene of the play. Abram - Montague’s servant, who fights with Sampson and Gregory in the first scene of the play. The Apothecary - An apothecary in Mantua. The Apothecary - An apothecary in Mantua. Makes and sales poison. Makes and sales poison.

Romeo and Juliet Rosaline - The woman with whom Romeo is infatuated at the beginning of the play. Rosaline - The woman with whom Romeo is infatuated at the beginning of the play. Rosaline never appears onstage, but it is said by other characters that she is very beautiful and has sworn to live a life of chastity. Rosaline never appears onstage, but it is said by other characters that she is very beautiful and has sworn to live a life of chastity. The Chorus - The Chorus is a single character who, as developed in Greek drama, functions as a narrator offering commentary on the play’s plot and themes. The Chorus - The Chorus is a single character who, as developed in Greek drama, functions as a narrator offering commentary on the play’s plot and themes.