1. Romeo & Juliet by: William Shakespeare An Introduction http://students.ed.uiuc.edu/bach/rnj24/rj1968.html--

2. Plot A tragedy- depicts serious important events -the main character meets an unhappy ending The prologue previews the plot for the audience Acts I-V Time= 14th century (1300’s) Place= Verona, Italy & Mantua, Italy

3. Characters The Capulets Capulet- father Lady Capulet- mother Juliet- daughter Nurse- Juliet’s caretaker Tybalt- Juliet’s cousin Sampson, Gregory & Peter- servants The Montagues Montague- father Lady Montague- mother Romeo- son Benvolio- Romeo’s cousin Mercutio- Romeo’s friend Abram & Balthasar- servants Other characters: Escalus- Prince of VeronaFriar Lawrence- priest/brother of religious community Paris- Prince’s relative; Juliet’s suitorFriar John- priest/brother of religious community Apothecary- pharmacist/chemist

4. Here we go… She is 14, he only a few years older. Their families are bitter enemies, sworn to hatred. Yet Romeo and Juliet meet and fall passionately in love. Defying their parents’ wishes, they are secretly married, but their brief happiness is shattered by fate. This famous pair of star-crossed lovers lives forever in Shakespeare’s haunting play… Romeo & Juliet. Summary appears on the back of 1969’s Scolastic Inc. printing of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare.