1. Introduction to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet

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

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

4. 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.

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. Montagues

18. Capulets

19. Others

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

21. 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.

22. 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."

23. 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?

24. Video Clips
Intro to Shakespeare
The characters in Romeo and Juliet

25. The Prologue

26. Two households…

27. Both alike in dignity…

28. In fair Verona,
where we lay our scene…

29. From ancient grudge
break to new mutiny…

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

31. From forth the fatal
loins of these two foes,

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

33. 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.

34. “Romeo & Juliet” Literary Terms

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

36. 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

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

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

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

40. 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

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

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

43. a conversation between characters
Dialogue
a conversation between characters

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

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

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

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

48. Sonnet
a fourteen line lyric poem traditionally written in iambic pentameter

49. 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

50. Couplet
a pair of rhyming lines in poetry

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

52. Sonnets
A sonnet consists of three quatrains and one couplet

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

54. 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

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

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

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

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

59. Look for… Puns Allusions Metaphor Personification Oxymorons Paradoxes
Foreshadowing

60. 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)

61. 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.

62. 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)

63. 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)

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

65. 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)

66. 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)

67. Themes
Light and dark
Time
Fate

68. 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”

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

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