Introduction to Introduction to Shakespeare’sShakespeare’s

Romeo and JulietRomeo and Juliet

Born Stratford-on-Born Stratford-on-AvonAvon

Well-to-do, affluent Well-to-do, affluent while alivewhile alive

Most quoted, other Most quoted, other than the Biblethan the Bible

Background Background InformationInformation

William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare

Born 1564, died 1616Born 1564, died 1616Wrote 37 plays Wrote 37 plays Wrote over 150 sonnetsWrote over 150 sonnetsActor, poet, playwrightActor, poet, playwright

William Shakespeare:William Shakespeare: Interesting Facts Interesting Facts

The first of eight children born to John and Mary Shakespeare.The first of eight children born to John and Mary Shakespeare. His birthday is celebrated on April 23, 1564 and he died April His birthday is celebrated on April 23, 1564 and he died April

23, 1616. 23, 1616. He attended the King’s New School where classes began at 6 He attended the King’s New School where classes began at 6

AM (summer) and 7 AM (winter) and lasted till 5 PM.AM (summer) and 7 AM (winter) and lasted till 5 PM. In 1964, William Shakespeare became the first person other In 1964, William Shakespeare became the first person other

than royalty to appear on a United Kingdom stamp.than royalty to appear on a United Kingdom stamp. In his will, he left his wife his “second best bed” with its In his will, he left his wife his “second best bed” with its

furnishings. furnishings.

Words of Wisdom from Words of Wisdom from ShakespeareShakespeare

•“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 ShakespeareThe Products of Shakespeare

Out of his 37 plays Out of his 37 plays the top 6 most the top 6 most popular are:popular are:

HamletHamlet OthelloOthello MacbethMacbeth Romeo and JulietRomeo and Juliet The TempestThe Tempest Julius CaesarJulius Caesar

Shakespeare wrote:Shakespeare wrote:

Comedies - light and amusing, usually with a Comedies - light and amusing, usually with a happy endinghappy ending

Tragedies –serious dramas with disastrous endingsTragedies –serious dramas with disastrous endings

Histories – involve events or persons from historyHistories – involve events or persons from history

Types of PlaysTypes of Plays

• The Globe The Globe Theatre:Theatre:

• Open ceilingOpen ceiling

• Three stories Three stories highhigh

• No artificial No artificial lightinglighting

• Plays were Plays were shown during shown during daylight hours daylight hours onlyonly

The TheatreThe Theatre

SpectatorsSpectators Wealthy people Wealthy people

got to sit on got to sit on benchesbenches

The poor (called The poor (called “groundlings”) “groundlings”) had to stand and had to stand and watch from the watch from the courtyardcourtyard

There was much There was much more audience more audience participation than participation than todaytoday

ActorsActors

Only men and boysOnly men and boys

Young boys whose Young boys whose voices had not voices had not changed played changed played the women’s rolesthe women’s roles

It would have been It would have been indecentindecent for a for a woman to appear woman to appear on stageon stage

Romeo and JulietRomeo and Juliet

Considered a Considered a tragedytragedy

Tells the story of two Tells the story of two teenagers who risk teenagers who risk everything for loveeverything for love

Shakespeare is Shakespeare is exploring which is exploring which is stronger: love or stronger: love or hatehate

Written by William Shakespeare in about 1591

Based on Arthur Brooke's The Tragicall History of Romeus and Juliet

The MontaguesThe MontaguesLord 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 CapuletsThe CapuletsLord CapuletLord Capulet – father of Juliet – father of Juliet

Lady CapuletLady Capulet – mother of Juliet – mother of Juliet

Juliet CapuletJuliet Capulet – in love with Romeo – in love with Romeo

TybaltTybalt – nephew of Lady Capulet – nephew of Lady Capulet

NurseNurse – takes care of Juliet – takes care of Juliet

PeterPeter – servant to Juliet’s Nurse – servant to Juliet’s Nurse

Other CharactersOther CharactersPrince EscalusPrince Escalus – ruler of Verona – ruler of Verona

MercutioMercutio – kinsman of the Prince and friend – kinsman of the Prince and friend of Romeoof Romeo

Friar LaurenceFriar Laurence – a Franciscan priest – a Franciscan priest

Friar JohnFriar John – another Franciscan priest – another Franciscan priest

Count ParisCount Paris – a young nobleman – a young nobleman

CharactersCharacters

Montagues

•Montague

•Lady Montague

•Romeo

•Mercutio

•Friar Laurence

•Benvolio

•Balthasar

•Abraham

Capulets

•Capulet

•Lady Capulet

•Juliet

•Tybalt

•Nurse

•Paris

•Samson

•Gregory

•Peter

Neutral

•Friar John

•The Apothecary

•Escalus, Prince of Verona

Montagues

Capulets

Others

Romeo and Juliet VocabularyRomeo and Juliet Vocabulary

Anon= In a minuteFair= Pretty

Hither= Here

Methinks= I thinkWoo= To date

Soft= Wait

Wherefore= Why

Setting of Romeo and JulietSetting of Romeo and Juliet The play is set in the thirteenth The play is set in the thirteenth

or fourteenth century in Italy in or fourteenth century in Italy in Verona and Mantua. Verona and Mantua.

Much of the action takes place Much of the action takes place in Juliet's house. in Juliet's house.

The Capulets and the The Capulets and the Montagues, the main families Montagues, the main families of the play, are from noble of the play, are from noble lineage and wealth; they dress lineage and wealth; they dress well, live in fancy well, live in fancy surroundings, and are served surroundings, and are served by many attendants. by many attendants.

The play's basic setting, The play's basic setting, therefore, is rich and elegant. therefore, is rich and elegant.

Quotes from Romeo and JulietQuotes from Romeo and Juliet"What's in a name? That "What's in a name? That

which we call a rose by which we call a rose by any other name would any other name would smell as sweet."smell as sweet."

"Good night, good night! "Good night, good night! parting is such sweet parting is such sweet sorrow, that I shall say sorrow, that I shall say good night till it be good night till it be morrow."morrow."

"For never was a story of "For never was a story of

more woe than this of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo."Juliet and her Romeo."

Things to think about…Things to think about…

What would you do if your What would you do if your parents did not approve of parents did not approve of someone you were dating?someone you were dating?

How important is the opinion How important is the opinion of your family in decisions of your family in decisions that you make?that you make?

Does violence solve Does violence solve problems?problems?

Video ClipsVideo Clips

Intro to ShakespeareIntro to ShakespeareThe characters in Romeo and JulietThe 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…

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.

a story written to be performed by actors

a long speech expressing the thoughts of a

character alone on stage

a speech by one

character in a play, story, or poem

an opening speech that introduces the

play’s main characters, plot,

and setting

a work of literature, especially a play, that results in a

catastrophe for the main character.

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

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

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

poetry written in unrhymed iambic

pentameter

a character that provides a contrast to

another character – opposites

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

a fourteen line lyric poem traditionally written in iambic pentameter

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

a pair of rhyming lines in poetry

A fourteen line lyric poem, usually written in rhymed iambic pentameter

Themes:LoveFriendshipMortality Immortality of poetry

A sonnet consists of three quatrains and one couplet

A quatrain is a series of four rhymed lines

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

A couplet is a series of two rhymed lines

Summarizes and leaves the reader with a new, concluding image

Rhyme Scheme – a pattern of rhyme in a poem

Sonnet Rhyme Scheme: ABAB/CDCD/EFEF/GG

Iambic Pentameter:  five beats of alternating unstressed and stressed

syllables (“da-DUH”); ten syllables per line.

Meter means rhythm.

“Who’s wood / these are / I think / I know /his house”

“Is in / the village / though he / will not / mind me / stopping”

Puns Allusions Metaphor Personification Oxymorons Paradoxes Foreshadowing

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)

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.

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 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)

An oxymoron describes when two juxtaposed words have opposing or very diverse meanings.

Juliet – “Beautiful tyrant! fiend angelical!” (Act III Sc.2)

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 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 fineThat all the world will be in love with nightAnd pay no worship to the garish sun.” (Act III Sc. 2)

•Light and dark•Time•Fate

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”

Look for references to time:

•References to “time” words, such as “hours”•References to the passage of time, especially if it seems “rushed”

Look for references to fate:

•Look for instances where events are blamed on “fate,” “destiny,” or “the stars”