Romeo Romeo and and JulietJuliet

WILLIAM WILLIAM SHAKESPEARSHAKESPEAR

is a is a tragedy written early in the career of  written early in the career of William Shakespeare about two young  about two young star-crossed lovers whose deaths ultimately  lovers whose deaths ultimately reconcile their feuding families. It was among reconcile their feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular plays during his Shakespeare's most popular plays during his lifetime and, along withlifetime and, along withHamlet, is one of his , is one of his most frequently performed plays. Today, the most frequently performed plays. Today, the title characters are regarded as title characters are regarded as archetypal young lovers. young lovers.

Romeo and JulietRomeo and Juliet belongs to a tradition of  belongs to a tradition of tragic tragic romances stretching back to antiquity.  stretching back to antiquity. Its plot is based on an Italian tale, translated Its plot is based on an Italian tale, translated into verse as into verse as The Tragical History of Romeus and Juliet  by  by Arthur Brooke in 1562 and retold in prose  in 1562 and retold in prose in in Palace of PleasurePalace of Pleasure by byWilliam Painter in 1567.  in 1567. Shakespeare borrowed heavily from both but, Shakespeare borrowed heavily from both but, to expand the plot, developed supporting to expand the plot, developed supporting characters, particularly characters, particularly Mercutio and  and Paris. . Believed to have been written between 1591 Believed to have been written between 1591 and 1595, the play was first published in a and 1595, the play was first published in a quartoversion in 1597. This text was of poor version in 1597. This text was of poor quality, and later editions corrected it, bringing quality, and later editions corrected it, bringing it more in line with Shakespeare's originalit more in line with Shakespeare's original

Although there is no record of when Although there is no record of when Shakespeare actually wroteShakespeare actually wroteRomeo Romeo and Julietand Juliet, it was first performed in , it was first performed in 1594 or 1595. It is likely that the play 1594 or 1595. It is likely that the play would have been written shortly would have been written shortly before its premier performance.before its premier performance.

ROMEO AND ROMEO AND JULIET JULIET CHARACTERCHARACTER

House of CapuletHouse of Capulet Capulet is the patriarch of the house  is the patriarch of the house

of Capulet.of Capulet. Capulet's wife is the matriarch of the Capulet's wife is the matriarch of the

house of Capulet.house of Capulet. Juliet is the 13-year-old daughter of Juliet is the 13-year-old daughter of

Capulet, and the play's female Capulet, and the play's female protagonist.protagonist.

Tybalt is a cousin of Juliet, and the Tybalt is a cousin of Juliet, and the nephew of Capulet's wife.nephew of Capulet's wife.

The Nurse is Juliet's personal The Nurse is Juliet's personal attendant and confidante.attendant and confidante.

Rosaline is Lord Capulet's niece, and Rosaline is Lord Capulet's niece, and Romeo's love in the beginning of the Romeo's love in the beginning of the story.story.

Peter, Sampson and Gregory are Peter, Sampson and Gregory are servants of the Capulet servants of the Capulet household.household.

House of MontagueHouse of MontagueMontague is the Montague is the

patriarch of the house patriarch of the house of Montague.of Montague.Montague's wife is the Montague's wife is the matriarch of the house matriarch of the house of Montague.of Montague.Romeo is the son of Romeo is the son of Montague, and the Montague, and the play's male play's male protagonist.protagonist.Benvolio is Romeo's Benvolio is Romeo's cousin and best friend.cousin and best friend.Abram and Balthasar Abram and Balthasar are servants of the are servants of the Montague household.Montague household.

14 Fun Facts14 Fun Facts1. Juliet was most likely played by a man 1. Juliet was most likely played by a man because women were not allowed to act.because women were not allowed to act.

2.  Shakespeare original title for Romeo and 2.  Shakespeare original title for Romeo and Juliet is ” The Most Excellent and Lamentable Juliet is ” The Most Excellent and Lamentable

Tragedy  of Romeo and Juliet.”Tragedy  of Romeo and Juliet.”3. In November 1582, Shakespeare applied for 3. In November 1582, Shakespeare applied for

a license to marry Anne Whateley.a license to marry Anne Whateley.4. Shakespeare wrote Romeo and Juliet and it 4. Shakespeare wrote Romeo and Juliet and it

was the first play about romantic love.was the first play about romantic love.5. Shakespeare was baptized on April 26, 5. Shakespeare was baptized on April 26,

1564, in Stratford-upon-Avon, just three days 1564, in Stratford-upon-Avon, just three days before the Stratford parish register recorded before the Stratford parish register recorded

an outbreak of the plague.an outbreak of the plague.6. Romeo and Juliet, alongside Hamlet, is 6. Romeo and Juliet, alongside Hamlet, is

probably Shakespeare’s most performed play probably Shakespeare’s most performed play and has also been adapted in many forms.and has also been adapted in many forms.

7. Many of Shakespeare’s plays are based on 7. Many of Shakespeare’s plays are based on others’ earlier plays, histories, and poems. This others’ earlier plays, histories, and poems. This was common practice at that time.was common practice at that time.8. The first definite reference to Shakespeare as a 8. The first definite reference to Shakespeare as a playwright is in a pamphlet by Robert Greene, who playwright is in a pamphlet by Robert Greene, who wrote, “There is an upstart Crow, beautified with wrote, “There is an upstart Crow, beautified with our feathers, that with his Tiger’s heart wrapped in our feathers, that with his Tiger’s heart wrapped in a Player’s hide, supposes he is as well able to a Player’s hide, supposes he is as well able to bombast out a blank verse as the best of you: and bombast out a blank verse as the best of you: and being an absolute being an absolute Johannes fac totumJohannes fac totum, is in his own , is in his own conceit the only Shake-scene in a country.”conceit the only Shake-scene in a country.”9.In the 1570s, John Shakespeare was prosecuted 9.In the 1570s, John Shakespeare was prosecuted (or threatened with prosecution) four times for the (or threatened with prosecution) four times for the illegal activities of trading in wool and money-illegal activities of trading in wool and money-lendinglending10. More than 80 spelling variations are recorded 10. More than 80 spelling variations are recorded for Shakespeare’s name, from “Shappere” to for Shakespeare’s name, from “Shappere” to “Shaxberd.“Shaxberd.

11.Many of Shakespeare’s plays are based on others’ earlier plays, 11.Many of Shakespeare’s plays are based on others’ earlier plays, histories, and poems. This was common practice at that time.histories, and poems. This was common practice at that time.

12.In Shakespeare’s time, theaters had no curtain and used little 12.In Shakespeare’s time, theaters had no curtain and used little or no scenery. Playwrights described the setting within the text of or no scenery. Playwrights described the setting within the text of the performance.the performance.

13.Shakespeare was buried in the Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-13.Shakespeare was buried in the Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon. He put a curse on anyone daring to move his body upon-Avon. He put a curse on anyone daring to move his body from that final resting place. His epitaph was:from that final resting place. His epitaph was:

Good friend for Jesus’ sake forbear,Good friend for Jesus’ sake forbear,To dig the dust enclosed here:To dig the dust enclosed here:Blest be the man that spares these stones,Blest be the man that spares these stones,And curst be he that moves my bones.And curst be he that moves my bones.

Though it was customary to dig up the bones from previous Though it was customary to dig up the bones from previous graves to make room for others, Shakespeare’s remains are still graves to make room for others, Shakespeare’s remains are still undisturbed.undisturbed.

14. Shakespeare’s profession was acting. He is listed in 14. Shakespeare’s profession was acting. He is listed in documents of 1592, 1598 and 1603 as an actor.documents of 1592, 1598 and 1603 as an actor.