What do you know… About William Shakespeare? About the play Romeo and Juliet?

What do you know…What do you know…

AboutAbout William Shakespeare?William Shakespeare?

About the playAbout the play Romeo and Romeo and Juliet?Juliet?

William Shakespeare in

8 Minutes“William Shakespeare: Brief & Naughty” (youtube)

Romeo and JulietRomeo and Julietby William Shakespeareby William Shakespeare

Shakespeare wrote:Shakespeare wrote:

ComediesComedies

TragediesTragedies

HistoriesHistories

The Tragedy of Romeo The Tragedy of Romeo and Julietand Juliet

by William Shakespeareby William ShakespeareWritten between 1594 and 1596.Written between 1594 and 1596.

Based on a basic story known to Based on a basic story known to many people of the time.many people of the time.

Plays Plays thenthen are like movies or TV are like movies or TV todaytoday..


by William Shakespeareby William ShakespeareSeveral film versions.Several film versions.1968: Zeffirelli.1968: Zeffirelli.1996: Luhrmann.1996: Luhrmann.Other variations Other variations

including musicals including musicals and movies and movies “inspired by.”“inspired by.”

At any given moment, At any given moment, it is in production in it is in production in a theater (as a play) a theater (as a play) somewhere in the somewhere in the world.world.


by William Shakespeareby William ShakespeareThe Lurhmann (1996) The Lurhmann (1996)

version uses version uses Shakespeare’s Shakespeare’s original original languagelanguage, but sets its , but sets its scene in scene in modern modern timestimes..

We will watch this We will watch this version in its entirety version in its entirety when we finish when we finish reading the play.reading the play.


by William Shakespeareby William ShakespeareThe Zeffirelli (1968) The Zeffirelli (1968)

maintains both maintains both Shakespeare’s Shakespeare’s original languageoriginal language as well as an as well as an authentic settingauthentic setting..

We will watch We will watch selected scenes selected scenes as as we read we read in order to in order to understand the understand the original play.original play.


by William Shakespeareby William ShakespeareAn overview:An overview:

The SettingThe Setting

The PlotThe Plot

The CharactersThe Characters


by William Shakespeareby William ShakespeareThe Setting:The Setting:

Verona, ItalyVerona, Italy

(Shakespeare (Shakespeare lived and worked lived and worked in London, in London, ENGLAND)ENGLAND)

Why ITALY?Why ITALY?


by William Shakespeareby William ShakespeareThe Setting:The Setting:Verona, ItalyVerona, Italy

Set in the late 1400s Set in the late 1400s to early 1500s, to early 1500s, though the date is though the date is never really never really stated.stated.

The ENTIRE plot of The ENTIRE plot of the play takes the play takes place over place over less less than a week of than a week of time!time!


by William Shakespeareby William ShakespeareThe Plot Basics:The Plot Basics:Two families (Capulet Two families (Capulet

and Montague) and Montague) have a long- have a long- standing feud.standing feud.

As fate has it, the As fate has it, the Capulet daughter Capulet daughter (Juliet) and the (Juliet) and the Montague son Montague son (Romeo) meet at a (Romeo) meet at a crazy party and fall crazy party and fall immediatelyimmediately in love. in love.


by William Shakespeareby William ShakespeareKnowing they cannot Knowing they cannot

be together, they be together, they secretly make plans secretly make plans to marry.to marry.

Juliet, however, is Juliet, however, is already being already being married off to a guy married off to a guy named Paris.named Paris.

People start to kill People start to kill each other, and each other, and Romeo ends up Romeo ends up kicked out of kicked out of Verona.Verona.


by William Shakespeareby William ShakespeareWith Romeo With Romeo

banished, the crazy banished, the crazy kids still try to find kids still try to find a way to get a way to get together.together.

Unfortunately, Unfortunately, something goes something goes terribly wrong, and terribly wrong, and the audience gets the audience gets their tragedy...their tragedy...


by William Shakespeareby William ShakespeareThe CHARACTERSThe CHARACTERS::

Lord and Lady Capulet (parents of Juliet)Lord and Lady Capulet (parents of Juliet) Anxious to get their daughter married Anxious to get their daughter married

off to a worthy gentleman (named off to a worthy gentleman (named Paris)Paris)

In a long-standing feud with the In a long-standing feud with the Montague FamilyMontague Family

A distinct parenting style…A distinct parenting style…



Juliet CapuletJuliet Capulet Barely 13 years oldBarely 13 years old To be wed to Paris any day…To be wed to Paris any day… Has never been in love beforeHas never been in love before



The NurseThe Nurse Has raised JulietHas raised Juliet Has a dirty sense Has a dirty sense

of humor, if you of humor, if you read carefully…read carefully…

Plays a crucial Plays a crucial role in Juliet’s role in Juliet’s happinesshappiness



Tybalt CapuletTybalt Capulet Juliet’s older Juliet’s older

cousincousin A braggart and A braggart and

a hot-heada hot-head A “saucy A “saucy

prince” if there prince” if there ever was oneever was one



Lord and Lady MontagueLord and Lady Montague Parents of RomeoParents of Romeo Engaged in the feud with the CapuletsEngaged in the feud with the Capulets Not major players in the dramaNot major players in the drama



Romeo MontagueRomeo Montague A boy of 16 of 17, sometimes A boy of 16 of 17, sometimes

interpreted as old as late 20s or olderinterpreted as old as late 20s or older An emotional romanticAn emotional romantic Falls easily in and out of loveFalls easily in and out of love



Benvolio MontagueBenvolio Montague Romeo’s cousinRomeo’s cousin Level-headed Level-headed

and honestand honest Cares for Romeo Cares for Romeo

like his own like his own brotherbrother



MercutioMercutio Romeo’s best friendRomeo’s best friend His name is based on His name is based on

the word “mercury” or the word “mercury” or “mercurial” which “mercurial” which means means volatile or volatile or quick to changequick to change

An “actor’s favorite”An “actor’s favorite” Watch out for hisWatch out for his

jokes…jokes…



The Friar Lawrence (spelling varies)The Friar Lawrence (spelling varies) The local religious leaderThe local religious leader Is tired of the FeudIs tired of the Feud Plays a key role in the dramaPlays a key role in the drama



ParisParis The “suitor” who is to marry JulietThe “suitor” who is to marry Juliet

Prince EscalusPrince Escalus The Prince of VeronaThe Prince of Verona

ApothecaryApothecary The local “pharmacist” or chemistThe local “pharmacist” or chemist

What is What is TragedyTragedy??

In Shakespeare, tragedy tends to follow five In Shakespeare, tragedy tends to follow five stages (five acts):stages (five acts):– Act I, ExpositionAct I, Exposition (establishment of character (establishment of character

and conflict)and conflict)– Act II, Rising ActionAct II, Rising Action (complications develop, (complications develop,

culminating with a “point of no return” at which culminating with a “point of no return” at which point some tragedy is al but guaranteed)point some tragedy is al but guaranteed)

– Act III, ClimaxAct III, Climax (different than in stories; tragic (different than in stories; tragic climax marks the beginning of the tragic climax marks the beginning of the tragic collapse)collapse)

– Act IV, Falling ActionAct IV, Falling Action (the chain of tragic (the chain of tragic events befalls the protagonist, gaining events befalls the protagonist, gaining momentum and deepening the tragedy)momentum and deepening the tragedy)

– Act V, ResolutionAct V, Resolution (the fall to ruin is complete) (the fall to ruin is complete)

What is What is DramaDrama??

Drama is meant to be seen and heard, Drama is meant to be seen and heard, not read. not read.

We will be We will be viewing, speaking, listening, viewing, speaking, listening, and readingand reading this text. this text.

When you read (silently or aloud) you When you read (silently or aloud) you must realize that must realize that all action was all action was communicated through dialoguecommunicated through dialogue, thus , thus you must you must picture what is picture what is happening.happening.

Drama Terms

Literary Allusion:Literary Allusion: an author refers to something that the audience probably knows—such as a reference to the Bible, a common fairytale, or pop culture.

Soliloquy:Soliloquy: an unusually long speech where a character speaks private thoughts aloud.

Aside:Aside: words are spoken by a character in a play to the audience, or to another character, but are NOT supposed to be heard by others on stage… a “secret.”

Drama Terms

Pun: Pun: a joke that comes from a play on words. Ex: “The fertilizer business is a growing

industry.”Ex: “You can tune a guitar, but you can’t tuna

fish.” Foil:Foil: a character who is used as a contrast to

another character (Romeo & Mercutio) OxymoronOxymoron: descriptions that pair together

contradictory terms, like “sick health” or “cold fire.”


by William Shakespeareby William ShakespeareThe FORMThe FORM::The whole play is written as a The whole play is written as a poempoem, in a form , in a form

which is called which is called “iambic pentameter.”“iambic pentameter.” An An iambiamb is a pair of syllables where the first is a pair of syllables where the first

is unstressed and the second is stressed, is unstressed and the second is stressed, like in the word like in the word confused confused (con FUSED). (con FUSED). Think of your Think of your heartbeat! (da-DUM, da-heartbeat! (da-DUM, da-DUM, da-DUM)DUM, da-DUM)

A A foot foot is another word for each iamb. is another word for each iamb. (con FUSED is one foot)(con FUSED is one foot)

MeterMeter the organizes rhythm that is present the organizes rhythm that is present in poetry.in poetry.

PentaPenta-- means “5.” means “5.”

Iambic Pentameter Example

But soft! what light through yonder But soft! what light through yonder window breaks?window breaks?

Inverted SyntaxInverted Syntax

Grammar was often Grammar was often invertedinverted, or flipped, in order to make the language fit the in order to make the language fit the rhythm:rhythm:

He found the dagger in the dark He found the dagger in the dark closet.closet.

...becomes…...becomes…

In closet dark did he the dagger find. In closet dark did he the dagger find.

His Process:His Process:

I want to say:I want to say:– Wait a second, what is that light Wait a second, what is that light

coming through the window over coming through the window over there?there?

Add in some common slang of the Add in some common slang of the times:times:– But soft!But soft! (wait a second!) (wait a second!)– YonderYonder (over there) (over there)

His Process:His Process:

Add in some creative wording:Add in some creative wording:

– I don’t want to just say the light is I don’t want to just say the light is “coming through the window…” “coming through the window…”

– How about, it How about, it “breaks”“breaks” through the through the window all of the sudden and grabs window all of the sudden and grabs my attention??my attention??


by William Shakespeareby William ShakespeareThe end result…The end result…



by William Shakespeareby William ShakespeareRemember Shakespeare’s FORM of choiceRemember Shakespeare’s FORM of choice::

Iambic pentameter:Iambic pentameter: A line of A line of FIVE IAMBSFIVE IAMBS in a row, meaning in a row, meaning

each line of poetry has 10 syllables; each line of poetry has 10 syllables; count all 10:count all 10:



by William Shakespeareby William ShakespeareThe FORMThe FORM::

Iambic pentameter=Iambic pentameter= Count the 5 iambs (stressed/unstressed Count the 5 iambs (stressed/unstressed

syllables):syllables):

But But softsoft! what ! what lightlight through through yonyonder der winwindow dow breaksbreaks??


by William Shakespeareby William ShakespeareReview video: “How to Identify Meter in Shakespearean Sonnets” (youtube)

(6 minutes)


by William Shakespeareby William Shakespeare So now you know the basics of

rhythm, but what about RHYMERHYME? Rhyme SchemeRhyme Scheme is the name that

we use to describe the pattern of rhymes in a poem, which we base on the last word in each line.


by William Shakespeareby William Shakespeare To figure out the rhyme scheme, you

must know how to count stanzas. StanzasStanzas are groups of lines in a poem.

Stanzas can be in groups of 2 or 4. Groups of 2 are called Groups of 2 are called coupletscouplets.. Groups of 4 are called Groups of 4 are called quatrainsquatrains..


by William Shakespeareby William Shakespeare To identify rhyme scheme, look only at

the last word in each line of poetry. The first line is always assigned the letter

“A.” Look down the lines and find any other

word that rhymes—if it does, it gets a letter A, too.

When you’ve gone through the whole poem, begin with the second line and assign it the letter “B.”

Follow the same process until all lines have a letter.


by William Shakespeareby William ShakespeareShall I compare thee to a summer’s day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate: Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, And summer’s lease hath all too short a date: Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines, And often is his gold complexion dimm’d; And every fair from fair sometime declines, By chance, or nature’s changing course untrimm’d; But thy eternal summer shall not fade, Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow’st, Nor shall death brag thou wander’st in his shade, When in eternal lines to time thou grow’st; So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see, So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.


by William Shakespeareby William ShakespeareReview video: “How to Identify Rhyme Scheme in Shakespearean Sonnets” (youtube)

(7 minutes)


by William Shakespeareby William ShakespeareThe FORMThe FORM::

Sometimes the lines rhyme, but sometimes Sometimes the lines rhyme, but sometimes they don’t. When the lines rhyme, they don’t. When the lines rhyme, Shakespeare is trying to get the Shakespeare is trying to get the audience’s attention:audience’s attention:

A major point has just been statedA major point has just been stated A character is leaving the sceneA character is leaving the scene

When the lines When the lines do not rhymedo not rhyme, the poetry is , the poetry is called called BLANK VERSE.BLANK VERSE.

The Language:The Language:

Is really not all that different from Is really not all that different from modern 21st century language… modern 21st century language… but people think it is so they get but people think it is so they get intimidated and give up.intimidated and give up.

Just like in today’s vernacular, Just like in today’s vernacular, there are patterns:there are patterns:

Hither, thither, Hither, thither, whitherwhitherCome hither! (hither = Come hither! (hither = HEREHERE))

Go thither! (thither = Go thither! (thither = THERETHERE))

To whither did she go? (whither = To whither did she go? (whither = WHEREWHERE))

It’s what you It’s what you dodo……

Didst = Didst = DIDDID

Doth or doest = Doth or doest = DODO

Hath = Hath = HAVEHAVE or or HADHAD

PronounsPronouns

Thou Thou (you, in the subject of the (you, in the subject of the sentence)sentence)Thou art a fool! …you are a foolThou art a fool! …you are a fool

Thee Thee (you, as an object)(you, as an object)I love thee. …I love youI love thee. …I love you

Thine, thyThine, thy (your) (your)In thy soul; in thine eyesIn thy soul; in thine eyes

My heart is thineMy heart is thine

Truncations and Truncations and ContractionsContractionsTruncations: words shortenedTruncations: words shortened

““OpeOpe your eyes” your eyes”

An apostrophe indicates a missing An apostrophe indicates a missing letter, either to match the rhythm of letter, either to match the rhythm of the line or to reflect speech patterns:the line or to reflect speech patterns:

O’erO’er (over) (over)

Can’tCan’t (cannot) (cannot)

Sentences go beyond Sentences go beyond the ends of lines.the ends of lines.

Too many readers see Too many readers see each lineeach line as a as a

““sentence” or complete thought, andsentence” or complete thought, and

therefore are thrown off when the therefore are thrown off when the

words they read do not make sense.words they read do not make sense.

In reality, these readers have notIn reality, these readers have not

completed the thought, so they end upcompleted the thought, so they end up

very confused and unable to understand.very confused and unable to understand.

Sentences go beyond Sentences go beyond the ends of lines.the ends of lines.

Notice this passage from the first scene:

I will show myself a tyrant: when Ihave fought with the men, I will be cruel with themaids, and cut off their heads.

If you stopped your thought at “I” in the first line, it wouldn’t make sense. A thought is not complete until you reach a punctuation mark.


by William Shakespeareby William ShakespeareSpeaking in VERSE Speaking in VERSE

(poetry)(poetry) Follows iambic Follows iambic

pentameter closely…pentameter closely…minor variationsminor variations

Sometimes words are Sometimes words are switched around to switched around to maintain the “beat”maintain the “beat”

Words are sometimes Words are sometimes contracted to get the contracted to get the right number of right number of syllablessyllables

VERSE is used in most VERSE is used in most of the play, when major of the play, when major characters speak.characters speak.

Speaking in PROSESpeaking in PROSE Prose is unrhymed, Prose is unrhymed,

with no rhythm, no with no rhythm, no metermeter

Minor or unimportant Minor or unimportant characters speak in characters speak in proseprose

Bawdy (dirty) humor Bawdy (dirty) humor may appear in prose may appear in prose instead of instead of verse/poetryverse/poetry


by William Shakespeareby William ShakespeareSpeaking in VERSESpeaking in VERSEO, she doth teach the torches to burn

bright!It seems she hangs upon the cheek of nightLike a rich jewel in an Ethiop’s ear;Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear!So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows,As yonder lady o’er her fellows shows.The measure done, I’ll watch her place of

stand,And, touching hers, make blessed my rude

hand.Did my heart love till now? Forswear it,

sight!For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night.

Speaking in PROSESpeaking in PROSEFind them out whose names are

written here! It is written that the shoemaker

should meddle withhis yard and the tailor with his last,

the fisher withhis pencil and the painter with his

nets; but I amsent to find those persons whose

names are herewrite, and can never find what

names the writingperson has here writ. I must to the

learned.

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What do you know… About William Shakespeare? About the play Romeo and Juliet?