Romeo and JulietRomeo and Juliet

All about WillAll about Will

Born in 1564 to John & Mary ArdenBorn in 1564 to John & Mary ArdenStudied classical literature in Greek Studied classical literature in Greek

and Latin in grammar schooland Latin in grammar schoolAt 18, married Anne Hathaway(8 At 18, married Anne Hathaway(8

years his senior)years his senior)Had 3 children: Susana and twins Had 3 children: Susana and twins

Judith and HamnetJudith and Hamnet1587-1592-established in London as 1587-1592-established in London as

an actor/playwrightan actor/playwright

More about Will…More about Will…

In 1592, he moved to London, In 1592, he moved to London, leaving his family behind while he leaving his family behind while he pursued a career as an actor and pursued a career as an actor and playwrightplaywright

First work: First work: Comedy of ErrorsComedy of ErrorsDied April 23, 1616Died April 23, 1616

Shakespeare’s DeathShakespeare’s Death Died at 53 and Died at 53 and

wealthywealthy Buried at Holy Buried at Holy

Trinity ChurchTrinity Church

Good friend for Jesus sake for Good friend for Jesus sake for beare,beare,

To digg the dust enclosed To digg the dust enclosed heare:heare:

Blest be ye man ty spares Blest be ye man ty spares these stones,these stones,

And curst be he ty moves my And curst be he ty moves my bonesbones

TranslatedTranslatedGood friend for Jesus sake Good friend for Jesus sake

forbear,forbear,To dig the dust enclosed To dig the dust enclosed

here:here:Blest be the man that spares Blest be the man that spares

these stones,these stones,And curst be he who moves And curst be he who moves

my bonesmy bones

Lord Chamberlain’s MenLord Chamberlain’s Men

Became partner in Became partner in a theater company a theater company know as the Lord know as the Lord Chamberlain’s MenChamberlain’s Men

Became popular in Became popular in London in 1599London in 1599

Built their own Built their own playhouse, The playhouse, The Globe TheaterGlobe Theater

His WorksHis WorksTragediesTragediesRomeo and JulietRomeo and Juliet

Julius CaesarJulius Caesar

RomancesRomancesThe TempestThe Tempest

HistoriesHistoriesThe Life of Henry the FifthThe Life of Henry the Fifth

ComediesComediesA Midsummer Night’s DreamA Midsummer Night’s Dream

Much Ado About NothingMuch Ado About Nothing

Also wrote 154 sonnetsAlso wrote 154 sonnets

Elizabethan vs. Modern TheaterElizabethan vs. Modern Theater

Considered somewhat a vulgar and Considered somewhat a vulgar and rowdy placerowdy place

Actors sometimes arrested as Actors sometimes arrested as vagabondsvagabonds

Theaters sometimes shut down Theaters sometimes shut down because of the content of the playsbecause of the content of the plays

Located on the outskirts of town; Located on the outskirts of town; routinely shut down because of plagueroutinely shut down because of plague

PerformancesPerformances

Theaters used little scenery and Theaters used little scenery and few propsfew props

Audience had to imagine the Audience had to imagine the setting according to how the setting according to how the characters described itcharacters described it

All actors were men and boys; All actors were men and boys; improper for women to act in playsimproper for women to act in plays

AudienceAudience Included people from all statuses: laboring Included people from all statuses: laboring

people from the lower class, middle-class people from the lower class, middle-class merchants, members of Parliament, and merchants, members of Parliament, and lords and ladieslords and ladies

Pickpockets mingled among the wild and Pickpockets mingled among the wild and noisy groundlingsnoisy groundlings

Noble people sat on cushioned seats in the Noble people sat on cushioned seats in the first-tier balconyfirst-tier balcony

Plays were written for everyone: “from the Plays were written for everyone: “from the most able, to him that can but spell”most able, to him that can but spell”

Will’s LanguageWill’s Language

He actually introduced an estimated 3,000 new He actually introduced an estimated 3,000 new words into the English language:words into the English language:

BedazzleBedazzle criticalcritical hurryhurrySillinessSilliness obsceneobscene lonelylonelyEyeballEyeball alligatoralligator pukingpuking

Phrases he createdPhrases he created*It’s Greek to me*It’s Greek to me *Fair play*Fair play*All that glitters is not gold*All that glitters is not gold*Break the ice*Break the ice *Too much of a *Too much of a

good good thingthing

Types of CharactersTypes of Characters Tragic hero:Tragic hero: a main character that has a a main character that has a tragic tragic

flawflaw (an error in (an error in judgment or judgment or defect in defect in character that leads to character that leads to downfall)downfall)

Foil:Foil: a character who contrasts with a central a character who contrasts with a central character in order to highlight character in order to highlight

each other’s strengths, each other’s strengths, and more and more usually weaknessesusually weaknesses

Comic ReliefComic Relief: humorous character to break up : humorous character to break up the the seriousness and emotional seriousness and emotional

intensityintensity

Types of Logues…Types of Logues…DialogueDialogue-conversation between two or -conversation between two or

more more peoplepeopleMonologueMonologue-long speech made by one -long speech made by one

charactercharacterSoliloquySoliloquy-speech delivered by a -speech delivered by a

character character alone on alone on stage that reveals the stage that reveals the characters thoughts and feelingscharacters thoughts and feelings

AsideAside-statement made by a character in -statement made by a character in a play a play that is meant to be that is meant to be heard by heard by the audience onlythe audience only

Romeo and JulietRomeo and Juliet

Written between Written between 1591-15951591-1595

Based on Arthur Based on Arthur Brooke’s Brooke’s The The Tragicall History Tragicall History of Romeus and of Romeus and JulietJuliet

Things to look for while readingThings to look for while reading

PunsPunsAllusionsAllusionsMetaphorMetaphorPersonificationPersonificationOxymoronOxymoronParadoxParadoxForeshadowingForeshadowing

PunsPunsA pun is a humorous play on wordsA pun is a humorous play on words

Mercutio-”Nay gentle Romeo, we must have your Mercutio-”Nay gentle Romeo, we must have your dance.”dance.”

Romeo-”Not I, believe me. You have dancing Romeo-”Not I, believe me. You have dancing shoes/ shoes/ With nimble With nimble solessoles; I have a ; I have a soulsoul of lead…”of lead…”

AllusionsAllusionsAn allusion is a reference to a well-An allusion is a reference to a well-

known work of art, music, literature, known work of art, music, literature, or history.or history.

““At lovers’ perjuries, they say Jove laughs.”At lovers’ perjuries, they say Jove laughs.”

Jove is another name for Jupiter, the Roman Jove is another name for Jupiter, the Roman King of the GodsKing of the Gods

MetaphorMetaphorA metaphor is a direct comparison A metaphor is a direct comparison

between two unlike things.between two unlike things.

Romeo-”But soft! What light through yonder window Romeo-”But soft! What light through yonder window breaks?/ It is the East, and breaks?/ It is the East, and Juliet is Juliet is

the sunthe sun.”.”

PersonificationPersonificationPersonification occurs when an Personification occurs when an

inanimate object or concept is given inanimate object or concept is given the qualities of a person or animal.the qualities of a person or animal.

Juliet-”For though wilt lie upon the wings of night/ Juliet-”For though wilt lie upon the wings of night/ Whiter Whiter than new snow on a raven’s back. / than new snow on a raven’s back. / Come, gentle Come, gentle night, come loving black-brow’d night, come loving black-brow’d night.”night.”

OxymoronsOxymoronsAn oxymoron describes when two An oxymoron describes when two

juxtaposed words have opposing or juxtaposed words have opposing or very diverse meanings.very diverse meanings.

Juliet-”Beautiful tyrant! Fiend angelical!”Juliet-”Beautiful tyrant! Fiend angelical!”

ParadoxesParadoxesA paradox is a statement or situation A paradox is a statement or situation

with seemingly contradictory or with seemingly contradictory or incompatible components.incompatible components.

Juliet-”O serpent heart, hid with a flowering face!”Juliet-”O serpent heart, hid with a flowering face!”

ForeshadowingForeshadowingForeshadowing is a reference to Foreshadowing is a reference to

something that will happen later in something that will happen later in the story.the story.

Juliet-”Give me my Romeo, and, when he shall die,Juliet-”Give me my Romeo, and, when he shall die,

Take him and cut him out in little starsTake him and cut him out in little stars

And he will make the face of heaven so fineAnd he will make the face of heaven so fine

That all the world will be in love with nightThat all the world will be in love with night

And pay no worship to the garish sun.”And pay no worship to the garish sun.”

ThemesThemesLight and darkLight and darkTimeTimeFateFate

Light and DarkLight and DarkLook for references to light Look for references to light

and dark:and dark:

References to “light” words, such as “torches,” References to “light” words, such as “torches,” “the sun,” and adjectives that describe “the sun,” and adjectives that describe light(bright)light(bright)

References to “dark” words, such as “night” and References to “dark” words, such as “night” and “gloom”“gloom”

TimeTimeLook for references to Look for references to time:time:

References to “time” words, such as References to “time” words, such as “hours”“hours”

References to the passage of time, References to the passage of time, especially if it seems “rushed”especially if it seems “rushed”

FateFateLook for references to fate:Look for references to fate:

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

The MontaguesThe Montagues

RomeoRomeo MontagueMontague Lady MontagueLady Montague BenvolioBenvolio BalthasarBalthasar

Baltthasar

Lady Montague

Lord Montague

Romeo

The CapuletsThe Capulets JulietJuliet CapuletCapulet Lady CapuletLady Capulet TybaltTybalt NurseNurse

Lord Capulet

Lady Capulet

Tybalt

Nurse

Juliet

The OthersThe OthersMercutioMercutioFriar LawrenceFriar LawrenceParisParisPrincePrince

Friar LawrenceParis

Mercutio

Prince

The SettingThe Setting

Verona and Mantua, ItalyVerona and Mantua, Italy