Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare: A Brief Biography Born in April 1564 at Stratford-on-Avon Born in April 1564 at Stratford-on-Avon John Shakespeare

ShakespearShakespeare’se’s

Romeo and Romeo and JulietJuliet

Shakespeare: A Brief BiographyShakespeare: A Brief Biography

Born in April 1564 at Stratford-on-Born in April 1564 at Stratford-on-AvonAvon

John Shakespeare (father)John Shakespeare (father) tanner, glover, dealer in graintanner, glover, dealer in grain town official (alderman, and later town official (alderman, and later

mayor)mayor) Mary (mother)Mary (mother)

daughter of Robert Arden, a prosperous daughter of Robert Arden, a prosperous gentleman-farmer.gentleman-farmer.


Married Anne Hathaway in 1582Married Anne Hathaway in 1582Three children born: Susanna, Judith, Three children born: Susanna, Judith,

and Hamnet and Hamnet By 1590, he was an actor and By 1590, he was an actor and

playwrightplaywrightLeader of the Lord Chamberlain’s Leader of the Lord Chamberlain’s

Men and the King’s MenMen and the King’s Mendied April 23, 1616died April 23, 1616


He was buried in Stratford; the He was buried in Stratford; the inscription on his tombstone reads. . inscription on his tombstone reads. . ..


““Good Friend, for Jesus’ sake, forbearGood Friend, for Jesus’ sake, forbear

To dig the dust enclosed here;To dig the dust enclosed here;

Blest be the man that spares these Blest be the man that spares these stonesstones

And curst be he that moves my And curst be he that moves my bones.”bones.”

Best Known For…Best Known For…

37 plays, including 37 plays, including Hamlet, Macbeth, King Hamlet, Macbeth, King Lear, Julius Caesar, Midsummer Night’s Lear, Julius Caesar, Midsummer Night’s Dream, Dream, and of course, and of course, Romeo and JulietRomeo and Juliet

The exact year in which William The exact year in which William Shakespeare wrote Shakespeare wrote Romeo and JulietRomeo and Juliet is is unknown, but it is definitely one of his unknown, but it is definitely one of his earlier works, and one of only two earlier works, and one of only two tragedies written in the period from 1590 tragedies written in the period from 1590 to 1595 to 1595

155 poems, all written in the same style, 155 poems, all written in the same style, known as The Shakespearean Sonnetknown as The Shakespearean Sonnet

The Shakespearean SonnetThe Shakespearean Sonnet14 lines14 linesRhyme Scheme: abab cdcd efef ggRhyme Scheme: abab cdcd efef gg Iambic Iambic pentameterpentameterThe last two lines are a rhyming The last two lines are a rhyming

coupletcoupletShakespeare’s plays are also written Shakespeare’s plays are also written

in couplets and iambic pentameter, in couplets and iambic pentameter, except for when the servants or except for when the servants or comical characters speak. There are comical characters speak. There are even sonnets in his plays. even sonnets in his plays.

All the World’s a Stage…All the World’s a Stage…

Shakespeare wrote hundreds of poems, Shakespeare wrote hundreds of poems, but he is best known for his plays.but he is best known for his plays.

The playwright develops a story through The playwright develops a story through dialogue, monologues, and staging.dialogue, monologues, and staging.

The director helps actors perform the The director helps actors perform the play the way it was intended.play the way it was intended.

The Globe TheaterThe Globe Theater


He wrote his plays to be performed He wrote his plays to be performed in the Globe Theater.in the Globe Theater.

It was built in 1599 and burned It was built in 1599 and burned down 14 years later in 1613.down 14 years later in 1613.

It was an 8 sided building with a It was an 8 sided building with a central yard.central yard.


Spectators’ price of admissions wasSpectators’ price of admissions was one penny - to stand in yard around one penny - to stand in yard around

stage (these were called the stage (these were called the groundlings)groundlings)

two pennies - to sit in 2nd and 3rd floor two pennies - to sit in 2nd and 3rd floor galleriesgalleries

three pennies - to sit in the first floor three pennies - to sit in the first floor galleries galleries


StageStage 1/3 of yard was filled with 6ft high platform1/3 of yard was filled with 6ft high platform no curtainno curtain no artificial lightingno artificial lighting back wall had at least two doorsback wall had at least two doors balcony was used for hilltops, walls of cities, balcony was used for hilltops, walls of cities,

or second story scenes.or second story scenes. trapdoors were used to raise or lower actors trapdoors were used to raise or lower actors

and props.and props.


Take a tour of the new Globe Take a tour of the new Globe Theater. . . .Theater. . . .

Shakespeare's Globe TheatreShakespeare's Globe Theatre

Romeo and JulietRomeo and Juliet

The plot was based on a fourteenth-The plot was based on a fourteenth-century Italian short story, or novella, century Italian short story, or novella, written by Matteo Bandello, that written by Matteo Bandello, that included elements of history, included elements of history, tradition, romance, and fable. tradition, romance, and fable.

Both the short story and the play Both the short story and the play bear many similarities to the myth of bear many similarities to the myth of Pyramus and Thisbe from ancient Pyramus and Thisbe from ancient GreeceGreece

Review of Important Literary Review of Important Literary TermsTerms

Plot (exposition, rising action – including Plot (exposition, rising action – including internal and external conflict, climax, internal and external conflict, climax, falling action, resolution)falling action, resolution)

Characterization (round, flat, dynamic, Characterization (round, flat, dynamic, static, protagonist, antagonist)static, protagonist, antagonist)

ForeshadowingForeshadowing EpithetEpithet Irony (situational, dramatic, verbal)Irony (situational, dramatic, verbal) Figurative language (including hyperbole, Figurative language (including hyperbole,

simile, metaphor, personification, etc)simile, metaphor, personification, etc) ImageryImagery

New Terms We Need to New Terms We Need to Know:Know: Foil~ Foil~ a secondary character who has a secondary character who has

enough in common to serve as a contrast enough in common to serve as a contrast to point out traits of a primary characterto point out traits of a primary character

Example: Who would be Atticus’s foil?Example: Who would be Atticus’s foil? PunPun~A play on two words similar in sound ~A play on two words similar in sound

but different in meaning.but different in meaning.Example: I work as a baker because I Example: I work as a baker because I

knead dough.knead dough.See punoftheday.comSee punoftheday.com

Oxymoron~ Oxymoron~ term formed by joining term formed by joining words that seem to contradict one anotherwords that seem to contradict one another

Example: deafening silence, Example: deafening silence, bittersweetbittersweet

Extended Metaphor~ Extended Metaphor~ metaphor extended metaphor extended throughout a stanza or an entire poem, throughout a stanza or an entire poem, usually by using multiple comparisonsusually by using multiple comparisons between the unlike objects or ideas (also between the unlike objects or ideas (also called called conceit)conceit)

CoupletCouplet~ Two lines -the second line ~ Two lines -the second line immediately following the first- of the same immediately following the first- of the same metrical length that end in a rhymemetrical length that end in a rhyme

Enjambment~ Enjambment~ running over from one line running over from one line to the next without a pause / punctuation to the next without a pause / punctuation breakbreak

Shakespearean Sonnet~ Shakespearean Sonnet~ 14 line poem 14 line poem with an ABABCDCDEFEFGG rhyme schemewith an ABABCDCDEFEFGG rhyme scheme

Iambic Pentameter~ see later handoutIambic Pentameter~ see later handout Blank Verse~ see later handoutBlank Verse~ see later handout

AsideAside~a short passage spoken by one character ~a short passage spoken by one character to the audience while the other actors on stage to the audience while the other actors on stage pretend their characters cannot hear the pretend their characters cannot hear the speaker's words.speaker's words.

TragedyTragedy~ a narrative about serious and ~ a narrative about serious and important actions that ends unhappily (usually important actions that ends unhappily (usually w/ the deaths of the main characters).w/ the deaths of the main characters).

SoliloquySoliloquy~ a speech that a character gives to ~ a speech that a character gives to himself – no other characters are onstagehimself – no other characters are onstage

DialogueDialogue~ lines spoken between characters~ lines spoken between characters MonologueMonologue~ a speech that a character gives ~ a speech that a character gives

alone – but others may be onstagealone – but others may be onstage Stage Directions~ Stage Directions~ parts of the script written parts of the script written

by the playwright as unspoken directions for the by the playwright as unspoken directions for the characterscharacters

CHARACTERS

The Montagues The CapuletsLord Montague Lord Capulet

Lady Montague lady Capulet

Benvolio, nephew Juliet, daughter

Romeo, son Tybalt, nephew

Servants Nurse (Juliet’s nanny)

Servants

The Others: Mercutio, Romeo’s best friend

Escalus, Prince of Verona

Paris, count of Verona

Friar Lawrence, spiritual leader of Verona

Friar John, friend of Friar Lawrence

Apothecary

Romeo and JulietRomeo and Juliet

Romeo and JulietRomeo and Juliet is as much about is as much about hate as love hate as love Although Although Romeo and JulietRomeo and Juliet is considered is considered

one of the world’s greatest love stories, one of the world’s greatest love stories, it can be argued that the love story is it can be argued that the love story is only a vehicle for the resolution of the only a vehicle for the resolution of the story about hate, that is, the feud story about hate, that is, the feud between the two families. between the two families.

Themes in Romeo and JulietThemes in Romeo and Juliet

Themes are the fundamental and often Themes are the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a literary universal ideas explored in a literary work.work.

Unit Essential Question: Unit Essential Question: How can How can literature explore universal themes of literature explore universal themes of love and loss?love and loss?


1. The Forcefulness of Love and 1. The Forcefulness of Love and Attraction Attraction

Focus on romantic loveFocus on romantic loveNature of infatuation vs. lasting loveNature of infatuation vs. lasting loveLove is blind (for better and worse)Love is blind (for better and worse)Love as overpowering forceLove as overpowering force

FamilyFamilyFriendsFriendsCan lead to violence Can lead to violence


2. The Individual Versus Society2. The Individual Versus SocietyRomeo and Juliet against. . .Romeo and Juliet against. . .

FamilyFamilyLawLawReligionReligionHonorHonor


3. The Inevitability of Fate3. The Inevitability of Fate Straight path or series of Straight path or series of

crossroads?crossroads? ““Star-crossed Lovers”Star-crossed Lovers” FeudFeud Series of Unfortunate EventsSeries of Unfortunate Events Bad TimingBad Timing


3. The Generation Gap3. The Generation Gap

~ Parents just don’t understand~ Parents just don’t understand

~ Youth is pure~ Youth is pure

ProloguePrologueCHORUSCHORUS: : In the beautiful city of Verona, where In the beautiful city of Verona, where

our story takes place, a long-standing hatred our story takes place, a long-standing hatred between two families erupts into new between two families erupts into new violence, and citizens stain their hands with violence, and citizens stain their hands with the blood of their fellow citizens. Two unlucky the blood of their fellow citizens. Two unlucky children of these enemy families become children of these enemy families become lovers and commit suicide. Their unfortunate lovers and commit suicide. Their unfortunate deaths put an end to their parents' feud. For deaths put an end to their parents' feud. For the next two hours, we will watch the story of the next two hours, we will watch the story of their doomed love and their parents' anger, their doomed love and their parents' anger, which nothing but the children's deaths could which nothing but the children's deaths could stop. If you listen to us patiently, we'll make stop. If you listen to us patiently, we'll make up for everything we've left out in this up for everything we've left out in this prologue onstage.prologue onstage.

Documents

Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare: A Brief Biography Born in April 1564 at Stratford-on-Avon Born in April 1564 at Stratford-on-Avon John Shakespeare