The Tragedy of The Tragedy of Romeo and JulietRomeo and Juliet

DRAMA DRAMA TERMSTERMS

Journal Entry #5Journal Entry #5What impact does family have during What impact does family have during

different stages of our life?different stages of our life?Infancy (0-5)Infancy (0-5)Elementary and Middle School (6-13)Elementary and Middle School (6-13)Teenage Years (14-19)Teenage Years (14-19)Young Adulthood (20-30)Young Adulthood (20-30)Adulthood (30-64)Adulthood (30-64)Old Age (65+)Old Age (65+)

TragedyTragedyA branch of A branch of

drama that drama that illustrates illustrates the sorrowful the sorrowful or terrible or terrible events events encountered encountered or caused by or caused by a heroic a heroic individual. individual.

The Shakespeare The Shakespeare tragedies share a tragedies share a

number of common number of common features…features…

Tragic HeroTragic Hero

A person of some stature or high A person of some stature or high position and a good person; he must position and a good person; he must matter to us and we must see him as a matter to us and we must see him as a worthwhile person. worthwhile person.

Tragic HeroTragic Hero He must possess a character He must possess a character

trait or quality which under trait or quality which under normal circumstances would normal circumstances would be a virtue, but which under be a virtue, but which under the special circumstances of the special circumstances of the play proves to be a fatal the play proves to be a fatal flaw. Frequently, he makes flaw. Frequently, he makes serious errors in judgment serious errors in judgment which lead him to committing which lead him to committing the deed which begins his the deed which begins his downfall. Often he has a downfall. Often he has a distorted perception of, or is distorted perception of, or is blind to, reality. blind to, reality.

Tragic FlawTragic Flaw Shakespeare’s tragic heroes are all Shakespeare’s tragic heroes are all

fundamentally flawed. It is this fundamentally flawed. It is this weakness that ultimately leads to weakness that ultimately leads to their downfall.  their downfall. 

External PressuresExternal Pressures Shakespeare’s tragic heroes often fall Shakespeare’s tragic heroes often fall

victim to external pressures. Fate, evil victim to external pressures. Fate, evil spirits and manipulative characters all play spirits and manipulative characters all play a hand in the hero’s downfall.a hand in the hero’s downfall.

Dramatic FoilDramatic FoilA character who contrasts another A character who contrasts another

character and emphasizes certain character and emphasizes certain qualities.qualities.

Bad guy

Good guy

MonologueMonologueA long speech delivered by one A long speech delivered by one

character to another character or the character to another character or the audience.audience.

SoliloquySoliloquyA long speech where a character A long speech where a character

expresses his or her own thoughts expresses his or her own thoughts aloud.aloud.

AsideAsideA short speech, usually to the A short speech, usually to the

audience, that is inaudible by the audience, that is inaudible by the other characters on the stage.other characters on the stage.

BENVOLIO [aside to CAPULET]

PunPunA play on words exploiting the A play on words exploiting the

different possible meanings of a word different possible meanings of a word or the fact that there are words that or the fact that there are words that sound alike but have different sound alike but have different meanings.meanings.

Example: Sycamore TreeSyc = SickAmore = LoveRomeo sits under this tree because he is lovesick.

AllusionAllusion A reference to a well-known person, A reference to a well-known person,

place, literary work, event, etc.place, literary work, event, etc.

Romeo, act 1 Scene 1: Romeo, act 1 Scene 1: Well, in that hit you miss: she'll not be Well, in that hit you miss: she'll not be hit hit With With Cupid's arrowCupid's arrow; she hath Dian's ; she hath Dian's wit; wit; And, in strong proof of chastity well And, in strong proof of chastity well arm'd, arm'd, From love's weak childish bow she From love's weak childish bow she lives unharm'd. lives unharm'd.