Romeo and JulietRomeo and Juliet

Things you need to knowThings you need to know

Background InformationBackground Information

Setting: Verona, Italy; 1400’sSetting: Verona, Italy; 1400’s Chorus—single person who enters Chorus—single person who enters

stage and gives summary of plot of stage and gives summary of plot of playplay

Feud between Montagues and Feud between Montagues and Capulets has been going on for a Capulets has been going on for a long time. They don’t even seem to long time. They don’t even seem to know why they are fighting anymore.know why they are fighting anymore.

Background Information Background Information continued…continued…

Feud even includes the servants of Feud even includes the servants of the householdsthe households

Aside—lines of a play only meant to Aside—lines of a play only meant to be heard by the actor indicated and be heard by the actor indicated and the audiencethe audience

Background Information Background Information continued…continued…

Two major types of drama—tragedy Two major types of drama—tragedy and comedyand comedy

Tragedies usually end in deathsTragedies usually end in deaths Comedies usually end in marriagesComedies usually end in marriages Keep in mind that plays are meant to Keep in mind that plays are meant to

be seen and heardbe seen and heard

Act I Scene 1Act I Scene 1

Play opens with feudPlay opens with feud Shakespeare immediately reveals his Shakespeare immediately reveals his

knowledge of his audienceknowledge of his audience Shakespeare’s use of servants, fight Shakespeare’s use of servants, fight

scenes, and plays on words appeal to scenes, and plays on words appeal to the poor, while the complex plot lines the poor, while the complex plot lines and underlying themes appeal to royaltyand underlying themes appeal to royalty

This is what makes Shakespeare greatThis is what makes Shakespeare great

Act I Scene 1 continued…Act I Scene 1 continued…

Benvolio and Tybalt are portrayed as Benvolio and Tybalt are portrayed as foil charactersfoil characters

Foil characters are characters who Foil characters are characters who are total opposite of each otherare total opposite of each other

Benvolio is peaceful, and Tybalt is Benvolio is peaceful, and Tybalt is confrontationalconfrontational

Act I Scene 1 continued…Act I Scene 1 continued…

Romeo’s father is quite concerned Romeo’s father is quite concerned about his sonabout his son

He wants Benvolio to discover the He wants Benvolio to discover the source of his sorrowsource of his sorrow

Act I Scene 1 continued…Act I Scene 1 continued…

Romeo is revealed in this scene as Romeo is revealed in this scene as being depressedbeing depressed

He is in love with a woman who does He is in love with a woman who does not love him backnot love him back

Audience assumes it is Juliet; Audience assumes it is Juliet; however, it is a woman we never however, it is a woman we never meetmeet

Act I Scene 1 continued…Act I Scene 1 continued…

Romeo’s depression sets the tone for Romeo’s depression sets the tone for the entire playthe entire play

The play focuses on forbidden love The play focuses on forbidden love and its toll on the participantsand its toll on the participants

Act I Scene 2Act I Scene 2

Capulet believes Juliet (being 14) is Capulet believes Juliet (being 14) is just about ready to be marriedjust about ready to be married

Paris says that girls even younger Paris says that girls even younger than she have become good mothersthan she have become good mothers

Capulet has a party to give Paris a Capulet has a party to give Paris a chance to get to know Julietchance to get to know Juliet

Act I Scene 2 continued…Act I Scene 2 continued…

The servant is instructed to invite the The servant is instructed to invite the people on a listpeople on a list

Unfortunately the servant can’t read Unfortunately the servant can’t read and unknowingly invites Romeo and and unknowingly invites Romeo and Benvolio when he sees them in the Benvolio when he sees them in the streets of Veronastreets of Verona

Act I Scene 3Act I Scene 3

In this scene we discover the nature In this scene we discover the nature of Juliet’s relationships with her of Juliet’s relationships with her parents and the nurseparents and the nurse

The nurse is like a mother to her The nurse is like a mother to her especially since she raised Julietespecially since she raised Juliet

Juliet’s mother tries to force her into Juliet’s mother tries to force her into marriage; whereas, Juliet is not ready marriage; whereas, Juliet is not ready to marryto marry

Act I Scene 3 continued…Act I Scene 3 continued…

Juliet’s parents are very controlling Juliet’s parents are very controlling

As a result Juliet tries to be the As a result Juliet tries to be the perfect daughter and follow their willperfect daughter and follow their will

Act I Scene 4Act I Scene 4

This scene takes place later that This scene takes place later that evening after the brawl that morningevening after the brawl that morning

Romeo and his friends are on the way Romeo and his friends are on the way to the Capulet partyto the Capulet party

Readers meet MercutioReaders meet Mercutio As Romeo professes that he is “done” As Romeo professes that he is “done”

with love, Mercutio gives one of the with love, Mercutio gives one of the most famous monologues in all of most famous monologues in all of literatureliterature

Act I Scene 4 continued…Act I Scene 4 continued…

Mercutio tells about Queen Mab and how Mercutio tells about Queen Mab and how she determines what people will dreamshe determines what people will dream

Romeo then explains that he had a vision Romeo then explains that he had a vision of “some consequence yet hanging in of “some consequence yet hanging in the stars” that predicts an “untimely the stars” that predicts an “untimely death”—excellent example of death”—excellent example of foreshadowingforeshadowing

Act I Scene 5Act I Scene 5

This scene opens with servants This scene opens with servants conversing. These servants would have conversing. These servants would have been portrayed as comedic reliefbeen portrayed as comedic relief

Throughout the play comedic relief is Throughout the play comedic relief is used to keep the poor interestedused to keep the poor interested

When Romeo meets Juliet, they fall in When Romeo meets Juliet, they fall in love at first sight; they don’t even know love at first sight; they don’t even know that the other is part of their enemy’s that the other is part of their enemy’s familyfamily