Romeo & JulietEverything you ever wanted to know....

but were afraid to ask!

Synopsis

Family Feud

Romeo in love

A special invitation

a plot to sneak into a party

me..get married? gross!

boy meets girl..and falls in love...again

Party Crashers!

“but soft...” the famous scene

the wedding planners...

Synopsis

“A Plague on both your houses!”

Romeo flees

Juliet weeps for Tybalt

“speak not of banishment!”

boy marries girl...in secret

Father moves up the wedding date...

Juliet hatches a plan to “kill” herself

Romeo flees to Mantua...”juliet, dead?!” (he didn’t get the memo)

Romeo and Juliet meet again, in heaven (and Paris too?!)

Historical Background

written between 1594-1595, on stage 1594 at “The Theater”

based on the poem by Arthur Brooke--”Tragicall Historye of Romeus and Juliet”

Both Romeo and Juliet were played by men (women couldn’t legally act on stage until late 1600’s)

The Petrarchian sonnet (love at first sight, woman resists, man laments)

CharactersJuliet

Tybalt

Paris

Prince Escalus

Romeo

Benvolio

Mercutio

Nurse

Friar Laurence

Capulet, Lady Capulet

Montague, Lady Montague

Balthasar (romeo’s servant)

An Apothecary

Friar John

The Play, au’ dramatisTragedy--tragic heroes: Romeo & Juliet

Importance or rank: both families from nobility

Extraordinary talents: both significantly mature and intelligent

Flawed? Their tragic flaw lies in the decisions of the adults around them. It could be said that their flaw is: impatience or passion without reason.

Both commit suicide--an act that is bold

The Play, au’ dramatisExamples of:

Dramatic Irony--R&J vs. the parents, R vs. Juliet, Juliet Vs. Lady Capulet

Situational Irony--death leads to peace

Verbal Irony-- examples?

The Play, au’ dramatisSolilquies:

• Act 1 Scene 5: O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright (Spoken by Romeo)

• Act 2 Scene 2: What light through yonder window breaks? (Spoken by Romeo)

• Act 2 Scene 5: The clock struck nine when I did send the nurse (Spoken by Juliet)

• Act 3 Scene 2: Gallop apace, you fiery-footed steeds (Spoken by Juliet)

• Act 5 Scene3: How oft when men are at the point of death (Spoken by Romeo)

Themes“The Sins of the Fathers”--recurrent Shakespeare theme (R&J, Hamlet, The Merchant of Venice, etc.)

Love & Hate confused with Passion

Light vs. Dark-- day/night, light/dark, good/bad are all mixed into various shades of gray.

Fate--when things happen beyond one’s control. Are the Death’s of R&J the result of fate?

Bibliography• “Romeo and Juliet.” Sparknotes.com. 12 Nov. 2008 <

http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/romeojuliet/>.

• "Romeo and Juliet Historical Background." Enotes.com. 12 Nov. 2008 <http://www.enotes.com/romeo/historical-background>.

• "Romeo and Juliet Navigator." Shakespeare Navigator. Clicknotes.com. 2 Dec. 2008 <http://www.clicknotes.com/romeo/index.html>.

• Williams, Daniel O. No Fear Shakespeare : A Companion. New York: Spark Group, 2007. 97-103.