ROMEO AND
JULIET
Drama
Definition: a story with action and dialogue for stage performance –
we are usually reading the script
2 basic stage structures
1. “picture-frame stage” – audience watches a fictional world
through a window
Audience is “spying”
Characters are expected to act as ordinary people
2. “platform stage” – *
Stage extends into audience with tiers at the rear of the stage
for additional acting areas
Line between spectator & actor was blurred
Aside – actor speaking his thoughts directly to the audience
Soliloquy – actor speaking his thoughts aloud; usually a
paragraph in length
Drama
Necessary Terms for the stage
1. Comedy – a drama that ends happily
2. Tragedy – a drama that ends unhappily
3. History – drama of the life of famous people
4. Act – major divisions of a play; usually a scene
change
5. Scene – division within acts ; setting is consistent
& time continues uninterrupted
Romeo and
Juliet
Basis for play – “Pyramis & Thisbe;” although the idea
of tragic young love exists in all folklore
Using well-known legends/myths was common – could
explain Shakespeare’s wide-ranging knowledge
Theme
Using wise judgment when making life choices is
necessary.
We will view the theme through a series of contrasts
1.Infatuation vs. genuine, mature love
2.Youthful haste vs. Mature Wisdom
3.Passion vs. Reason
4.Fate vs. Free Will – Elizabethans argued over the
idea of whether or not man was a product of fate (we
can’t control what happens to us) or if man had a
free will to choose his own destiny
The themes are revealed through
1)Character Development – reveals Shakespeare’s
tone (attitude) towards characters
2)Imagery
Imagery
Time – pay close attention to all the
different references to time passing,
standing still, moving too quickly; things
that symbolize time passing
Light and Darkness
Act I Scene I
SERVANTS
RELATIVES/ FRIENDS
ROMEO’S FRIENDS
• Mercutio (mercurial)- volatile, fleshly, emotional
• Benvolio (benevolent)- rational, honest and reliable
Discussion
questions
• What significant information is revealed about Capulet in the
opening of Act I, Scene ii?
• How old is Juliet? How does knowing her age affect your
understanding of the theme and development of the play?
• What contrasts are apparent between Juliet and the other
women in this scene? Why does Shakespeare draw a distinction
among them?
• What extended metaphor is present in Act I, Scene iii?
JULIET BACKGROUND
• Possibly named after the month of July
• Born near Lammastide (Aug. 1)
• Age: 14
JULIET’S RELATIONSHIPS
• Father: very close
• Mother: fairly close
• Suitors: not interested
LADY CAPULET
• Age: around 26-30
• Perspective on love:
• Physical Attraction
• Self-Advancement
ROMEO’S FRIENDS
• Mercutio (mercurial)- volatile, fleshly, emotional
• Benvolio (benevolent)- rational, honest and reliable
IMPORTANT QUOTES
• Some consequence yet hanging in the stars/shall bitterly begin his fearful
date/with this night’s revels, and expire the term/of a despised life clos’d
in my breast/by some vile forfeit of untimely death (Act I, Scene IV).
• Fate vs. Free Will
Romeo & Juliet Meet
•Romeo begins with a great pick-up line
He holds her hand and then says he will pay the fine of a kiss if he has
profaned her hand.
•Important Quote
Romeo: "Is she a Capulet? / O dear account! My life is my foe's debt. I.v.
line 113-114
Juliet: "My only love sprung from my only hate!" I. v. line 134
17
Which character(s) do you find sympathetic? Why?
Act II
Prologue - ideas of passion leading to the desire
for time to hurry
Scene i –
Foil: contrasting character
Benvolio - not overly talkative
Mercutio – unpredictable
18
Scene ii - After the party
Romeo describes Juliet in terms of light; and
both desire darkness to hide them from Juliet's
family
Fate vs. Free Will
Youthful Haste exhibited
19
What is their plan?
Important Quotes
Romeo
"But soft, what light through yonder window
breaks? / It is the east, and Juliet is the sun." II. ii. lines 3-4
Juliet
"What's in a name? That which we call a rose /
By any other name would smell as sweet." II. ii. lines 43-44
"Good night, good night! Parting is such sweet
sorrow, / That I shall say good night till it be morrow."
II. ii. lines 183-184
20
Act II, Scene III
Themes
• Passion vs. Reason
• Youthful Haste vs. Mature Wisdom
• Infatuation vs. Genuine, Mature Love
The Verona Gazette
You are a reporter, writing a social column for one of Verona’s local gossip
magazines. Your job is to record what is happening with the Montagues and
Capulets and any news that you may have picked up. You can write about
the ball or some other recent event. Feel free to describe fictional
characters, as well as real ones.
• Word Count: 200 words minimum
• You may use first-person
• Must be typed
• Must include details and references to real events from Act 1-Act 2,
Scene 3
• Due Wednesday
Act II, Scene V
Themes
• Youthful Haste vs. Mature Wisdom
• Infatuation vs. Genuine, Mature Love
Act II, Scene VI
IMPORTANT QUOTES
• Some consequence yet hanging in the stars/shall bitterly begin his fearful
date/with this night’s revels, and expire the term/of a despised life clos’d
in my breast/by some vile forfeit of untimely death (Act I, Scene IV).
• Fate vs. Free Will
Romeo & Juliet Meet
•Romeo begins with a great pick-up line
He holds her hand and then says he will pay the fine of a kiss if he has profaned
her hand.
•Important Quote
Romeo: "Is she a Capulet? / O dear account! My life is my foe's debt. I.v. line
113-114
Juliet: "My only love sprung from my only hate!" I. v. line 134
Which character(s) do you find sympathetic? Why?
28
Act III, scene ii
29
Juliet's conflict: passion vs. reason
l. 60-69 - oxymoron - brief phrases that
combine contradictory elements for effect
Honors: l. 90-91 - chiasmus - parallel phrase,
clauses, or sentences in which the 2nd
reverses the elements of the first, inverting the
parallel structure
30
Act III, scene iv
31
Capulet changes his mind several times in this scene.
1. Doesn't want to talk about marriage tonight.
-then decides to send Lady Capulet to Juliet
tonight.
2. Decides Juliet & Paris will marry on
Wednesday
- then decides that is too early so moves it to
Thursday
3. Will only invite 1 or 2 people
-then decides on half a dozen
32
Act III, scene v
33
Why are Romeo and Juliet arguing about the
type of bird?
l. 72-73 -- Elizabethan's believed that grief
should not be excessive
Juliet uses words with double meanings to argue
with her mother
Compare Lady C's, Capulet's and Juliet's
reactions
34
Explain the metaphor in l. 128-138
What evil advice does the nurse give Juliet?
How does Juliet react?
From what source does Juliet decide to seek
further advice?
What desperate course of action does she consider
in the last 2 lines - couplet?
35
Act IV, Scene I
36
Themes
• Youthful Haste vs. Mature Wisdom
• Fate vs. Free Will
Friar’s Plan for Juliet
•
•
•
•
Meet with parents and agree to marry Paris
Drink the potion that makes her appear dead
Lie in the family crypt
Romeo (notified by letters) will come rescue Juliet
with the Friar and take her to Mantua
Act IV, Scene III
39
Soliloquy
Hypothetical “what if” scenarios:
• The poison doesn’t work and she will
still marry Paris in the morning
• The friar has secretly plotted to poison
her to cover his tracks
• She wakes before Romeo arrives and
suffocates
• She is haunted by Tybalt’s ghost
• She goes insane and kills herself
Act IV, Scene V
42
Famous quote
“Death lies on her like an untimely flower”
Paradox- “Not life, but love in death”
Themes: Fate vs. Free Will
Reference to time
Anaphora- “Our instruments to melancholy bells…”
“Dear Juliet” Letter
You are the friend of Romeo or Juliet. One of these characters has come to
you, asking for your advice on his/her love life.
What kind of wisdom can you give to this character? Try to offer sensible,
mature counsel to Romeo or Juliet.
• You need to include at least two quotes from the text that show
Romeo/Juliet’s feelings toward this situation.
• You may assign yourself a fictional identity
• Must be typed, in the format of a letter
• Due Friday
Act IV, Scene III
46
Timeline
1. Start recording all the major events from
Romeo and Juliet. Break up the events into
days.
Day 1: Romeo is lovesick over Rosaline and…
etc.
2. Create a linear timeline, showing the days
and corresponding events