Romeo and Juliet By William Shakespeare William Shakespeare •37 plays written •Conflicts and theme of plays are timeless • Definition: Tragedy • A drama or literary work • the main character is brought to ruin • or suffers extreme sorrow, • as a consequence of a tragic flaw, moral weakness, or inability to cope with unfavorable circumstances Catastrophe • The final event in a drama- the death in a tragedy Comic Relief • A bit of humor injected into a serious play to relieve the heavy tension of tragic events • Ex: the nurse is a comic relief in Romeo and Juliet Chorus Who: a single character What: speaks to audience Why: gives audience an idea about the conflict ahead Soliloquy • Definition: • A character talks to himself or herself or reveals his or her thoughts without addressing a listener. Aside • Lines spoken to the audience not meant to be heard by the characters on stage • or lines spoken to another character but not meant to be heard by all of the characters Monologue • Definition: • A long speech made by one person Pun • Definition: A play on words, sometimes on different senses of the same word and sometimes on the similar sense or sound of different words. • Examples: Let’s talk about rights and lefts. You’re right, so I left. • Without geometry, life is pointless (Historical Context of R&J) Life in 1595 • Life expectancy was shorter • Childhood to adulthoodno teenagers Romeo and Juliet • Romeo is a Montague • 16 years old • Acts on feelings-emotional kind of guy • Juliet is a Capulet • 13 years old • Acts out against parents Star Crossed • "Star-crossed" or "star-crossed lovers" is a reference to those who fight against (or cross) their fate, which is written in the stars. The phrase was first recorded by William Shakespeare in his play Romeo and Juliet • also refers to destiny and the inevitability of the two characters' paths crossing each other. It also usually means unlucky, since Romeo and Juliet's affair ended tragically • Doomed by unlucky stars R&J Play • Story happens within a total of 4 days • Influence on popular culture! Montagues and Capultes • Ongoing family feud • No one knows why for sure • Constant fighting between two families • Citizens used to it Montague Family • • • • Wealthy Romeo-16 year old son Lord and Lady Montague-parents Mercutio- a true friend of Romeo and very witty and talkative (cousin to Prince Escalus) • Benvolio- a cousin and loyal friend to Romeo (good sense and peacemaker) • Balthasar- a loyal servant to Romeo • Abram- a loyal servant to Lord Montague Capulet Family • Juliet Capulet- 13 year old daughter • Lord and Lady Capulet- Juliet’s parents • Tybalt- cousin to Juliet; bad tempered, expert swordsman • The Nurse- Juliet’s nurse; outspoken, bawdy, loud, (rude), was Juliet’s wet nurse when her baby died • Peter- the nurse’s servant • Sampson and Gregory- servants to Lord Capulet Drama is meant to be acted • You will be assigned to act out scenes with proper costumes and props • Everyone must partake! Ten points! If you are absent, you will rotate with someone • The list will be given ahead, so you may practice and prepare for your part • No judgments- participation points only-no Oscars or Grammys or other rewards • It will be fun! Other Important Characters • Prince Escalus- ruler of Verona • Friar Laurence- a kind Catholic priest; Romeo’s confessor and mentor; tries to help Romeo and Juliet • An Apothecary- a person who prepares and sells medicine and chemicals Five Act Dramatic Structure Climax Act III Exposition Act I Resolution Act V Play •Broken up into Acts (chapters) & scenes (usually about 5-6 scenes) •Prologue Prologue • Definition: • An introduction or preface, especially a poem recited to introduce a play. • Purpose: usually reveals key elements of the plot to inform even the most illiterate/uneducated audience members Prologue • Uses Iambic Pentameter • da DUM | da DUM | da DUM | da DUM | da DUM • if YOU | would PUT | the KEY | inSIDE | the LOCK Iambic Pentameter • Pentameter: 5 sets of stressed and unstressed syllables (iambic units) • This line has 5 feet, so it’s written in pentameter. And the stressing pattern is all iambs: • if YOU | would PUT | the KEY | inSIDE | the LOCK • da DUM | da DUM | da DUM | da DUM | da DUM Sonnet • Popular verse form (1595) • 14 lines often iambic pentameter • Couplets and rhyme scheme • Label the rhyme scheme (begin with A) The Prologue • • • • Sonnet Performs a vital dramatic function Allows the audience to foresee events Before the audience meets Romeo and Juliet, they know their love is doomed • Their families are caught up in an argument • It will only be resolved by the death of the young lovers Prologue • Read chorus (one character) to audience • Gives an idea about the conflict • Helps the illiterate/uneducated audience understand Line One Once there were two families of equal status and prestige Line Two • Theses two families lived in Verona, Italy where the story takes place Line Three • In Verona fighting has broken out in a riot Line Four • The fighting has been a result of a long-standing and bitter feud between the two families-each noble family endured physical and bloody assault Line Five • From each of these enemy families come the young lovers of the story Line Six • The young lovers are doomed by their own fate from birth (family name) and will commit suicide Line Seven • The two young lovers met and fell in love aware that their union would bring sorrow on their parents Line Eight • The death of these young lovers becomes the source of horrible grief to their parents Line Nine • They both die for love Line Ten • Their death punishes their parents’ hate Line Eleven • Their children’s death brings peace between the two families Line Twelve • The next two hours, it is our (the actors’) business to show this tale Line Thirteen • Have patient ears and listen to the play Line Fourteen • The missing pieces, we (the actors) will try very hard to clear up for you!