Intro to Shakespeare &
Romeo and Juliet
Drama Words
Globe Theater
How do we say it?
• Verse Drama – A play in which the
dialogue consists almost entirely of
verse/poetry.
• Iambic Pentameter – Shakespeare’s favorite
rhythm! (1 unstressed syllable followed by 1
stressed syllable repeated 5 times)
da DUM da DUM da DUM da DUM da Dum da DUM
• Romeo and Juliet was written entirely in
Blank verse, poetry written in iambic
pentameter that doesn’t rhyme.
William Shakespeare
General Info
• Born around April 23 1564 (no exact date is
known) at Stratford-on-Avon in England
• Died April 23, 1616
• Referred to as “The Bard”
• Wrote
– 37 plays
– 154 sonnets
– Several long poems
• Controversy about actual authorship of plays
• Shakespeare built a career as an actor and eventually
became an established and popular member of the
London theatre circuit.
• "Romeo and Juliet" was written in 1595.
• As an actor, he was a member of a theatrical company
known as the LORD CHAMBERLAIN'S MEN.
• During the reign of Queen Elizabeth and later King
James, they had great success in THE GLOBE
THEATER.
The Globe Theater or the
Wooden “O”
The Globe Theatre
• The Globe was built
during Shakespeare's
early period in 1599
• It had a total capacity
of between 2,000 and 3,000 spectators.
• No lighting
• All performances were conducted, weather
permitting, during the day (probably most
often in the mid-afternoon span between 2
P.M. and 5 P.M.).
The Globe Theater
• Open air = ‘s poor acoustics and the actors had
to shout their lines, stress their enunciation, and
use exaggerated theatrical gestures
• No background
scenery.
• Costumes and
props - YES!
VERONA
Capulet
Tybalt
Lady Capulet
Juliet
Montague
Mercutio
Romeo
Benvolio
Overview of Play
Exposition:
Characters & Setting
Act I
Conflict between the Montagues and the Capulets
is exposed.
Rising Action:
Introduction of Conflicts
Act II
Romeo and Juliet fall in “love.”
Climax:
Turning Point - In a tragedy, things usually
go from bad to worse in Act III
Act III
Romeo and Juliet marry. Romeo kills Tybalt.
Falling Action:
Conflict resolution begins to fall into place
Result of the climax
Act IV
Friar helps Juliet play dead and sends letter
Romeo
Denouement:
Main conflicts are resolved - This act
includes a catastrophe, which is another
climactic turning point in the story line.
Act V
Romeo come back to Verona to find Juliet
Drama Conventions
• Stage Directions – italicized instructions for
performance
• Playwright – author
• Dialogue – conversation between two people
• Soliloquy – monologue in which a character
speaks his or her private thoughts aloud and
appears to be unaware of the audience
• Aside – short speech or comment that is
delivered by a character to the audience, but
that is beyond the hearing of other characters
who are present.
Words to Know
Double Entendre – word or expression
that can be understood in two different
ways with one way usually referring to
sex
Example:
In Finding Nemo,
the characters are
told "Ok, everyone,
think dirty thoughts!"
Act I
Exposition
Paradox - Something (such as a situation) that is
made up of two opposite things and that seems
impossible but is actually true or possible.
Oxymoron - a combination of words that have
opposite or very different meanings. Cruel
Kindness
The love poetry of
Shakespeare’s time
put together
contradictory words
to express the
turmoil of love.
Loving
Heavy
Serious
Mishapen Chaos
Feather
Bright
Cold
Sick
Still-waking
Frozen Tableaus
Examples
v.
Hate
v.
Lightness
v.
Vanity
v.
well-seeming forms
v.
lead
v.
Smoke
v.
Fire
v.
Health
v.
Sleep
Practice
Write down five or six oxymorons of your
own. Here are two adjectives to get you
started:
1. Slow ___________
2. Cowardly _________
3.
4.
5.
6.
Words to Know (continued)
• Foil – a character whose qualities or
actions usually serve to emphasize the
actions or qualities of the main
character, the protagonist,
by providing a strong contrast.
Advice Letters
Read the handout about advice columns to
get a feel for how advice-givers respond to
the problems of letter writers. Then, based
ONLY on what you know about the
blogger’s post, respond to each of them
with the wisdom you would expect an
advice columnist to give.
Act II
The Problem Begins
The Qualities of Tragic Hero
• Possesses importance or high rank
• Exhibits extraordinary talents
• Displays a tragic flaw – an error in
judgment or defect in character
that leads to a downfall
• His flaw is not his fault, but his
actions are!
• Faces downfall with courage and
dignity
Drama Conventions
Irony - is an implied discrepancy between
what is said and what is meant
3 Types:
1. verbal irony saying one thing and meaning
something else.
2. dramatic irony is when an audience knows
something that a character in the literature
does not.
3. irony of situation is a difference between
the expected result and actual results.
Scene 1
1. Explain the dramatic irony in this scene.
2. What does Mercutio say about “blind
love?”
Scene 2
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
When Juliet appears on her balcony,
what does Romeo compare her to?
How does Juliet
“speak, yet . . . [say] nothing”?
When Juliet leans her cheek on her hand, what does Romeo
say?
Unaware of his presence, what does Juliet ask Romeo to
say?
In a sentence or two, explain what Juliet says about names.
Juliet asks how Romeo got into her place. The orchard walls
are high, and Romeo’s life would be in danger if her relatives
were to find him there. What is Romeo’s response to these
questions?
Why is Juliet embarrassed?
Juliet is going to send someone to Romeo on the following
day for what purpose?
1.
2.
Scenes
3
&
4
What has Friar Laurence been out gathering in his basket?
Explain lines 21-22: “Virtue itself turns vice, being
misapplied,/And vice sometime by action dignified”?
3. When Friar Laurence sees Romeo, what comment does
Friar Laurence make about seeing Romeo so early in the
morning?
4. What does Friar Laurence mean when he says to Romeo,
“Young men’s love then lies not truly in their hearts, but in
their eyes?
5. Friar Laurence agrees to perform the marriage ceremony for
Romeo and Juliet for what reason?
Scene 4
1. According to Mercutio, what kind of man is Tybalt?
2. What is the nurse saying to Romeo in lines 157 – 163?
3. How is Juliet to arrange to meet Romeo?
Scenes 5 and 6
1. The nurse is supposed to be gone only a half
hour, but she is actually gone for how long?
2. How is the nurse behaving that is frustrating to
Juliet?
SCENE 6
1. How does this scene foreshadow future events?
2. What does Friar Laurence mean when he says,
“Therefore, love moderately; long love doth so”?
Activity Love Letters.
Romeo and Juliet have declared their love for each other, and married
secretly. But they are still living apart, keeping their marriage hidden
from their family. Write a love letter either from Romeo or from Juliet,
incorporating as much of Shakespeare's language of love as possible.
WORDS OF LOVE.
forsworn - promised not to
nuptial - wedding
fair - beautiful
beloved - loved by
vestal - pure/virginal
chaste - pure
maiden - young virgin
paramour - lover
enamoured - loved by/of
Parting is such sweet sorrow.
O she doth teach the torches to burn
bright!
Call me but love and I'll be new baptised.
Thy love's faithful vow.
A maiden blush.
Dear love, adieu.
And all my fortunes at thy foot I'll lay.
My heart's dear love.
Did my heart love till now?
You kiss by th'book.
O my love, my wife!
I will kiss thy lips.
Act III
The Banishment
Pun – an expression that achieves
emphasis or humor by utilizing:
• Two distinctly different
meanings for the
same word.
• Two similar sounding
words
– Biologists have
recently produced
immortal frogs by
removing their vocal
cords. They can't
croak.
Antithesis
Definition – Opposites
Definition of Antithesis:
_________love________________ v. ___________________________________
____________________________ v. _______________female_______________
___________choices___________ v. ____________________________________
____________________________ v. ________________family_______________
____________________________ v. _________________death______________
Characters?
1.
Scene i
At the beginning of the scene, why does Benvolio think that
there will be a fight?
2. What does Mercutio accuse Benvolio of in lines 15-30?
3. When Tybalt and Mercutio first begin arguing, what does
Benvolio try to them to do?
4. What does Tybalt call Romeo?
5. Why won’t Romeo fight Tybalt?
6. What does Mercutio think is the reason Romeo refuses to
fight?
7. Why does Mercutio keep repeating, “A plague o’ both your
houses”?
8. What does Romeo say that Juliet’s love has done to him?
9. Why does Romeo call himself “fortune’s fool”?
10. When Benvolio relates to the Prince what happened, what
does he say Romeo tried to before Mercutio was killed?
11. What does Lady Capulet accuse Benvolio of? Why?
12. What is Romeo’s punishment for killing Tybalt?
Summary: Act 3, scene 2
In Capulet’s house, Juliet longs for night to fall so that Romeo
will come to her “untalked of and unseen” (3.2.7). Suddenly
the Nurse rushes in with news of the fight between Romeo
and Tybalt. But the Nurse is so distraught, she stumbles over
the words, making it sound as if Romeo is dead. Juliet
assumes Romeo has killed himself, and she resigns to die
herself. The Nurse then begins to moan about Tybalt’s death,
and Juliet briefly fears that both Romeo and Tybalt are dead.
When the story is at last straight and Juliet understands that
Romeo has killed Tybalt and been sentenced to exile, she
curses nature that it should put “the spirit of a fiend” in
Romeo’s “sweet flesh” (3.2.81–82). The Nurse echoes Juliet
and curses Romeo’s name, but Juliet denounces her for
criticizing her husband, and adds that she regrets faulting him
herself. Juliet claims that Romeo’s banishment is worse than
ten thousand slain Tybalts. She laments that she will die
without a wedding night, a maiden-widow. The Nurse assures
her, however, that she knows where Romeo is hiding, and will
see to it that Romeo comes to her for their wedding night.
Juliet gives the Nurse a ring to give to Romeo as a token of
her love.
Scene ii
13.Why is Juliet so impatient for the nurse to
return?
14.Describe Juliet’s rapidly changing
attitudes toward Romeo in this scene.
15.What piece of news has upset Juliet the
most?
16.What does the nurse promise to do?
Act III, Scene 4
Capulet, Lady Capulet, and Paris walk together. Capulet
says that because of the terrible recent events, he has
had no time to ask his daughter about her feelings for
Paris. Lady Capulet states that she will know her
daughter’s thoughts by the morning. Paris is about to
leave when Capulet calls him back and makes what
he calls “a desperate tender of my child’s love”
(3.4.12–13). Capulet says he thinks his daughter will
listen to him, then corrects himself and states that he
is sure Juliet will abide by his decision. He promises
Paris that the wedding will be held on Wednesday,
then stops suddenly and asks what day it is. Paris
responds that it is Monday; Capulet decides that
Wednesday is too soon, and that the wedding should
instead be held on Thursday.
Tableaus
Tableau, a French word, means a dramatic
scene or picture. Students use their bodies
and expression to create a picture of a
character or event frozen in a moment in
time. Students build their understanding
through creative problem solving and
group discussion.
Scenes 3 & 4
17.Explain Romeo’s reaction to the news of
his banishment.
18.Romeo tells Friar Laurence that the priest
cannot know or understand how Romeo
feels. Why?
19.What argument does Friar Laurence use
to prevent Romeo from killing himself?
20.What does the nurse give to Romeo?
21.What does Capulet tell his wife to say to
Juliet?
Scene 5
22. As Romeo is preparing to leave Juliet, what argument does she
use to convince him to stay?
23. Later, why does Juliet think Romeo should leave?
24. Just as Romeo is about to descend the rope ladder and leave
Juliet, what does Juliet say about the way Romeo looks?
25. Why does Lady Capulet think Juliet is crying?
26. When Lady Capulet threatens to send someone to Mantua to
poison Romeo, what does Juliet say?
27. After Lady Capulet breaks the news about Paris, what is Juliet’s
response?
28. If Juliet’s mother does not arrange to delay the marriage, what will
Juliet do?
29. What is Capulet’s reaction to Juliet’s threats?
30. What is the nurse’s advice to Juliet?
31. How does Juliet’s attitude toward the nurse change?
32. What “scheme” does Juliet devise to get rid of the nurse and to get
out of the house?
Diary Entry
1. Write down three of Juliet's lines in her farewell
scene with Romeo (ll41-64) which show how
much she'll miss him.
2. Write down three lines from her conversation with
her family (ll107-148) which show how much she
doesn't want to marry Paris.
3. Now write Juliet's diary entry for the end of this
emotional day, describing her feelings about
Romeo's departure and her reaction to the
prospect of marrying Paris. Incorporate the lines
you gave chosen into your diary entry, using
either the whole line or part of the line, as fits in
best.
Act IV
The Plan
Cast of Characters
• Protagonist – central character
• Antagonist – character who opposes main character
• Foil – minor character whose traits contrast sharply with
those of the main character
• Round -A round character is a major character in a work
of fiction who encounters conflict and is changed by it.
Round characters tend to be more fully developed
• Flat – minor characters that are not described in full
detail
• Static – does not undergo important change
• Dynamic – undergoes an important change (within
himself) – change of character in the character
Scene 1
1. Why is Friar Laurence reluctant to marry
Paris to Juliet?
2. How does Paris explain the sudden haste of
the marriage plans?
3. What is ironic about the conversation
between Juliet and Paris?
4. If Friar Laurence cannot help her, what does
Juliet threaten to do?
5. Why does Friar Laurence think that Juliet will
accept his plan?
6. Describe the friar’s plan for Juliet.
Read the following passage carefully, and try to guess at the
meaning of the underlined words, using your understanding of
what has happened in the play so far to help you. Suggest a
replacement word or phrase for the underlined words.
Sc1 ll91-101.
• Tomorrow night look that thou lie alone,
• Let not the Nurse lie with thee in thy chamber.
• Take thou this vial, being then in bed,
• And this distilling liquor drink thou off,
• When presently through all thy veins shall run
• A cold and drowsy humour; for no pulse
• Shall keep his native progress, but surcease;
• No warmth, no breath shall testify thou livest;
• The roses in thy lips and cheeks shall fade
• To wanny ashes, thy eyes' windows fall,
• Like Death when he shuts up the day of life.
Write the entry you might find for Friar Lawrence's potion in
a medical journal, explaining how to take it and the effect
it has.
Scene 2
7. What does Juliet say that makes her
father happy?
8. How does Capulet change the wedding
plans? What implication does this have?
Scenes 3 & 4
9. How does Juliet show her maturity and
independence in this scene?
10. If the potion does not work, what will
Juliet do?
11. What are some of the fears Juliet has
about the potion?
Scene 4
12. What is happening in this brief scene?
Scene 5
13. Describe the imagery Shakespeare uses
in describing Juliet’s “death”?
14. What does Friar Laurence say to comfort
the Capulet family?
15. What event are the Capulets now
preparing for?
In an effort to prevent fighting in the streets of Verona,
citizens both young and old must constantly monitor the
feuding families and intervene as necessary. The Prince
of Verona knows that the citizens, many of whom are
elderly, are concerned about the recent brawls and
killings.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Divide the class into small groups. Each group will act as the
Prince’s staff, including chief advisors and speechwriters.
Consult the text and each other to come up with the topics
that the Prince will need to address when he speaks to the
people.
Have one person list these topics.
Using the list, each group should prepare a short speech for
the Prince (no more than three minutes).
While compiling the speech, remember to address the major
problems of Verona according to the play. Also, ensure that
the speech reflects the Prince’s personality.
When the speeches are complete, each group should have a
volunteer stand up and read the speech to the class.
Act V
Denouement
Summary
and
Themes
Later, after discovering that the young man who caught her
eye is a member of the enemy family, Juliet goes out onto
her balcony to tell the stars about her strong but forbidden
love. At the same time, Romeo is lurking in the bushes
below. He overhears Juliet confess her love for him to the
heavens. No longer able to control his powerful feelings,
Romeo reveals himself to her and admits that he feels the
same. The very next day, with the help of Romeo's friend
Friar Lawrence, Romeo and Juliet are secretly married.
On the day of the wedding, two of Romeo's friends, Benvolio and
Mercutio, are walking through the streets of Verona when they
are confronted by Juliet's cousin, Tybalt. Tybalt is out to get
Romeo for crashing the Capulet's party so he starts a fight with
his friends. Romeo shows up, but does not want to fight Tybalt
because he no longer holds a grudge against Juliet's family.
Romeo's friends can't understand why he won't stand up for
himself so Mercutio steps in to do it for him. A swordfight with
Tybalt follows. Mercutio is killed. To avenge the death of his
friend, Romeo kills Tybalt, an act that will award him even more
hatred from the Capulet family.
The Prince of Verona banishes Romeo and he is forced to leave
Juliet, who is devastated by the loss of her love. Juliet's father, not
knowing of his daughter's marriage, decides to marry her to another
young man named Paris.
In despair, Juliet consults with Friar Laurence. He advises her to
agree to the marriage, but on the morning of the wedding, she will
drink a potion that will make it look like Juliet is dead and she will be
put into the Capulet burial vault. Then, the Friar will send Romeo to
rescue her. She does as the Friar says and is put into the vault by her
heartbroken parents.
Bad news travels fast. Before the Friar can tell Romeo of the hoax,
Romeo hears from someone else that his beloved Juliet is dead.
Overcome with grief, Romeo buys a poison and goes to Juliet's tomb
to die beside his wife.
Inside the vault, Romeo drinks the poison and takes his last
breath next to his sleeping wife.
Moments later, Juliet awakens to see her husband's dead body.
She learns what has happened from Friar Laurence who has just
arrived and accessed the scene. With no reason left to live, Juliet
kills herself with Romeo's dagger. The tragedy has a tremendous
impact on both the Montagues an d the Capulets. The families are
hurt so much by the death of their children that they agree to
never fight again.
Other Themes
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Passion
Vengeance
Despair
Death
Fate
Names/Labels
Peace
Light
Youth versus Age
Secrets