A tale of star-crossed lovers

Romeo and JulietBy: William Shakespeare

Background…

• 1597-First published copy• Story of first love• Considered a Tragedy, but also has many

comic scenes• Age is VERY important• Shakespeare used a poem Romeus and

Juliet, published in 1562 as a source

Setting…

• Verona, Italy-Prince’s rule is absolute

• 14th Century (1300’s)

• Church has a lot of power

• Small part-Mantua, Italy

• Capulet and Montague homes

Conflicts

• Person vs. Self– Leave about 3-4 lines to write in conflicts

• Person vs. Person– Leave about 3-4 lines to write in conflicts

Montagues

• Romeo-16 year old, protagonist• Lord and Lady Montague-Romeo’s

parents• Mercutio-Romeo’s best friend• Benvolio-Romeo’s cousin• Balthasar-Romeo’s devoted servant

Capulets

• Juliet-14 years old, protagonist• Lord and Lady Capulet-Juliet’s parents• Nurse-Juliet’s faithful servant and

confidant• Paris-Wants to marry Juliet• Tybalt-Juliet’s cousin

Neutral

• Friar Lawrence-Romeo’s priest, place of safety for the couple

• Friar John-Takes over while Friar Lawrence is sick

• Prince Escalus-Ruler of Verona

Let’s Review!

Themes…

• Love– Romeo’s love for Rosaline (Lust)– Paris’s love for Juliet (real love, but

conventional)– Overwhelming love of Romeo and Juliet

Themes…

• Family– Family Feud-drives the plot– Montagues are concerned for and love

Romeo– Capulets give very little attention or care to

Juliet

Themes…

• Death in many forms– Sleeping potion looks like death– Banishment is as bad as death– Romeo thinks of death as an “escape”– Juliet would rather die than marry someone

she doesn’t love

Themes…

• Time– The whole play takes place in 5 days– Fall in love at first sight– Fight on sight– Lose tempers easily– Marriage must take place immediately

Look for . . .

• Interaction between characters• Ask: Why are they doing this?• Literary Terms

True/FalseSit down for TrueStand up for False

• Romeo and Juliet takes place in the U.S.• Shakespeare never uses comedy in his writing.• Takes place in the 14th Century• Is a tragedy• Romeo is a Capulet• Death is a theme• Dreams is a theme• Juliet is a Montague• Love is a theme• Montagues and Capulets get along well• The prince is on the side of the Capulets

Act 1 Vocabulary

• Anon! = Coming!• Good-den = Good Evening• Hap = Luck• Humor = Mood• To Mark = to listen• To owe = to own• Shrift = forgiveness for sins• Withal = with that, with• To wot = to know

Act 2 Vocabulary

• To Discourse = To Speak• Counsel = Private thoughts• To be proof = To be armored or protected

against• To discover = To reveal• Bounty = Capacity for giving• Baleful = Evil or poisonous• Grace = Favor• Bauble = A trinket or cheap jewel• Stay! = Wait!• To confound = To destroy

Act 3 Vocabulary

• Doublet = Jacket• Dissemble = Lie• Strange = Unfamiliar• Sack = Plunder or destroy• Entertained = Thought of• Civil = Well=behaved• Fain = Willingly• Fond = Foolish• Spleen = Anger• Estate = Situation

Act 4 Vocabulary

• God Shield = Go forbid• Drift = Intentions• Cunning = Skillful• Closet = Private quarters• Orisons = Prayers• Rosemary = an herb for remembering• Lower = Frown• Fond Nature = Foolish human nature• Carry = Endure• Cry you mercy = Beg your pardon

Act 5 Vocabulary

• Presage = Tell ahead of time• Beseech = Beg• Penury = Poverty• Loathsome = Detestable, Repulsive• Obsequies = Funeral Rites• Ensign = Flag, signal• Maw = Mouth• Morsel = Small piece• Ground = Cause• Pallet = A rough bed or mattress