William Shakespeare

•B. 1564 – D. 1616 (Elizabethan Era)

•He wrote 37 plays, 154 sonnets, and several long poems.

•R & J is the most famous love story ever and Shakespeare is the greatest English playwright.

Tragedy & the 5-Act Play

• Tragedy: a play where a hero’s tragic flaw leads to their downfall.

• Act 1: Inciting Incident – event that triggers the conflict

• Act 2: Rising Action – conflict develops• Act 3: Climax – crucial shift in the conflict• Act 4: Falling Action – the climax triggers events• Act 5: Resolution – the central conflict is

resolved

Act 1 Scenes 1 - 3• Act 1 Scene 1

– Lines 62-84: The Prince threatens to execute Montague or Capulets rioters if they disturb the peace again.

– Lines 209-219• Dramatic Foil: a character who helps bring out the personality traits of

a contrasting character– Benvolio: “Forget Rosaline. Look at other beauties.” (Rational)– Romeo: “They will only remind me of Rosaline’s unsurpassed beauty.”

(Emotional)

• Act 1 Scene 2– Paris asks to marry Juliet. – Lord Capulet wants to wait until she is 16 and has fallen in love.

• Act 1 Scene 3– Lines 41-56: Lady Capulet: “What say you…no less.”

• Extended Metaphor = Metaphysical Conceit• She compares Country Paris to a book.

– A pen has written his handsome features.– His desire is “written” in his eyes.– He only lacks “a cover” or wife.

Act 1 Scenes 4 - 5

• Pages 339-340: “I fear…on, lusty gentlemen!”– Foreshadowing! – Romeo senses danger, but goes along anyway.

• Impulsive!

• Inciting Incident: Romeo meets Juliet at the masquerade party.– He says he “ne’er saw true beauty till this night.”

• Benvolio’s advice proves true and Romeo proves impulsive!– Situational Irony: A masquerade is a superficial

celebration of appearances!• Suggests infatuation (foolish or unreasoning passion) instead

of true love (sacrificial concern for another)!