The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet William Shakespeare

The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet William Shakespeare Introduction to the world’s most famous star-crossed lovers!

William Shakespeare We know little about his life! What we do know: Born in Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire in 1563 His father was a glovemaker and wool merchant and his mother, Mary Arden, the daughter of a well-to-do local landowner. He married in 1582 to Anne Hathaway, daughter of a farmer. The couple had a daughter seven months later and twins in 1585. (Suzanna, Judith, and Hamnet)

William Shakespeare Began in theater as an actor for Lord Chamberlain’s Men Was also a stockholder in the company Later, he began to write poetry, creating around 154 sonnets. He also wrote 37 plays, with his first one appearing in 1594. He produced roughly two a year until around 1611.

Review… Shakespeare was born in: A: London B: France C: Verona D: Stratford-on-Avon

Review How many children did Shakespeare have? A: 1 B: 2 C: 3 D: 4 E: 5

Review Shakespeare’s father was an important Politician. A: True B: False

Review Shakespeare began his career as a(n): A: Playwright B: Actor C: Poet D: Novelist E: Glove-maker

The Globe Theater Built in 1599, most of Shakespeare’s plays were performed here. Plays produced for the general public Roofless: open air No artificial lighting Courtyard surrounded by 3 levels of galleries

The Globe Theatre The Globe burned down twice… Once in 1613, and again in 1644 A replica was built in 1997 and is currently in London on the South bank of the Thames river.

The Globe Theater Wealthy got benches “Groundlings” = poorer people stood and watched from the courtyard- Paid 1¢ to get in. All but wealthy were uneducated/illiterate Much more interaction than today: Yelling, throwing things!

Differences from Today No scenery Settings: references in dialogue Elaborate costumes Plenty of props Fast-paced, colorful 2 hours!

Actors…no actresses Only men and boys Young boys whose voices had not changed play women’s roles Would have been considered indecent for a woman to appear on stage

Review Plays at the Globe were produced for: A: Kings and Queens B: Very wealthy people C: Common people D: Only educated people

Review The Globe has no roof over most of it. A: True B: False

Review You can see the original Globe theatre in London today! A: True B: False

Review What happened to the Globe theatre? A: It burned down B: It was torn down by the conservatives who took over in the 1600 s C: Nothing. It is still standing today. D: It was abandoned so it eventually fell into disrepair and had to be torn down

Review What were the common people who paid a penny to get in and stand called? A: Standers B: Peasants C: Groundlings D: Commoners E: Pennypayers

Review What were the audiences at the Globe Theatre like? A: Rowdy and Loud B: Calm and Quiet C: Mostly Bored D: Respectful of the Actors

Review Who played women in Shakespeare’s plays? A: Unmarried Women B: Married Women C: Adolescent Boys D: Older Men

Shakespeare’s Plays Three different kinds: Comedies Tragedies Histories Written around 1595, Romeo and Juliet is considered a tragedy.

Tragedy (Shakespearean) Drama where the central character(s) suffer disaster/great misfortune In many tragedies, downfall results from: • Fate • Character flaw/Fatal flaw • Combination of the two • But…there is also some comedy in the play.

Why include comedy in a tragedy? It heightens the contrast It gives the audience an emotional break It diminishes the tension evoked in the tragic scenes It delights the audience It adds variety When integrated with the plot, it can counterpoint & enhance the serious significance

What is it called? Comic relief! “the introduction of comic characters, speeches, or scenes in a serious or tragic work, especially in dramas. Comic relief was universal in Elizabethan tragedies. ” M. H. Abrams Provides “relief” from seriousness or sadness Provides contrast from the seriousness… “throw into relief”

Where’s the comedy? Two renowned comic characters in Romeo and Juliet are: Mercutio The nurse

What makes us laugh? Aside- Words spoken, usually in an undertone not intended to be heard by all characters Contrasts Exaggeration Poking fun Puns- Humorous use of a word with two meanings. Sometimes they are missed by the reader because of Elizabethan language. Word play

Review Which is NOT a type of play that Shakespeare wrote? A: Comedy B: History C: Suspense D: Tragedy

Review ______ is a form of drama where the central character(s) suffer disaster/great misfortune. A: Comedy B: Tragedy C: Suspense D: History

Review The downfall of characters in a tragedy often results from: A: Fate B: Character Flaw C: Neither D: Both

Review Comic _____ is built in to the play in order to diminish tension, delight the audience, and provide variety. A: Delight B: Scene C: Relief D: Contrast

Review Which shows an example of an aside? A: A character performs an action on the far left side of the stage B: A member of the audience stands up and yells at the actors on stage C: A minor character comes forward and says a line D: A main character makes a sarcastic comment under his breath about another character on stage

Blank Verse Much of R & J is written in: unrhymed verse iambic (unstressed syllable, stressed syllable) pentameter( 5 “feet” to a line) • ends up to be 10 syllable lines This is the same form as Shakespeare’s sonnets.

Prose Ordinary writing that is not poetry, drama, or song Only characters in the lower social classes speak this way in Shakespeare’s plays Why do you suppose that is? Now…Romeo and Juliet

Review Prose is made up of verse (poetry) that has iambic pentameter. A: True B: False

Review The upper class characters in the play will be more likely to speak in: A: Blank Verse B: Prose

Setting of Romeo and Juliet: Verona, Italy Mantua 13 th – 14 th Century Rich and Elegant

Romeo: Our Tragic Hero Romeo Montague 16 years old Only child In love with Rosaline Impulsive Eventually Exiled

Juliet: The Beautifully Tragic Heroine Juliet Capulet 13 years old Only child Innocent Independent

Other Characters Mercutio (Montague) Tybalt (Capulet) Nurse (Juliet’s Nurse) Paris Friar Lawrence Montague and Lady Montague Capulet and Lady Capulet

Minor Characters Escalus, Prince of Verona Samson & Gregory Benvolio Friar John Balthasar Abraham

Different Types of Characters (Review from short story unit) • Round Characters: Characters who have many personality traits, like real people. • Flat Characters: One-dimensional, embodying only a single trait • Shakespeare often uses them to provide comic relief even in a tragedy

Different Types of Characters (Review from short story unit) Static Characters: Characters within a story who remain the same. They do not change their minds, opinions or character. Dynamic Characters: Characters that change somehow during the course of the plot. They generally change for the better.

Monologues/Soliloquies Monologue: One person speaking on stage. There may be other characters on stage too ex. the Prince of Verona commanding the Capulets and Montagues to cease feuding Soliloquy: Soliloquy Long speech expressing the thoughts of a character alone on stage.

Review Which of these is not a setting of Romeo and Juliet? A: Mantua B: London C: Verona D: 13 th/14 th Century

Review What were Juliet and Romeo’s ages? A: 13 and 16 B: 16 and 19 C: 13 and 25 D: 15 and 18

Review This type of character changes as a play or story progresses: A: Round Character B: Dynamic Character C: Flat Character D: Static Character

Review A soliloquy happens when a character is alone on stage, revealing his/her inner thoughts A: True B: False

As we read, look for these! Contrasts. These contrasts include: Light and dark Night and day Young and old Love and hate And…

As we read, look for these! Contrasts (cont) Tragedy and comedy** Think also about the contrasts between illusion and reality And between the characters: • Romeo and Mercutio • The nurse and Lady Capulet • The nurse and Mercutio

As we read, look for these! Themes A theme is a central idea or insight about life (which, in a tragedy, explains the downfall of characters) Look carefully for the following themes in Romeo and Juliet…

As we read, look for these themes! LOVE causes pleasure and pain. Lustful love, for pleasure Infatuation Pure Love

As we read, look for these themes! HATE causes people to do irrational and hurtful things. Between Montagues & Capulets FATE leads or directs lives. If stars cross couple is doomed Letter never reaches Romeo Fate is against Romeo & Juliet

Review Which of these is not a theme to look out for in Romeo and Juliet? A: Friendship B: Love C: Hate D: Fate

Foreshadowing (use of symbols to show what will happen in the future) Prologue tells Romeo & Juliet are “starcrossed” lovers Clues that confirm Romeo and Juliet will have an unhappy end

As we read, look for: Symbols POISON -Good/ Evil -Natural substance made lethal by humans -Human society “poisons” good things -Romeo & Juliet’s love is poisoned

Symbols THUMB-BITING -Flicking the thumbnail (insult) -Foolishness of feud between families

Mood Love between Romeo & Juliet = Happy Verona = Ugly, harsh, cruel b/c of feud End of Romeo & Juliet = Tragedy

Whew! Now we’re ready to read!! Any Questions? ?