Understanding Shakespeare Getting ready for Romeo and Juliet

Understanding Shakespeare The Theater The Globe –Circular –Outdoors –2,000 to 3,000 people –Some people paid less money to stand the entire show –Women were not allowed to act, so men played the part of female characters.

Inside the Globe

Understanding Shakespeare 1.Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy. - Characters are going to die. - Characters are going to make mistakes - ridiculous mistakes - Analyze the reasons behind the mistakes - Authors write tragedies so that you (the reader) avoid similar mistakes - You’ll laugh - and others will laugh at you if you do the same thing

Understanding Shakespeare 2. Romeo and Juliet is a play. - It was never meant to be read. - It is almost essential to read it out loud - Try visualizing the scenes as you read them -Not original story. The poem Shakespeare based the play on was called, The Tragicall Historye of Romeus and Juliet. It was written by Arthur Brooke. His poem was based on Italian folk tales.

Understanding Shakespeare 3. Using the book - Turn to page On the left…the text of the play Characters are in bold Their words are in normal print The numbers are line numbers Stage directions are in italics - You may use translation books to help you, but you will be responsible for interpreting the Shakespearean language as we read the play.

Understanding Shakespeare 4. How to refer to the book - The play is divided into acts and scenes - There are five acts, and between three and six scenes per act - We will read few scenes per day - Numbers will refer to act - scene - line - I.ii is Act 1, Scene 2 - II.iii.114 is Act 2, Scene 3, line IV.i is Act 4, Scene 1, lines Page numbers really aren’t important

Understanding Shakespeare 5. The characters - There are lots of them - Post-it note page Refer to it often

Understanding Shakespeare 8. Shakespeare’s separations - Shakespeare will add words in the middle of a line to give extra information; he will not add a new sentence. - “The car is new. It has a strong engine, large tires, and room for four passengers.” - “The car, blessed with a motor of heavenly power and four orbs of gargantuan size, yet spacious enough to accommodate a quartet of happy souls above their rotation, is new.” - Again, this displays skill, but it can be confusing. - Think while you read…and go slow.

Understanding Shakespeare 9. Iambic Pentameter -Unstressed/stressed syllables -One unstressed/stressed pair of syllables is one “foot” -Five “feet” per line. Example: But soft/, what light/ through yon/der win/dow breaks?

Understanding Shakespeare 11. Shakespeare’s…uh… sexiness - He can get a little dirty - be prepared - It is one of the qualities that brought him a lot of attention 400 years ago - Lots of talk about …virginity and bosoms and ripe flesh and …you get the idea.

Understanding Shakespeare 12. Romeo (Montague): Who does he resemble? about sixteen handsome, intelligent, very sensitive immature, but likable because he is earnest and passionate lives for love - would happily die for it idealistic - can be very serious hates violence, even though his family is basically at war with the Capulets good friend (Mercutio and Benvolio)

Understanding Shakespeare 13. Juliet (Capulet): Who does she resemble? not yet fourteen beautiful very naïve at first, but quickly matures no freedom - daughter of a wealthy socialite family courageous once she gets her mind made up… raised by the Nurse, her closest confidant, but is willing to abandon her the minute the Nurse turns against Romeo