(this is when Shakespeare wrote, ya’ll) The Elizabethan Stage (this is when Shakespeare wrote, ya’ll)

When and where did the plays take place? In open air During the day In playhouses specific to a group of actors This is a modern replica of what Shakespeare’s theater, the Globe, may have looked like.

The roof that only covered the seats THE GLOBE – Important because the way it functioned impacted how Shakespeare wrote his plays! The roof that only covered the seats Underground pit – ghosts, witches, and devils may emerge from below The “tiring house” (attiring) where actors would have changed backstage Balcony upon which second story scenes took place Open air stage Seats for the wealthiest viewers Seats for the “groundlings”

What did the stage look like? No elaborate sets The location is announced to the audience Time of day is also given through words

What difference did the structure/time make? Open air Cheap seats up close Balcony and Trap door No women allowed as actors Times and time changes announced by the actors in the dialogue. Plays ALWAYS during the day. The rowdy, lower-class often shouted to the characters and sometimes threw food! Lots of scenes involve people on the balcony overlooking other events or coming up from the floor as ghosts, etc. Men played ALL the roles and sometimes, the authors wrote in jokes about it.

Shakespeare’s work 38 plays 154 sonnets 2 epic narrative poems Most popular playwright in London during his day 1594 – first play The Comedy of Errors Wrote three major kinds of plays: comedies, tragedies, and histories

Shakespearean Tragedy

Basic Characteristics Main characters are people of higher class (why do you think this is important?) Chance and Fate play major roles Catastrophe is ALWAYS a result of human decision and error

Basic Characteristics Tragic characters gradually isolated from others Decision made, but tragic flaw discovered too late Tragic heroes MUST die (sorry to ruin the ending for everyone, but it’s just true)

Meet the Characters Edition Get a feel for the characters and know what families they each belong to or with!

Beginning the Tale “Two households, both alike in dignity”: Capulets (Juliet’s family) Montagues (Romeo’s Family

(AND IT’S INTENTIONAL!). House of Capulet Notice that the KEY characters in this family have names that end with T – it will help you remember their families (AND IT’S INTENTIONAL!). Juliet: daughter to Capulet Tybalt: Juliet’s cousin Capulet: Juliet’s father Lady Capulet: Juliet’s mother Nurse: Juliet’s nurse, comic figure (lower class, typical of Shakespeare’s place)

(AND IT’S INTENTIONAL!). House of Montague Romeo: son of Montague Benvolio: Montague nephew, friend of Romeo Mercutio: friend of Romeo Friar Laurence: Romeo’s counselor Notice that the KEY characters in this family have names that end with a VOWEL – it will help you remember their families (AND IT’S INTENTIONAL!).

Other Characters Paris: a count, betrothed to Juliet Prince Escalus: Prince, leader of Verona, demands that the feud end (related to Mercutio)

LITERARY DEVICES Take careful notes on these terms. We will discuss them, and I’ll give you examples, but you need to know the definitions!

On Stage Speech Terms Soliloquy - Long speech in which a character who is onstage alone expresses his or her thoughts aloud Monologue - A poem in which a speaker addresses one or more silent listeners, often reflecting on a specific problem or situation Aside - Words that are spoken by a character in a play to the audience or to another character but that are not supposed to be overheard by the others onstage

Literary Elements found in R&J Terms Iambic Pentameter - Iam – is a lyrical meter consisting of two syllables, one stressed and the other unstressed. Pentameter – lyrical meter is repeated five times ˘ / ˘ / ˘ / ˘ / ˘ / When I do count the clock that tells the time Pun - Play on the multiple meanings of a word or on two words Metaphor – comparing two unlike things without comparison terms Simile – comparing two unlike things using like, as, or so Oxymoron - a combination of contradictory or incongruous words (as cruel kindness or dry ice) Alliteration – Repetition of sounds at the beginning of words Foil Character - Character who is used as a contrast to another character