William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet

The English Renaissance Shakespeare wrote all of his plays during the English Renaissance. The Renaissance movement began in 14th century Italy, and gradually moved north and west to England. During the Renaissance there was increased interest in science, commerce, philosophy, and the arts. During the Renaissance there was a strong emphasis on “the individual and on freedom of choice” (983).

The Elizabethan Era Shakespeare began his career during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1558-1603). This time period is referred to as the Elizabethan era. Elizabeth was the daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. During her reign England enjoyed unprecedented prosperity and prestige. Elizabeth I was a strong supporter of the arts, and attended some of Shakespeare’s plays.

“Two households, both alike in dignity… “Two households, both alike in dignity…. In fair Verona, where we lay our scene…” Romeo and Juliet is set in Verona, Italy in the 14th century. In the play, as it would have been in 14th century Italy, Verona is ruled by a hereditary ruler known as a prince or duke. In Romeo and Juliet, Verona is ruled by Prince Escalus.

“From ancient grudge break to new mutiny “From ancient grudge break to new mutiny. Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.” In the play the two families, the Montagues and the Capulets, are feuding. This feud between the Montagues and Capulets has spilled into the streets of Verona and has begun to disrupt the peace.

“From forth the fatal loins of these two foes, A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life.” During the time period of the play, most marriages were arranged by families for economic or social gain. While “romantic love” was acknowledged, it was not considered necessary for a good marriage.

The Key Players Romeo: Tragic hero of the play. A Montague, he falls in love with the young Juliet. Juliet: A Capulet, she falls in love with Romeo and believes marriage should be about love. Nurse: Has cared for Juliet since her infancy. She is a mother figure and only wants Juliet happy. Very talkative. Prince Escalus: The Prince of Verona, he wants to end the feud between the Montagues and Capulets.

The Key Players Friar Laurence: A Franciscan priest who is friend to both Romeo and Juliet. Mercutio: A kinsman of the Prince and friend of Romeo. Tybalt: Nephew of Lady Capulet and Juliet’s cousin. Lord and Lady Capulet: Juliet’s parents. Enemies, for unexplained reasons, to the Montagues.

The Key Players Lord Montague: Romeo’s father and the head of the Montague family. He is an old man, but still continues the feud between the families. Benvolio: Romeo’s cousin,he is reluctant to fight the Capulets and tries to keep the peace. Paris: Also a kinsman of the Prince, he wishes to marry Juliet and presses Lord Capulet into giving him permission.

Literary Terms Tragedy: A drama that ends in a catastrophe-most often death-for the main character. Comedy: Shakespeare’s comedies are much more light-hearted and always end in a marriage. Comic Relief: a humorous scene, incident, or character that relieves the overall emotional intensity. Allusion: A brief reference, in a work, to another work of literature or to history. Shakespeare often used allusions to ancient Greek and Roman mythology or the Bible.

Literary Terms Foil: A character whose personality or attitudes are in sharp contrast to those of another character in the same work. Soliloquy: A speech that a character gives when he or she is alone on stage to let the audience know what the character is thinking. Aside: A character’s remark, either to the audience or another character, that others on stage are not supposed to hear. Pun: A joke that comes from a play on words that make use of a word’s multiple meanings. EX: Bakers trade recipes on a knead-to-know basis.

Literary Terms Metaphor: A comparison between two unlike things without using the words “like” or “as”. Personification: When human qualities are given to an object, animal, or idea. Foreshadowing: A writer’s use of hints or clues to indicate what will happen later in the plot.

Poetic Devices Blank Verse: Shakespeare wrote his plays in blank verse, which is a form of poetry that uses unrhymed lines of iambic pentameter. Iambic Pentameter: Lines that have five unstressed syllables, each followed by a stressed syllable. Sonnet: A lyric poem of 14 lines. Shakespearean sonnets follow the rhyme scheme abab cdcd efef gg. Couplet: A pair of rhymed lines.

The Montagues Pictures Works Cited "Lord Montague." Family Duty. Web. 1 Feb 2010. <www.beyondbooks.com/sha91/5i.asp?pf=on>. "Romeo." Leonardo DiCaprio Photos. Web. 1 Feb 2010. <leonardodicapriophotos.wordpress.com/.../>. "Romeo Zefferli." Lisa's History Room. Web. 1 Feb 2010. <lisawallerrogers.wordpress.com/.../>. "Benvolio." RJ Pictures. Web. 1 Feb 2010. <skyview.vansd.org/bquestad/rjpictures.html>. "Benvolio Zeffereli." Much Madness is Divinest Sense . Web. 1 Feb 2010. <www.danahuff.net/?p=208>. “Mercutio Zeffereli." Much Madness is Divinest Sense . Web. 1 Feb 2010. <www.danahuff.net/?p=208>. “Mercutio.” Romeo and Juliet: What’s Going On? Web. 2 Feb 2010. www.beyondbooks.com/sha91/5d.asp

The Capulets Pictures Works Cited "Juliet." The Best of 1996. Web. 1 Feb 2010. <www.the-reel-mccoy.com/.../yearinreview.html>. Juliet Zeffereli ." Olivia Hussey-MovieActors.com. Web. 1 Feb 2010 <www.movieactors.com/actors/oliviahussey.htm>. “Romeo and Juliet Kissing.” Kata-Kata Adalah JiWaKu. Web. 2 Feb 2010. yohanapangaribuan.wordpress.com/.../ “Romeo and Juliet Poster.” Mrs. Hall’s English Classes. Web. 2 Feb 2010. sites.google.com/.../about-mrs-hall/english-9-1