Class Notes

Literary Terms Allusion A reference another literary work, person, place, or event that the average reader may be unfamiliar with. Aside When a character speaks his or her thoughts aloud and is heard by the audience, but not by other characters Blank Verse Unrhymed poetry written in iambic pentameter

Literary Terms BELL RINGER Comic Relief A humorous scene or speech that is included in drama Foil A character who contrasts another character Foreshadowing When a writer uses hints or clues to indicate events or situations that will occur later in the plot BELL RINGER

Literary Terms BELL RINGER Irony Paradox Pun Soliloquy The contrast between appearance and reality. Reality is opposite of what it seems Paradox A statement that seems to contradict itself but is actually true Pun A joke that comes from a play on words. Words can have multiple meanings Soliloquy A speech in which a character speaks thoughts out loud.

BELL RINGER The Prologue The chorus expresses the hatred separating the Montagues and Capulets Setting is in Verona, an Italian city during 14th century Italy. Use of foreshadowing and metaphor “A Pair of star-crossed lovers take their life”

Foreshadowing in the Prologue Children’s end foreshadowing fatal death Misadventured overthrows

In Class Assignment – The Prologue 1. A Chorus (‘group voice’) often suggests a moral to be drawn from a play.  What does this Chorus say this love story will teach us?  2. Does the Chorus suggest we should sympathize with the lovers or the parents?  Why? 3. The Chorus “gives away the ending.” The story was already well-known to Shakespeare’s audience, as it is to us.  Does knowing the ending all along add to or diminish the tragedy?

Act 1, Scene 1 Questions – 25 points Act I - Scene 4. Why start with minor characters?  5. Beneath the bad puns, what are Sampson and Gregory fighting about?  6. What does the brawl reveal about the values of this society?  7. How respected are its leaders–Montague, Capulet, Prince Escalus? 8. How could different staging make Prince Escalus’s warning more or less effective?  9. As friends, what do Benvolio and Romeo have in common?

Act I, Scene 1 NOTES The Capulets (Juliet’s side) The Montagues (Romeo’s side) Samson Gregory Abram- Servant to Montague Tybalt- Nephew of Lady Capulet Benvolio- Nephew of Montague, friend to Romeo

Act I, Scene 2 NOTES Paris asks Capulet’s permission to marry Juliet Capulet invites Paris to his party. Romeo finds out that Rosaline will be present at the party.

Act I, Scene 3 NOTES The Nurse serves as a foil to Juliet- she is loud, outspoken, and impulsive; Juliet is quiet and reserved. Lady Capulet convinces Juliet that Paris would make a good husband.

Homework – Discussion Questions 1. Why is old Capulet so eager to marry his daughter to Paris? 2. Why does Benvolio suggest going to Capulet’s party? 3. What is the point of the embarrassing story that the Nurse tells about Juliet as a toddler? 4. How well does the Nurse know Juliet? 5. How well does Juliet’s mother know her daughter? 6. Is there evidence that each of the three women has doubts about Juliet marrying so young?

Act I, Scene 4 Benvolio wants to have fun Mercutio tries to talk Romeo into a better mood. Romeo replies that he can't borrow Cupid's wings because he has been so badly wounded by Cupid's arrow.

Act I, Scene 4- Mercutio Uses several puns, dirty jokes, and vivid descriptions. "sink in it, should you burden love -- / Too great oppression for a tender thing" (1.4.24). means that if Romeo is going to blame ("burden") love for his state of mind, he will only sink further into love. also means that if he gets what he wants (sex) he will sink into the woman and be a burden to her. Thinks Romeo is too serious Love-sickness is caused by a lack of sex.

Act I, Scene 4- Mercutio Romeo doesn’t believe that he can win the game of love and doesn’t want to play. Mercutio tells Romeo to shut up about being "done" and to quit being a do-nothing. Says that if Romeo is "done," he's Dun the horse (name of a log that people pulled out of mud during a Christmas game.) Mercutio says that love is “bullcrap,” and that Romeo is stuck in it up to the ears.

Act I, Scene 4- Romeo’s Speech Foreshadowing chain of events ("consequence") chain of events does terminate the duration ("expire the term") of Romeo's life with premature ("untimely") death. Despite his premonitions, Romeo goes to Capulet's house. Says that he is doing so because he is entrusting his fate to "He, that hath the steerage of my course." (God)

Act I, Scene 5- Romeo and Juliet Meet The servant's bustle picks up the pace of the play. Everything is speeding up. Capulet welcomes everyone speaks to Romeo's company when he says, "Welcome, gentlemen! ladies that have their toes / Unplagued with corns will walk a bout with you" (1.5.16-17). Making sure that these strangers in masks feel welcome.

Act I, Scene 5- Romeo and Juliet Meet Romeo sees Juliet and falls in love with her instantly. Tybalt recognizes Romeo’s voice and sends for his rapier to kill him. Capulet insists on Tybalt’s obedience, reminding him of Romeo’s good character.

Act I, Scene 5- Romeo and Juliet Meet Romeo and Juliet continue their exchanges and they kiss interrupted by the Nurse, (sends Juliet to find her mother.) Romeo realizes the grave consequences of their love. Juliet discovers from the Nurse that Romeo is a Montague.

Act II, Prologue Quatrian (first four lines) has a sarcastic tone Chorus foreshadows death “desire death in his deathbead lie.” “…love groaned for and would die.” Romeo is willing to die for beauty

Act II, Scene I Begins with a soliloquy from Romeo Soliloquy - A speech revealing a character’s thoughts, actions, and/or emotions that are only heard by the audience and not by the other characters.

Act II, Scene 1 Romeo enters and speaks of his love for Juliet. He jumps over a Capulet wall, hoping to see her. Mercutio mocks Romeo's feelings for Rosaline. Benvolio suggests that they leave and go look for him.

Act II, Scene II The Capulet orchard Romeo watches Juliet and starts to speak with her. They proclaim their love for each other here. Romeo and Juliet quickly agree to marry the next day at nine o'clock. The Nurse calls for Juliet and she has to go. They say goodbye to each other for the night and exit.

Act II, Scene II - Juliet Willing to denounce her family name to be with him: "O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo?/ Deny thy father and refuse thy name;/ Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,/ And I'll no longer be a Capulet.“

Act II, Scene II - Names The lovers go into a long discourse about names and how they are nothing more than words. The fact that she is a Capulet by name and he is a Montague by name should not affect their love for each other like it does. "'Tis but thy name that is my enemy. Thou art thyself, thou not a Montague. What's Montague? It is nor hand, nor foot, Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part Belonging to a man. O, be some other name! What's in a name? That which we call a rose By any other word would smell as sweet." Act 2, Scene 2, lines 38-44

Act II, Scene 3 – Friar Lawrence Friar Laurence uses a plant metaphor to comment on how -- in both plants and people -- everything has some good, and every good can be abused and turned to evil  meditating on the struggle between good and evil in nature and man Criticizes Romeo for jumping from Rosaline to Juliet Agrees to perform the ceremony thinks that the marriage may end the hatred between the Capulets and Montagues.

Act II, Scene 4 Tone of this scene is humorous as everyone jokes around Benvolio says that Tybalt has sent a challenge to Romeo Mercutio switches from making fun of Tybalt to making fun of Romeo. Romeo and Mercutio exchange a series of puns

Act II, Scene 4 The Nurse (enters with Peter) Becomes the target of more jokes complains about Mercutio receives from Romeo the information about time and place of the wedding chatters on about how sweet Juliet is.

Act II, Scene 5 Plot is fast-paced. Scene 5 is about anticipation, not information. Juliet impatiently awaits the return of the Nurse with news from Romeo  The Nurse teases Juliet by finding all kinds of ways to not deliver the joyful news Finally tells her that she is to go Friar Laurence's cell to be married to Romeo.

Act II, Scene 6 Just before the wedding, Friar Laurence advises Romeo to love moderately.  Romeo and Juliet tell each other how much they love one another. Friar Laurence leads them off to be married.

Act III, Scene 1 The climax of the play Benvolio tries to persuade Mercutio that it's best to stay out of the way of the Capulets and a quarrel Mercutio jokingly claims that Benvolio is as much of a quarreler as anyone. Tybalt, looking for Romeo, is challenged to a fight by Mercutio Tybalt challenges Romeo to fight. Romeo refuses Mercutio steps forward and fights Tybalt.

Act III, Scene 1 As Romeo is trying to stop the fight, Tybalt gives Mercutio a wound, then runs away. Mercutio dies. Romeo is ashamed of himself for letting Mercutio do the fighting Romeo kills Tybalt and leaves the scene. Benvolio tells the Prince what happened. Lady Capulet wants Romeo's life, The Prince exiles Romeo.