Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare (1595)

Turn to page 483 The play begins with a “Prologue” delivered by the Chorus. –Chorus  An actor who addresses the audience directly and comments upon the action. Like a narrator. –Prologue  14 lines of iambic pentameter – sound familiar?  It’s a sonnet! It provides exposition (background) and defines themes. Let’s read it aloud…

What does the Prologue tell us? 1. Establishes setting 1.Verona, Italy 2. Establishes conflict (struggle) 1.There is an “ancient feud” between 2 families, which has reignited. 1.Montagues vs. Capulets

3.Sets the stage for Dramatic Irony 1.The audience knows within the first 30 seconds that Romeo and Juliet are going to die! 4. Tells how long the play will be, and tells the audience to pay attention! 1.“the 2 hours traffic of our stage” 2.A modern production of Romeo and Juliet runs 3 hours long.

Terms for Romeo and Juliet 1. Pun 1.A humorous use of a word or phrase to suggest two or more meanings at the same time. 1.Two antennas went to a wedding, the service was boring but the reception was great. 2. Foil 1.A character who sets off another character by contrast. 1.Benvolio = Peacemaker 2.Tybalt = fighter

3. Soliloquy Solo: alone Loq: to speak 1.A lengthy speech in which a character alone on stage expresses his/her inner thoughts aloud. 4. Aside 1.Words spoken by a character in an undertone that other characters do not hear (short comment).

5. Monologue 1.A long speech others can hear. 6. Heroic Couplet 1.2 lines of rhymed iambic pentameter that express a complete thought. 7. Comic Relief 1.Moments of humor in a tragedy that lighten the mood. 2.The play begins with comic relief! 1.Samson and Gregory’s pun 8. Foreshadowing 1.A line or event that gives a clue about what is going to happen.

9. Motivation 1.The reasons behind a character’s actions. 10. Climax 1.Turning point in the play after which the situation for the main character will improve (comedy) or get worse (tragedy). 2.In Shakespeare, the climax always comes in Act Catastrophe 1.The final events of dramatic tragedy or action.

12. History Play 1.A play set in a non-fiction past about royalty or power struggle. 1.Julius Caesar, for example. 13. “In Medea Res” 1.Starts in the middle... Latin for “in the middle of things”