Romeo and Juliet William Shakespeare

Tragedy  When the protagonist dies  Caused by their tragic flaw or hamartia  Essentially a good character, but their flaw in character causes their downfall

List of characters (Dramatis Personae) in Romeo and Juliet. Escalus, prince of Verona Paris, a young nobleman Montague, Capulet, heads of warring households Old man, cousin to Capulet Romeo, son to Montague Mercutio, kinsman to the prince, and friend to Romeo Benvolio, nephew to Montague, and friend to Romeo Tybalt, nephew to Lady Capulet Friar Laurence, Friar John, Franciscans Balthasar, servant to Romeo Sampson, Gregory, servants to Capulet Peter, servant to Juliet's nurse Abraham, servant to Montague An Apothecary Three Musicians Page to Paris; another Page; an Officer Lady Montague, wife to Montague Lady Capulet, wife to Capulet Juliet, daughter to Capulet Nurse to Juliet Citizens of Verona; Maskers, Guards, Watchmen, and Attendants Chorus

The Prologue  The opening speech is an introduction  The two households (Montagues and Capulets) have an ancient fight and it’s about to break out again  FATE plays an important role in the lives of Romeo and Juliet  Line 6: “star-crossed lovers”  Line 9: “Death-marked love”  Tells audience that their love will end in tragedy

Act One-Scene One  Setting: Verona, Italy in the Market Place in the morning  Sampson and Gregory (armed servants) from the house of Capulet (Juliet’s household)  Abraham and Balthasar, servants from the house of Montague enter and the servants have an entertaining quarrel/fight that could turn ugly  Benvolio, whose name means “good natured man” enters and breaks up the fight  Tybalt, Lady Capulet’s nephew enters and threatens Benvolio so they fight  The fight becomes a riot and the rivalry/bad blood between the Montagues and Capulets becomes a fight to the death  The prince of Verona comes and intervenes  Warns them that if they disturb the peace again, they will pay for it with their lives

Act One Scene One continued  Montague and Lady Montague (Romeo’s father and mother) and talk to Benvolio about Romeo  They are happy Romeo was not part of the fight  Montague says that romeo has been showing signs that something is wrong  They ask Benvolio to find out what is wrong with Romeo  Romeo enters as his parents exit  Benvolio finds out that Romeo is in love, but through language that is artificial and complex, Romeo shows that his love for Rosaline is not really true.  #43. ALLUSION: line 207 “She hath Dian’s wit” reference to the chase goddess of hunting and of the moon

Act One Scene Two  Setting: street in Verona  Capulet enters with Paris, clown and servant  Paris talks about how Montague and Capulet are honorable men  He really wants to know if Capulet will allow his 13 year old daughter Juliet to marry him (This was considered an appropriate age for marriage at the time)  Capulet is hesitant to allow Juliet to marry  Capulet is giving a masquerade party/feast (guests wear masks/disguises) that evening and asks that Paris attend  Capulet gives a list of guests to his servants and tells him to go around Verona inviting them—unfortunately, the servant cannot read  Romeo and Benvolio enter and the servant asks them to read the guest list for him—Rosaline is on the list, so Benvolio and Romeo decide to crash the party  Benvolio wants to show Romeo that there are other women to see and love

Act One Scene 3  Setting: A room in Capulet’s house  Capulet’s wife and Nurse (caregiver to Juliet) call for Juliet  Juliet enters and the nurse recalls how she has cared for Juliet since she was an infant and acted as a wet-nurse (she nursed her as a baby)  Nurse provides COMIC RELIEF  Lady Capulet wants to speak to Juliet of marrying Paris  The nurse and Juliet are hesitant, but Juliet promises to look at Paris and see if he’s attractive to her at the party that evening

Act One Scene Four  Romeo, Mercutio, Benvolio with a crowd of masquers  Romeo is hesitant to participate and reveals that he “dreamt a dream” (line 49) and that his dream suggests that something bad will happen if he attends the party.  Mercutio, Romeo’s friend is introduced and he talks about how Queen Mab (queen of the fairies) being blamed for strange dreams  Romeo ends the scene with ominous foreshadowing:  Line : “I fear, too early; for my mind misgives Some consequence, yet hanging in the stars Shall bitterly begin his fearful date With this night’s revels and expire the term Of a despised life, closed in my breast, By some vile forfeit of untimely death. But he that hath the steerage of my course Direct my sail! On lusty gentlemen!”

Act One Scene Five  Setting: A hall in the Capulet’s house  Capulet welcomes the masqueraders to the dance  Romeo sees Juliet: lines “O, She doth teach the torches to burn bright!Alliteration Personification It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night As a rich jewel in an Ethiop’s ear—metaphor Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear So shows a snowy dove tropping with crows As yonder lady o’er her fellows shows. The measure done, I’ll watch her place of stand And, touching hers, make blessed my rude hand Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight! For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night.”

Act One Scene Five continued  Tybalt recognizes Romeo’s voice and moves to throw him out  Romeo meets Juliet and she talks to him  Juliet learns from her nurse that Romeo is a Montague and says that she’s fallen in love with him.  Lines “My only love, sprung from my only hate! Too early seen unknown, and unknown too late!”