Romeo and Juliet notes

Background Information Biographical information Date of birth: April 23, 1564 City born in: Stratford-Upon- Avon Schooling: Grammar school but no formal education

Marriage Married at 18 to Anne Hathaway, age 26 Together had 3 children Left family to move to London

Career By 1592, Shakespeare had become an actor and playwright. By 1594, He was a member of a company called the Lord Chamberlain’s Men (renamed The King’s Men in 1603) Romeo and Juliet was probably written between 1594-1596. He made his money as part owner of the Globe theater, actor, and playwright.

Later in Life 1612 he returned to Stratford. At retirement, 37 plays had been written. He died April 23, 1616 Buried at Holy Trinity Church in Stratford

Shakespeare’s Theater James Burbage built the first permanent theater in England in 1576 (called “The Theatre”) It was torn down in 1599 and used to make The Globe

Shakespeare’s Theater: Recap “wooden O” Large, round building 3 stories high Open to sky Held 2,500-3,000 people Groundings paid a penny and stood on the floor, shoulder to shoulder

Shakespeare’s Theater: Recap Plays were performed in the afternoon Very little scenery used Elaborate costumes used Boys played women’s parts

Important info to know Here’s where you take notes! Really important information is noted in orange text

Types of Speech Shakespeare used Dialogue: a conversation Monologue Soliloquy: talking to yourself Aside: talking to audience The “Zack Morris”

Terms to Know: Review Simile Metaphor Personification Comparison using “like” or “as” Metaphor Direct comparison Personification Giving human qualities to non-humans Allusion Indirect reference to common knowledge (history, religion, myth, fable, etc)

Terms to Know: New Apostrophe Talking directly to someone who is not actually there Dramatic Irony When the audience knows something that the characters do not Tragic Hero Shakespeare’s main character who meets an unhappy end Tragic Flaw: what leads to his/her downfall

Directions for the actor Stage Directions Directions for the actor Action (entrance/exit/movement) Emotion setting Not read aloud

Why study Shakespeare? Someone that would ask, “Why do you study Shakespeare?” hasn’t really taken the time to know him. Give yourself the patience to get into the language and see what all the hype is about… A study of drama MUST include Shakespeare, since he was THE BEST playwright in the world. Did you know he is translated in hundreds of languages? He is an international star. Think about this- his work is still read hundreds of years after he wrote it…

Why study Shakespeare? Look at the sheer scope of his achievement. Over some thirty-eight plays, Shakespeare addressed virtually every aspect of human experience. His plays include comedies, tragedies, and histories, romances, and problems plays: it is difficult to think of a dramatic situation, a human dilemma, or a major theme that his works do not touch upon. Shakespeare can be used as a pivot point for mythology (Midsummer’s Night Dream), marriage, Greek Tragedy (Titus Andronicus), Italian Comedy, Elizabethan culture and history, Catholicism, and English history. Scottish history (Macbeth), the world of fantasy (fairies, monsters, ghosts, spirits, witches, as in The Tempest, Midsummer’s Night Dream, Hamlet).

Why study Shakespeare? Shakespeare is a master of plot. If you do anything at all with Shakespeare, study the stories. He ties up all his loose ends. He is also a master of character. If I saw Mercutio on the street, I would KNOW him. Shakespeare is LOGICAL. He presents a knot and then unties it. ALL kids should have logic in high school or at home during these years. Logic keeps us from throwing our money away, marrying a jerk, following after fools, and making intelligent life choices. Shakespeare is timeless. He writes about themes that never go out of style. Traits such as greed, power, lust, compassion and jealousy are indeed commonly found both now and in Shakespeare’s time.

Why study Shakespeare? If you can read and understand Shakespeare, you can read and understand almost anything (although you may have problems in quantum physics). The language is challenging and well-crafted. The sentences are tight and concise. The language, while “Elizabethan”, shows us how language has changed…

In your Notebook Reading ROMEO AND JULIET Capulets Montagues Lord Capulet- Juliet’s dad Lord Montague- Romeo’s dad Lady Capulet- Juliet’s mom Lady Montague- Romeo’s mom Somewhere on this page, please write this web site down: http://nfs.sparknotes.com/romeojuliet *this will be helpful if you have to do any reading on your own* Juliet Romeo Other Characters Common Old English words/phrases

Common Old English words/phrases anon—right now, OR “I come right away”……. “Anon, good nurse!  Speak!”  art—are, OR skill……“Thou art  dead; no physician’s art can save you.”  dost or doth—does or do……“Dost thou know the time?”  ere—before……“We must leave ere daybreak.”  fain—gladly……“I fain would bake Mr. Love cookies if I could get an A.”  fie—an exclamation of dismay or disgust……“You cheated?  Fie upon it!” OR “Fie!  Are you mad?”  hark—listen……. “Hark to the owl,” OR “Hark!  The herald angels sing!”  hence—away…..“Get thee hence, beggar!”  OR “We must hence before the army arrives.”  hie—hurry……“Hie thee hence, or lose your life!”  hither—here…..“Come hither, young lad.”  thither—there……“Look to the east—thither doth the sun arise.”  hath—has……… “He hath killed many a man.” OR “He hath a horse.”  ho—hey (roughly equivalent). “Lucius, ho!”  [Brutus calling his servant]   mark—pay attention to…….. “Mark my words.”  marry—indeed……“He says I should respond quickly; marry, I want to.”  pray/prithee—a polite way of asking something……“I prithee answer the question.”  saucy—cheeky; sassy……“Hence, thou saucy boy!”  sirrah—a term of address used for inferiors……“Sirrah, bring the letter over here.”  thee—you……“When will I see thee next?”  thou—you……“Thou art a villain.”  thy—your……“Thy name is more hateful than thy face.”  whence—from where…….. “Whence came that news?” OR “Return to whence you came.”  wherefore—why……“Wherefore dost thou leave?”  OR “Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?” 

The Notebook Title the next page “Romeo and Juliet timeline” and glue in your timeline paper.