1. William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet

2. Who is William Shakespeare? Considered the greatest English-speaking writer in history and known as England's national poet, William Shakespeare has had more theatrical works performed than any other playwright.

3. Who is William Shakespeare? 1564 - born in Stratford-upon-Avon, a bustling market town 100 miles northwest of London At age 18 he married Anne Hathaway, a woman eight years his senior 1583: Birth of Daughter Susanna 1585: Birth of twins: Judith and Hamnet (died at age 11) 1587-1592: Moved to London and established himself as an actor/playwright first work: Comedy of Errors

4. Who is William Shakespeare? 1593: Begins writing sonnets (until 1597-ish) Wrote 154 sonnets 1594-1608: Wrote plays (37 plays known) 1599: The Globe Theatre built and established Shakespeare was the House Playwright. 1609: Publication of the Sonnets April 23, 1616: Shakespeare dies of an unknown cause

5. Three Classifications of Shakespearean Drama: COMEDY (Much Ado About Nothing) (Twelfth Night) HISTORY (Julius Caeser) (Henry V) TRAGEDY (Romeo and Juliet) (Macbeth)

6. The Time Period Elizabethan Era (1558-1603)Elizabethan Era The English Renaissance The flowering of poetry, music, and literature Plays were one of the main sources of entertainment. Actors were men only o Men even played female roles!

7. The Globe Theatre This was where Shakespeare’s play were performed. It housed everyone from common drunks to the Queen! It had no roof and plays were performed at 2pm because they had no electricity to light the stage.

8. Spectators Wealthy people got to sit on benches The poor (called “groundlings”) had to stand and watch from the courtyard There was much more audience participation than today

10. The Globe Most people watching the play were illiterate, and if they didn’t understand or didn’t enjoy the play they would throw whatever was handy at the actors on the stage! Objects ranged from their shopping or shoes to clumps of wee soaked mud from the floor.

11. The Globe So, to ensure they didn’t get heckled off stage, Shakespeare used the most dramatic words, included some very shocking (at the time) themes and created some very intriguing and entertaining characters. The fact that his plays are still extremely popular over four hundred years later proves he was doing something right!

12. What’s it all about? The story is, of course, about a pair of star-crossed lovers. Two teenagers pursue their love for each other despite the fact that their families have been at odds with each other for decades. The story combines sword fighting, disguise, misunderstanding, tragedy, humour, and some of the most romantic language found in literature all in the name of true love.

13. Who’s Who? Montagues Romeo – son to Montague. Benvolio – nephew to Montague & friend to Romeo. Balthasar – servant & friend to Romeo. Mercutio – friend to Romeo. Lady Montague – wife to Lord Montague. Lord Montague – Romeo’s father and head of the family. Friar Lawrence – a local priest, friend of Romeo.

14. Who’s Who? Capulets Juliet – daughter to Capulet. Lord Capulet – Juliet’s father and head of the family. Lady Capulet – wife to Lord Capulet. Nurse – servant & Nurse to Juliet. Tybalt – nephew to the Capulets. Paris – a young nobleman.

15. Romeo and Juliet Facts Written by William Shakespeare in about 1591 Based on Arthur Brooke's The Tragicall History of Romeus and Juliet (poem first published in 1562)

16. Beware of the following literary devices… Puns Oxymorons Soliloquy Aside Foil Dramatic Irony

17. Puns A pun is a humorous play on words. Mercutio – “Nay, gentle Romeo, we must have you dance.” Romeo – “Not I, believe me. You have dancing shoes / With nimble soles; I have a soul of lead…” (Act I Sc. 4)

18. Oxymorons An oxymoron describes when two juxtaposed words have opposing or very diverse meanings. Juliet – “Beautiful tyrant! fiend angelical!” (Act III Sc.2)

19. Soliloquy A Soliloquy is a long speech in which a character, alone on stage, expresses his or her thoughts and feelings in order to let the audience know what he or she is thinking.

20. Aside An aside is words or a short passage spoken in an undertone or to the audience. It is assumed that these words are inaudible to other characters on stage.

21. Foil A foil is a minor character that resembles or is in parallel (similar) circumstances to a central figure in the play. Foils are similar enough to the main character(s) to provide a useful basis of comparison, but different enough that the comparison is meaningful: they enhance our understanding of the main character’s personality traits or actions. Watch for Romeo’s foil!

22. Dramatic Irony Dramatic Irony occurs when the reader or viewer is aware of information of which the character is unaware. Remember, irony is a contrast between appearance and reality.

23. And always be on the look out for… Foreshadowing Allusions Metaphor Simile Personification *Stop here

24. Hate and Revenge – The two families hate each other and are constantly fighting, causing many deaths. No one really knows why they are fighting as they fell out so long ago. Are they right to continue to hate even though they don’t know why? Thematic Topic

25. Fate Another common belief was that your future was mapped out in the stars and you couldn’t influence the future in anyway. Just like us reading our horoscopes really. Do you believe in fate? Why? Thematic Topic

26. Loyalty – Some Characters have certain loyalties, like the Nurse to Juliet, the Friar to Romeo and The Montagues and Capulets to their own blood relatives. These loyalties become hard to maintain when certain decisions have to be made. Do you think you have to be loyal to someone just because it is expected of you? Thematic Topic

27. Let us begin…

28. Idioms Idioms are words, phrases, or expressions that cannot be taken literally. In other words, when used in everyday language, they have a meaning other than the basic one you would find in the dictionary. For example, “break a leg” is a common idiom. Literal meaning: I command you to break a bone in your leg and you should probably go to the doctor afterwards to get it fixed. Idiomatic meaning: Do your best and do well. Often, actors tell each other to “break a leg” before they go out on stage to perform.

29. Idioms - Life in the 1500s Bread was divided according to status. Workers got the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family got the middle, and guests got the top, or the “upper crust.”

30. Idioms - Life in the 1500s Houses had thatched roofs (Thick straw, piled high, with no wood underneath). It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the pets (dogs, cats, etc.) and other small animals including bugs lived in and on the roof. When it rained, the roof became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof. Hence the saying, “It’s raining cats and dogs.” Houses had thatched roofs (Thick straw, piled high, with no wood underneath). It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the pets (dogs, cats, etc.) and other small animals including bugs lived in and on the roof. When it rained, the roof became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof. Hence the saying, “It’s raining cats and dogs.”

31. Idioms - Life in the 1500s The floor was dirt in most homes. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt. Hence the saying, “dirt poor.” The floor was dirt in most homes. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt. Hence the saying, “dirt poor.”

32. Idioms - Life in the 1500s The people didn’t eat much meat because it was difficult to get, not to mention expensive. They ate mostly vegetables. Sometimes, they could obtain pork and would feel really special when that happened. When company came over, they would bring out some bacon and hang it to show it off. It was a sign of wealth that a man “could really bring home the bacon.” The people didn’t eat much meat because it was difficult to get, not to mention expensive. They ate mostly vegetables. Sometimes, they could obtain pork and would feel really special when that happened. When company came over, they would bring out some bacon and hang it to show it off. It was a sign of wealth that a man “could really bring home the bacon.”