1. An Introduction to William Shakespeare and Romeo & Juliet - Who is William Shakespeare anyway? - How do I read this? - Introduction to the characters and plot summary - Resources

2. William Shakespeare: The Man Born in Stratford-Upon-Avon in 1564 to a middle-class family Married Anne Hathaway (NOT the actress) at age 18 Has been reported to have been a schoolmaster and began his theatrical career minding the horses of theatre-goers in London Much mystery surrounds Shakespeare’s early life. Even his legal date of birth is not known for certain. Countless scholars have researched his history and largely come up empty-handed. Stratford-Upon-Avon has become a beacon for fans of his work around the world.

3. The Elizabethan Era 1558-1603 Gets its name from Queen Elizabeth I Considered the Golden Age in English history The English Renaissance saw an explosion of creation from artists (writers, poets, painters, musicians, etc.) England was economically stable due to benefits from the trans-Atlantic trade

4. How to Read Shakespeare Helpful Tips Don’t rush, read chunks at a time and process what is being said Have a dictionary or guide on hand Act it out (in your head) Read a plot summary beforehand Watch a performance of the play

5. Romeo & Juliet: A Very Brief Summary  The Capulets and Montagues have been feuding in Verona for many years.  Teenage Romeo (a Montague) falls in love with young Juliet (a Capulet) the moment he lays eyes on her… and the feeling is mutual.  Juliet’s cousin (Tybalt) gets into a fight with Romeo and his friend, Mercutio. Tybalt kills Mercutio, Romeo kills Tybalt. Romeo is banished from Verona.  Juliet’s Dad promises her hand in marriage to another man.  Desperate to be with Romeo, Juliet fakes her own death to flee Verona.  Romeo doesn’t get the memo and kills himself for real, unable to live without his beloved Juliet.  Juliet wakes up to find Romeo dead beside her. She kills herself, as she is also unable to go on living without Romeo.  Once the Capulets and Montagues realize what the consequences of their fighting, they end their feud

6. Who’s Who is Romeo & Juliet  Romeo  Juliet  Friar Lawrence  The Nurse  Tybalt  Mercutio  Paris  Montague  Lady Montague  Capulet  Lady Capulet  Benvolio

7. Student Resources http://www.canadianshakespeares.ca/folio/folio.html http://shakespeare.palomar.edu/ http://www.nosweatshakespeare.com/teachers.htm Reading Shakespeare can be a challenge! Feel free to use any of these sites as an assist with the text!