1. Notes: Introduction to Romeo and Juliet

2. Beginning Romeo and Juliet
Shakespeare play first published somewhere between – 1597
A TRAGEDY
Dramatic work
Often written in verse (poetry)
Protagonists have flaws that lead to their eventual downfall
Divided into five ACTS
Each act divided into SCENES
We write acts and scenes using Roman numerals
Example: Act One, Scene Three = I, iii
Example: Act Five, Scene Four = V, iv
To set the stage, most Shakespeare plays begin with a PROLOGUE (an introduction) which hints at the THEME and PLOT of the drama

3. Romeo & Juliet (1968) Directed by Franco Zeffirelli
One of the most famous film adaptations of a Shakespeare play
A traditional adaption
Leonard Whiting and Olivia Hussey star as Romeo and Juliet

4. Romeo & Juliet (1996) Directed by Baz Luhrmann
Produced in 1996
A modern adaptation
The screenwriter chose to use the original language from the play rather than modernizing it
Stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes as Romeo and Juliet

5. Notes: Introduction to characters in Romeo and Juliet

6. JULIET CAPULET – Protagonist 13 years old
naïve, innocent, inexperienced
in love with the son of her family’s enemy: the Montagues

7. ROMEO MONTAGUE– Protagonist several years older than Juliet
more experienced in love
a passionate person (led by his emotions)
a Montague—enemy of the Capulet family

8. OTHERS – Minor Characters Lady & Lord Montague –
Romeo’s parents
Mercutio – Romeo’s best friend
Friar Lawrence – Romeo’s confidant, helps the couple get together
Lady & Lord Capulet – Juliet’s parents
The Nurse – takes care of Juliet; her confidant
Tybalt – Juliet’s cousin
Paris – Wants to marry Juliet

9. Major vs. minor characters
Major characters
significant to the story
appear regularly throughout the story
contribute heavily to the action, themes, conflicts, etc.
Minor characters
play a very small role in the story
make few contributions to the story’s action

10. Round vs. Flat Characters
Round characters
usually major characters
the reader knows so much about these characters that they can seem real
Flat characters
usually minor characters
the reader knows very little about these characters

11. Static vs. Dynamic Characters
Static characters
do not change in any
significant way throughout
the story
Dynamic characters
undergo a significant change
their beliefs, attitudes, lifestyles, and/or outlooks are dramatically altered

12. Stock Characters and Stereotypes
common in many literary works: the wise old man, the angry teen, the guardian angel, etc.
Stereotype
a predictable behavior assumed about a character
based on over-generalizations and usually wrong
Examples:
A teenager will do something rebellious.
An elderly person cannot drive.

13. Foil Characters Foil character Contrasts with the protagonist
Highlights important qualities of the main character's personality by being nearly the opposite
Sometimes has some important traits in common with the other character