1. (this is when Shakespeare wrote, ya’ll)
The Elizabethan Stage
(this is when Shakespeare wrote, ya’ll)

2. When and where did the plays take place?
In open air
During the day
In playhouses
specific to a group of actors
This is a modern replica of what Shakespeare’s theater, the Globe, may have looked like.

3. The roof that only covered the seats
THE GLOBE – Important because the way it functioned impacted how Shakespeare wrote his plays!
The roof that only covered the seats
Underground pit – ghosts, witches, and devils may emerge from below
The “tiring house” (attiring) where actors would have changed backstage
Balcony upon which second story scenes took place
Open air stage
Seats for the wealthiest viewers
Seats for the “groundlings”

4. What did the stage look like?
No elaborate sets
The location is announced to the audience
Time of day is also given through words

5. What difference did the structure/time make?
Open air
Cheap seats up close
Balcony and Trap door
No women allowed as actors
Times and time changes announced by the actors in the dialogue. Plays ALWAYS during the day.
The rowdy, lower-class often shouted to the characters and sometimes threw food!
Lots of scenes involve people on the balcony overlooking other events or coming up from the floor as ghosts, etc.
Men played ALL the roles and sometimes, the authors wrote in jokes about it.

6. Shakespeare’s work 38 plays 154 sonnets 2 epic narrative poems
Most popular playwright in London during his day
1594 – first play The Comedy of Errors
Wrote three major kinds of plays: comedies, tragedies, and histories

7. Shakespearean Tragedy

8. Basic Characteristics
Main characters are people of higher class (why do you think this is important?)
Chance and Fate play
major roles
Catastrophe is ALWAYS a result of human decision and error

9. Basic Characteristics
Tragic characters gradually isolated from others
Decision made, but tragic flaw discovered too late
Tragic heroes MUST die (sorry to ruin the ending for everyone, but it’s just true)

10. Meet the Characters Edition
Get a feel for the characters and know what families they each belong to or with!

11. Beginning the Tale “Two households, both alike in dignity”:
Capulets (Juliet’s family)
Montagues (Romeo’s Family

12. (AND IT’S INTENTIONAL!).
House of Capulet
Notice that the KEY characters in this family have names that end with T – it will help you remember their families
(AND IT’S INTENTIONAL!).
Juliet: daughter to Capulet
Tybalt: Juliet’s cousin
Capulet: Juliet’s father
Lady Capulet: Juliet’s mother
Nurse: Juliet’s nurse, comic figure (lower class, typical of Shakespeare’s place)

13. (AND IT’S INTENTIONAL!).
House of Montague
Romeo: son of Montague
Benvolio: Montague nephew, friend of Romeo
Mercutio: friend of Romeo
Friar Laurence: Romeo’s counselor
Notice that the KEY characters in this family have names that end with a VOWEL – it will help you remember their families
(AND IT’S INTENTIONAL!).

14. Other Characters Paris: a count, betrothed to Juliet
Prince Escalus: Prince, leader of Verona, demands that the feud end (related to Mercutio)

15. LITERARY DEVICES
Take careful notes on these terms. We will discuss them, and I’ll give you examples, but you need to know the definitions!

16. On Stage Speech
Terms
Soliloquy - Long speech in which a character who is onstage alone expresses his or her thoughts aloud
Monologue - A poem in which a speaker addresses one or more silent listeners, often reflecting on a specific problem or situation
Aside - Words that are spoken by a character in a play to the audience or to another character but that are not supposed to be overheard by the others onstage

17. Literary Elements found in R&J
Terms
Iambic Pentameter - Iam – is a lyrical meter consisting of two syllables, one stressed and the other unstressed. Pentameter – lyrical meter is repeated five times
˘ / ˘ / ˘ / ˘ / ˘ /
When I do count the clock that tells the time
Pun - Play on the multiple meanings of a word or on two words
Metaphor – comparing two unlike things without comparison terms
Simile – comparing two unlike things using like, as, or so
Oxymoron - a combination of contradictory or incongruous words (as cruel kindness or dry ice)
Alliteration – Repetition of sounds at the beginning of words
Foil Character - Character who is used as a contrast to another character