1. Intro to Romeo and Juliet
Shakespearian Drama
Intro to Romeo and Juliet

2. Mrs. Hastie’s Shakespeare Tips:
Don’t get hung up on the language- you DO NOT need to understand every word
Focus on the story, themes, ideas
Focus on the parts that you enjoy- there is a reason we study this play more than 400 years after it was written

3. Renaissance = rebirth
The period of the Renaissance showed a renewed interest in classical (Greek and Roman) ideals. An interest in art, drama and literature resurfaced.

4. Renaissance
The two groups that funded the arts during the Renaissance were The Royalty and The Church
Religious conflicts were rampant between the Catholics, Protestants and the Puritans

5. An Acting Troupe:
A company, band or group of singers, actors, or other performers, especially ones that travel about
They were all men
Boys played women’s parts in the plays
Traveled in a wagon

6. Acting Troupe cont’d The wagon became the stage
Actors generally weren’t paid until AFTER the performance, depending on how much the audience liked them and the show

7. Elizabethan Audiences
Audiences did not like surprises
They wanted to see the characters get what they “deserved” good or bad
They demanded attention during the play
Actors had to please the audience in order to receive pay

8. Seating Those who had enough money could sit on the stage
Those in the “pit” paid a penny and would stand or pay a little more for a stool

9. Elizabethan Audiences
If the audience didn’t like what they were seeing, they could change the action by shouting, booing, or throwing vegetables
Actors would have to change the play to suit the audience’s tastes, especially as they moved between different religious areas

10. Structure of a Shakespearian Drama
Each play has five acts with a variety of scenes
Five acts- follows the universal law of living things

11. ACT I Gives the setting of time and place
Tells the background of the action, giving necessary information for an understanding of the story’s events
Introduces major characters
Anticipates the nature of the action
Suggests the atmosphere of the play

12. ACT II Begins the growth of the action
Introduces the secondary characters
In some cases, introduces a secondary plot

13. ACT III Provides the crises of the plot/climax
Anticipates the conclusion

14. ACT IV Beginning of the decline
Gives additional suggestions to the nature of the conclusion
Brings an end to the secondary plot, if present

15. ACT V Provides a logical conclusion in respect to the foregoing action
Gives/suggests the actions after the play
Leaves the audience satisfied that characters have been suitably rewarded or punished

16. Now take a brief Shakespearian Interlude
…and insult your friends!