2. Introduction to Shakespeare

3. William Shakespeare Born 1564, died 1616 Wrote 37 plays Wrote over 150 sonnets Actor, poet, playwright

4. Shakespeare wrote: –Comedies - light and amusing, usually with a happy ending –Tragedies –serious dramas with disastrous endings –Histories – involve events or persons from history Types of Plays

5. The Globe Theatre: Open ceiling Three stories high No artificial lighting Plays were shown during daylight hours only The Theatre

6. 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

7. Actors Only men and boys Young boys whose voices had not changed played the women’s roles It would have been indecent for a woman to appear on stage

8. Romeo and Juliet

9. Two households…

10. Both alike in dignity…

11. In fair Verona, where we lay our scene…

12. From ancient grudge break to new mutiny…

13. Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.

14. From forth the fatal loins of these two foes,

15. A pair of star-cross’d lovers take their life.

16. Facts Written by William Shakespeare in about 1591 Based on Arthur Brooke's The Tragicall History of Romeus and Juliet

17. Characters

18. Romeo and Juliet Considered a tragedy Tells the story of two teenagers who risk everything for love Shakespeare is exploring which is stronger: love or hate

19. The Montagues Lord Montague – father of Romeo Lady Montague – mother of Romeo Romeo Montague – in love with Juliet Benvolio – nephew of Montague and friend of Romeo Balthasar – servant to Romeo Abram – servant to Montague

20. The Capulets Lord Capulet – father of Juliet Lady Capulet – mother of Juliet Juliet Capulet – in love with Romeo Tybalt – nephew of Lady Capulet Nurse – takes care of Juliet Peter – servant to Juliet’s Nurse

21. Other Characters Prince Escalus – ruler of Verona Mercutio – kinsman of the Prince and friend of Romeo Friar Laurence – a Franciscan priest Friar John – another Franciscan priest Count Paris – a young nobleman

22. Things to think about… What would you do if your parents did not approve of someone you were dating? How important is the opinion of your family in decisions that you make? Does violence solve problems?

23. What to Look for When Reading Romeo and Juliet… Puns Allusions Metaphor Personification Oxymorons Paradoxes Foreshadowing

24. 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)

25. Allusions An allusion is a reference to a well known work of art, music, literature, or history. “At lovers’ perjuries, they say Jove laughs.” (Act II, Sc. 2) Jove is another name for Jupiter, the Roman King of the Gods.

26. Metaphor A metaphor is a direct comparison between two unlike things. Romeo – “But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks? / It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.” (Act II Sc. 2)

27. Personification Personification occurs when an inanimate object or concept is given the qualities of a person or animal. Juliet— “For thou wilt lie upon the wings of night / Whiter than new snow on a raven’s back. / Come, gentle night, come, loving, black-brow’d night” (Act III Sc. 2)

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

29. Paradoxes A paradox is statement or situation with seemingly contradictory or incompatible components. Juliet – “O serpent heart, hid with a flowering face!” (Act III Sc. 2)

30. Foreshadowing Foreshadowing is a reference to something that will happen later in the story. Juliet – “Give me my Romeo; and, when he shall die, Take him and cut him out in little stars, And he will make the face of heaven so fine That all the world will be in love with night And pay no worship to the garish sun.” (Act III Sc. 2)

31. Themes Light and dark Time Fate

32. Light and Dark Look for references to light and dark: References to “light” words, such as “torches,” “the sun,” adjectives that describe light (“bright”) References to “dark” words, such as “night” and “gloom”

33. Time Look for references to time: References to “time” words, such as “hours” References to the passage of time, especially if it seems “rushed”

34. Fate Look for references to fate: Look for instances where events are blamed on “fate,” “destiny,” or “the stars”

35. The End