act i. act i, prologue act i, prologue act i, prologue (1) prologue summarizes the action of the...

Act IAct I

Act IAct I, , ProloguePrologue

Act IAct I, , ProloguePrologue (1)(1) Prologue summarizes Prologue summarizes the action of the the action of the

play, detailing the way it ends (spoiler?).play, detailing the way it ends (spoiler?).

Reference to Reference to (2)(2) “star-cross’d lovers” “star-cross’d lovers” is an is an allusion to the allusion to the power of fatepower of fate and and Elizabethan belief inElizabethan belief in the the supernaturalsupernatural..

(3)(3) Prologue is Prologue is written in written in sonnetsonnet form (14 form (14 lines).lines).

(4)(4) Last two lines Last two lines of the prologue are a of the prologue are a heroic coupletheroic couplet meant to lead audience into meant to lead audience into the play.the play.

Act IAct I, , Scene iScene i

A Street Brawl A Street Brawl

and and

a Break Upa Break Up((Sunday MorningSunday Morning))

Act IAct I, , Scene iScene i (1)(1) Play is set in Verona, Italy Play is set in Verona, Italy..

Servants of Lord Capulet are joking Servants of Lord Capulet are joking around, hence the around, hence the (2)(2) pun regarding the pun regarding the word “move”word “move”..

As they brag, As they brag, (3)(3) servants of Lord servants of Lord Montague enter, the Capulets insult them, Montague enter, the Capulets insult them, and a fight breaks outand a fight breaks out..

(4)(4) Benvolio Benvolio, Romeo’s cousin (a , Romeo’s cousin (a Montague), enters and Montague), enters and attempts to attempts to separate/stop the two groupsseparate/stop the two groups..

(5)(5) Tybalt Tybalt, Juliet’s cousin (a Capulet), , Juliet’s cousin (a Capulet), enters and enters and instigatesinstigates the two groups, the two groups, calling Benvolio a coward.calling Benvolio a coward.

Act IAct I, , Scene iScene i (cont.) (cont.) Citizens of Verona attack the two groups.Citizens of Verona attack the two groups.

(6)(6) Prince Escalus Prince Escalus enters and enters and tells both familiestells both families that the that the next time a fight is started death will next time a fight is started death will followfollow..

After talking to Lord and Lady Montague, After talking to Lord and Lady Montague, Benvolio sees Benvolio sees (7)(7) a very depressed Romeo a very depressed Romeo approach and goes to speak with him.approach and goes to speak with him.

With much persuasion, Romeo explains that With much persuasion, Romeo explains that (7)(7) his girlfriend, Rosaline, will remain a virgin, thus his girlfriend, Rosaline, will remain a virgin, thus ending their relationshipending their relationship..

(9)(9) Romeo says that would only make Rosaline Romeo says that would only make Rosaline more beautifulmore beautiful and appealing, thus and appealing, thus hurting him hurting him moremore..

(8)(8) Benvolio suggest “examin[ing] other Benvolio suggest “examin[ing] other beauties”beauties”..

- SHIFT IN FOCUS/ACTION - - SHIFT IN FOCUS/ACTION -

Act IAct I, , Scene iiScene ii

A Party A Party

and and

an Invitationan Invitation((Sunday AfternoonSunday Afternoon))

Act IAct I, , Scene iiScene ii On a street in Verona, Lord Capulet speaks to On a street in Verona, Lord Capulet speaks to

Paris who seeks to marry his soon to be Paris who seeks to marry his soon to be (1)(1) fourteen-year oldfourteen-year old daughter, daughter, JulietJuliet..

(2)(2) Lord Capulet favors the match between Paris Lord Capulet favors the match between Paris and Julietand Juliet but believes his daughter is still a little but believes his daughter is still a little too young to get married.too young to get married.

Lord Capulet suggest Paris come to his party that Lord Capulet suggest Paris come to his party that night and try to win Juliet’s affection by wooing night and try to win Juliet’s affection by wooing her.her.

(3)(3) Capulet sends out a servant (Peter) to invite Capulet sends out a servant (Peter) to invite guests to the partyguests to the party..

The The (3)(3) servant cannot read servant cannot read the list of names, and the list of names, and when he sees Benvolio and Romeo talking, asks when he sees Benvolio and Romeo talking, asks them for help.them for help.

Act IAct I, , Scene iiScene ii (cont.) (cont.)

After the servant leaves, Benvolio tells Romeo After the servant leaves, Benvolio tells Romeo that since that since (5)(5) Rosaline will be at the party Rosaline will be at the party, he , he should go.should go.

To entice him further, Benvolio says that To entice him further, Benvolio says that (5)(5) he will show Romeo other women he will show Romeo other women whose beauty will make Rosaline look like whose beauty will make Rosaline look like a crowa crow..

(6)(6) Romeo agrees Romeo agrees to attend in order to attend in order to to prove Benvolio wrongprove Benvolio wrong; it seems he wants ; it seems he wants to see his ex.to see his ex.

Not knowing who they are, the servant Not knowing who they are, the servant tells them of the party and invites them…tells them of the party and invites them…thus the thus the (4)(4) party party/feast/ball provides /feast/ball provides an an opportunity for Paris to woo Julietopportunity for Paris to woo Juliet while while allowing the enemies to mingle with each allowing the enemies to mingle with each other.other.

Act IAct I, , Scene iiiScene iii

Thinking Thinking

about about

MarriageMarriage((Sunday NightSunday Night))


The The (2)(2) Nurse Nurse, , primarily a comic characterprimarily a comic character, , relates, relates, (3)(3) at great length for she is a talkative at great length for she is a talkative womanwoman, an obscene story regarding Juliet meant to , an obscene story regarding Juliet meant to break tension.break tension.

When told about the possibility of marrying When told about the possibility of marrying Paris, Paris, (4)(4) Juliet says she will look Juliet says she will look at/entertain him but go no further than her at/entertain him but go no further than her mother desires her tomother desires her to..

In the Capulet house, In the Capulet house, (1)(1) Lady Capulet Lady Capulet and and the Nurse (the one who raised Juliet) the Nurse (the one who raised Juliet) discuss marriagediscuss marriage; Juliet has not yet begun ; Juliet has not yet begun to think of such things.to think of such things.

Act IAct I, , Scene ivScene iv

Boy’s Night OutBoy’s Night Out

andand

a Premonitiona Premonition((Sunday NightSunday Night))


Romeo mentions a dream he had, and Romeo mentions a dream he had, and (2) (2) Mercutio Mercutio (Romeo’s foil) launches into a ludicrouslaunches into a ludicrous speech regarding Queen Mab speech regarding Queen Mab, , an an ancient Celtic goddess of the fairiesancient Celtic goddess of the fairies. This is a primary . This is a primary example that example that (3)(3) Mercutio takes very few things seriously Mercutio takes very few things seriously..

Impatient to go, Benvolio urges them to go.Impatient to go, Benvolio urges them to go.

Benvolio, Romeo, Mercutio (Romeo’s best friend Benvolio, Romeo, Mercutio (Romeo’s best friend and a relative of Prince Escalus), and others are and a relative of Prince Escalus), and others are about to go to the party at Lord Capulet’s house. about to go to the party at Lord Capulet’s house.

(1)(1)Romeo and Mercutio are opposites; Romeo is Romeo and Mercutio are opposites; Romeo is serious while Mercutio is always cracking jokesserious while Mercutio is always cracking jokes..

Before they enter the party, Before they enter the party, (4)(4) Romeo expresses Romeo expresses a feeling that tonight’s activities will result in his a feeling that tonight’s activities will result in his deathdeath; he puts his faith in fate and enters anyway.; he puts his faith in fate and enters anyway.

Act IAct I, , Scene vScene v

A Meeting of LoveA Meeting of Love

andand

HATEHATE((About a Half Hour after iii and About a Half Hour after iii and

iviv))


Overhearing this request, Overhearing this request, (2)(2) Tybalt Tybalt recognizes recognizes the voice of his most hated enemy and tells his the voice of his most hated enemy and tells his uncle, Lord Capulet.uncle, Lord Capulet.

(3)(3)CapuletCapulet is not bothered by the news of is not bothered by the news of Romeo’s presence and Romeo’s presence and threatens Tybalt, lest he threatens Tybalt, lest he should start any troubleshould start any trouble..

(1)(1) Romeo sees Romeo sees a beautiful girla beautiful girl, Juliet, , Juliet, asas the the party party continues continues at the Capulet houseat the Capulet house and asks a and asks a servant who she is. servant who she is.

Still, Still, (4)(4) Tybalt insists that he will Tybalt insists that he will eventually eventually avenge himselfavenge himself..

Romeo approaches Juliet and romances her; Romeo approaches Juliet and romances her; (5) (5) they are instantly infatuated with each otherthey are instantly infatuated with each other ((they kissthey kiss).). As the party ends, the two are parted and the As the party ends, the two are parted and the (7)(7) Nurse informs them of who the other isNurse informs them of who the other is; ; (8)(8) both both of them are stunned by the newsof them are stunned by the news that they are that they are enemies, yet enemies, yet (9)(9) neither swears off of the other neither swears off of the other..

Act IAct I, , Scene vScene v(6)(6)The Undulating MoodThe Undulating Mood

Romeo

see

s Ju

liet a

nd is

imm

edia

tely in

fatu

ated

.

Tybalt recognizes Rom

eo

and becomes

infuriated!

Romeo

and

Julie

t mee

t

and

inst

antly “f

all i

n

love

”.

The Nurse inform

s

Rom

eo and Juliet that

they are enemies!

Act IAct ICharacterizationCharacterization

(1)(1) Romeo and Rosaline…Romeo and Rosaline… is it is it

lust for something forbidden lust for something forbidden - -or-or-

is it really love? is it really love?


(2)(2) What kind of man is Romeo?What kind of man is Romeo? - serious- serious - -

broodinbroodingg

- - impulsiimpulsi

veve

- - conflictconflict

eded

- - contradictocontradicto

ryry


(3)(3) From Rosaline to Juliet…From Rosaline to Juliet… - - RosalineRosaline: fleeting romance based on : fleeting romance based on

physical attraction physical attraction - - JulietJuliet: rapid involvement based on “love at : rapid involvement based on “love at first sight”first sight”SEEMS LIKE AN IDENTICAL PERDICAMENTSEEMS LIKE AN IDENTICAL PERDICAMENT


What kind of man and father is Lord What kind of man and father is Lord Capulet?Capulet?

- I would not for the wealth of all the town … do him - I would not for the wealth of all the town … do him

disparagementdisparagement- And too soon marr’d are [mothers] so early made.- And too soon marr’d are [mothers] so early made.

- An she agree, within her scope of choice lies my - An she agree, within her scope of choice lies my consentconsent

- - protective protective father:father: will will not marry not marry only child, only child, Juliet, off Juliet, off too youngtoo young

- - rational rational man:man:

refuses to refuses to allow Tybalt allow Tybalt the right to the right to

attack attack RomeoRomeo

(4)(4) (5)(5)


Juliet…Juliet…- It is an honour that I dream not of.- It is an honour that I dream not of.

- I’ll look to like, if looking liking move- I’ll look to like, if looking liking move

- - naive:naive: 13 years 13 years

old; has old; has not yet not yet

thought of thought of marriagemarriage

(6)(6) (6)(6) - -

sheltered:sheltered:

knows little knows little of the of the

outside outside world; world;

parents parents make make

decisions decisions for herfor her


Does Juliet use…Does Juliet use…REASONREASON

-or--or-

EMOTIONEMOTION

(8)(8)- - won over won over

by by emotion:emotion: eventually eventually succumbs succumbs to Romeo’s to Romeo’s advancesadvances

(7)(7)- - uses uses reason:reason:

speaks very speaks very reasonably reasonably to Romeo to Romeo and uses and uses

logic to put logic to put him offhim off

act i. act i, prologue act i, prologue act i, prologue (1) prologue summarizes the action of the...

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