DO NOWUsing complete sentences,

please answer the “Essential Questions” on your Act I Literary

Roadmap.

Be prepared to share your answers.

Drama. Drama. Drama. Drama is tension. In theater, tension

means the audience is expecting something to happen between the characters Will they shoot each

other? Will they finally confess

their undying love for one another?

Class Notes 20

Shakespeare Genres

Shakespearean theater can be broken into 3 genres: Comedies Tragedies Histories

“Romeo and Juliet” is a tragedy.

Tragedies

A tragedy is a story about serious and important actions that end unhappily.

Tragedies usually end with the deaths of the main characters.

5-Act Structure All of Shakespeare’s plays have a 5 act

structure. An act is like a chapter in a story. Shakespeare’s tragedy plot structure:

Act I: ExpositionAct II: Rising ActionAct III: Crisis or turning pointAct IV: Falling ActionAct V: Climax and resolution

Stage Directions

Stage Directions are the directors intended movement of the actors in the play.

Help the reader visualize actions being performed.

Tell the actor where to stand, how to move and the way to say their lines.

Act I: Scene iRoles: Sampson Gregory Abram Balthasar Benvolio Tybalt Officer Capulet Lady Capulet Montague Lady Montague Prince Romeo

Act I: Scene ii

Roles: Paris Servant Benvolio Romeo

Act I: Scene iii

Roles: Lady Capulet Nurse Juliet Servingman

Literary Road Map

SECTION 3Getting’ it straight: Knowledge and Comprehension

Please answer questions #1-8Write in complete sentences!