Romeo and JulietWilliam Shakespeare

Tragedy

When the protagonist dies

Caused by their tragic flaw or hamartia

Essentially a good character, but their flaw in character causes their downfall

List of characters (Dramatis Personae) in Romeo and Juliet.

Escalus, prince of Verona Paris, a young nobleman Montague, Capulet, heads of warring households Old man, cousin to Capulet Romeo, son to Montague Mercutio, kinsman to the prince, and friend to Romeo Benvolio, nephew to Montague, and friend to Romeo Tybalt, nephew to Lady Capulet Friar Laurence, Friar John, Franciscans Balthasar, servant to Romeo Sampson, Gregory, servants to Capulet Peter, servant to Juliet's nurse Abraham, servant to Montague An Apothecary Three Musicians Page to Paris; another Page; an Officer Lady Montague, wife to Montague Lady Capulet, wife to Capulet Juliet, daughter to Capulet Nurse to Juliet Citizens of Verona; Maskers, Guards, Watchmen, and Attendants Chorus

The Prologue

The opening speech is an introduction

The two households (Montagues and Capulets) have an ancient fight and it’s about to break out again

FATE plays an important role in the lives of Romeo and Juliet

Line 6: “star-crossed lovers”

Line 9: “Death-marked love”

Tells audience that their love will end in tragedy

Act One-Scene One Setting: Verona, Italy in the Market Place in the morning

Sampson and Gregory (armed servants) from the house of Capulet (Juliet’s household)

Abraham and Balthasar, servants from the house of Montague enter and the servants have an entertaining quarrel/fight that could turn ugly

Benvolio, whose name means “good natured man” enters and breaks up the fight

Tybalt, Lady Capulet’s nephew enters and threatens Benvolio so they fight

The fight becomes a riot and the rivalry/bad blood between the Montagues and Capulets becomes a fight to the death

The prince of Verona comes and intervenes

Warns them that if they disturb the peace again, they will pay for it with their lives

Act One Scene One continued

Montague and Lady Montague (Romeo’s father and mother) and talk to Benvolio about Romeo

They are happy Romeo was not part of the fight

Montague says that romeo has been showing signs that something is wrong

They ask Benvolio to find out what is wrong with Romeo

Romeo enters as his parents exit

Benvolio finds out that Romeo is in love, but through language that is artificial and complex, Romeo shows that his love for Rosaline is not really true.

#43. ALLUSION: line 207 “She hath Dian’s wit” reference to the chase goddess of hunting and of the moon

Act One Scene Two

Setting: street in Verona

Capulet enters with Paris, clown and servant

Paris talks about how Montague and Capulet are honorable men

He really wants to know if Capulet will allow his 13 year old daughter Juliet to marry him (This was considered an appropriate age for marriage at the time)

Capulet is hesitant to allow Juliet to marry

Capulet is giving a masquerade party/feast (guests wear masks/disguises) that evening and asks that Paris attend

Capulet gives a list of guests to his servants and tells him to go around Verona inviting them—unfortunately, the servant cannot read

Romeo and Benvolio enter and the servant asks them to read the guest list for him—Rosaline is on the list, so Benvolio and Romeo decide to crash the party

Benvolio wants to show Romeo that there are other women to see and love

Act One Scene 3

Setting: A room in Capulet’s house

Capulet’s wife and Nurse (caregiver to Juliet) call for Juliet

Juliet enters and the nurse recalls how she has cared for Juliet since she was an infant and acted as a wet-nurse (she nursed her as a baby)

Nurse provides COMIC RELIEF

Lady Capulet wants to speak to Juliet of marrying Paris

The nurse and Juliet are hesitant, but Juliet promises to look at Paris and see if he’s attractive to her at the party that evening

Act One Scene Four

Romeo, Mercutio, Benvolio with a crowd of masquers

Romeo is hesitant to participate and reveals that he “dreamt a dream” (line 49) and that his dream suggests that something bad will happen if he attends the party.

Mercutio, Romeo’s friend is introduced and he talks about how Queen Mab (queen of the fairies) being blamed for strange dreams

Romeo ends the scene with ominous foreshadowing:

Line 106-113:

“I fear, too early; for my mind misgives

Some consequence, yet hanging in the stars

Shall bitterly begin his fearful date

With this night’s revels and expire the term

Of a despised life, closed in my breast,

By some vile forfeit of untimely death.

But he that hath the steerage of my course

Direct my sail! On lusty gentlemen!”

Act One Scene Five Setting: A hall in the Capulet’s house

Capulet welcomes the masqueraders to the dance

Romeo sees Juliet: lines 44-53

“O, She doth teach the torches to burn bright! Alliteration Personification

It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night

As a rich jewel in an Ethiop’s ear— metaphor

Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear

So shows a snowy dove tropping with crows

As yonder lady o’er her fellows shows.

The measure done, I’ll watch her place of stand

And, touching hers, make blessed my rude hand

Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight!

For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night.”

Act One Scene Five continued

Tybalt recognizes Romeo’s voice and moves to throw him out

Romeo meets Juliet and she talks to him

Juliet learns from her nurse that Romeo is a Montague and says that she’s fallen in love with him.

Lines 139-140

“My only love, sprung from my only hate!

Too early seen unknown, and unknown too late!”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zr1gk9nwTYY