Romeo and Juliet
Written about 400 years ago
Written as a play by William Shakespeare in 1594- 1596
A popular love story: teenagers sharing forbidden love, their witty friends and troublesome parents, fights,
parties, murders and nights of love. (We can see that Shakespeare could truly understand the grief of the
parents in this play. His own son, Hammet, died the year he wrote the play.)
A Shakespearean tragedy
Elements of a Shakespearean Tragedy
The hero is an extraordinary and admirable man.
The hero is a person of high rank whose fate affects the destiny of his country, city or family.
The hero has a basic flaw, which with the help of outside circumstances, leads him to a terrible end
(even death).
A dual conflict generates the play’s action: the external conflict between persons and groups, and the
internal conflict of the hero.
Good always triumphs over evil in the end, even though the tragic hero has pulled his flawed world
down on his head.
There is often the use of the supernatural.
There are often abnormal psychological states.
There is often the use of coincidence and luck.
Terms of Romeo and Juliet
Star-crossed: The Elizabethan times there was a strong belief in astrology. The stars controlled human
lives, and everyone was born under the influence of one star. Some stars were friendly – we still have
the phrase “born under a lucky star”- while others were unfriendly. A “star – crossed” person was
under the influence of an unfriendly star.
Tragedy: a play or story which ends in a sad way...usually the death or deaths of the heroes or
heroines.
Sonnet: a 14-line poem, often about love... Shakespeare uses these in Romeo and Juliet. Both
prologues are in the form of sonnet.
Soliloquy: in drama when a person is speaking their thoughts out loud. They assume no one is
listening.
Prologue: the introduction to a play. It gives us the setting, in an overview of the plot and sets up
atmosphere.
Irony: the opposite of what is said or done or what you expect to happen and what actually happens.
Foreshadowing: a hint or clue of something to come
Oxymoron: the use of opposites in the same sentence.
Chorus: commonly used in early English drama to interpret events about to happen on the stage, or
explain what has happened.
Aside: a speech made while other characters are on stage. They do not hear the speech. It represents
the thoughts of the character speaking sometimes addressed to the audience.
Romeo & Juliet Characters
Montagues: Romeo, Lady & Lord Montague, Benvolio
Capulets: Juliet, Lady & Lord Capulet and Tybalt
Nobility: Prince Escalus (Prince of Verona), Mercutio, Paris
Friar Laurence is friend to all.
The Nurse is a servant to Juliet
Balthasar is a servant to Romeo.
Romeo and Juliet
Act 1 Important Points
Scene I
The play opens in Verona, Italy where a fight is about to break out. Sampson and Gregory, Capulet
servants, are discussing what they will do to Montagues. Then two Montague servants arrive and both
sides want to start a fight but they are both scared of initiating the fight.
People start to fill the street and fighting starts. We are then introduced to some of the main
characters and we are able to tell something of their personalities by their reaction to the feud. The
following characters enter;
1) Benvolio: cousin of Montague who sees the fighting as harmless fun. He tries to keep the peace,
but he fails. He is the voice of reason.
2) Tybalt: opposite of Benvolio. Cousin of Capulet and is a trouble maker.
3) Lord and Lady Capulet: They are fighting with themselves as much as they are fighting with
Montagues. Lord Capulet joins the fight.
4) Lord and Lady Montagues: Lady urges Lord not to join the fighting but anger is directed toward the
feud.
5) Prince Escalus: Voice of reason. He charges that the Montagues and Capulets have fought before
and it must stop.
Benvolio then tells Lord and Lady Montague of what happened. Lady Montague then asks about Romeo.
Obviously the both Love Romeo. Romeo’s parents are both worried about him as he has been keeping to
himself as of lat.
Lord Montague asks Benvolio to help him to find out what is the matter with Romeo. Romeo enters and he
and Benvolio are left alone. They talk and Romeo admits he is in love but does not say with whom. Obviously
his love is not returned and Benvolio tries to help him and says that they will find another girl for him.
Important Points:
1. Introduction of characters
2. Conflict between Capulets and Montagues
3. Romeo’s problem
Scene II
We hear of Juliet indirectly. Paris, a very eligible bachelor, wants to marry Juliet and asks Lord Capulet
for her hand in marriage. Capulet says it is up to Juliet. Capulet invites Paris to a party that evening to
meet Juliet. Capulet then gives the guest list to a servant who can’t read and the servant runs into
Romeo and Benvolio. The servant asks Romeo to read the guest list for him and Romeo sees that
Rosaline will be there – she is Romeo’s love. The servant informs them that if they are not Montagues
they may attend the party.
Important points
Fate brings Romeo in contact with the illiterate servant.
Scene III
The scene takes place in the Capulet’s house. It is almost party time and Lady Capulet, the Nurse and
Juliet are in Juliet’s room. The Nurse is introduced in this scene. The Nurse gives us background about
Juliet. She is rough and funny and talks often of sex. Lady Capulet informs Juliet Paris wishes to marry
her. Juliet says she is not interested in marriage but will meet Paris.
Important points:
Pre-arranged marriage of Juliet and Paris is suggested.
Scene IV
Romeo and Benvolio are on their way to the Capulet’s party and they are trying to decide how they will
get in. Benvolio says they will stay for one dance only. Romeo says his heart is too heavy and he will
not dance. Mercutio is introduced as a character who loves fun and acts very silly during this scene.
Mercutio teases Romeo and says the party will cheer him up. Romeo has a strong feeling that bad will
happen as a result of this party.
Important points:
Foreshadowing of danger as seen by Romeo
Scene V
We see a playful group of servants and then we are back to the party where Lord Capulet is greeting
those who enter. Romeo and Benvolio enter wearing masks so no one knows they are Montagues.
Rosaline is at the party but Romeo is enchanted by Juliet. Romeo speaks to Tybalt recognizes him as a
Montague. Tybalt wants to fight Romeo but Capulet says no. Romeo finally meets Juliet. Both are
enchanted by one another and Romeo feels great when he kisses her hand. They are interrupted by
the Nurse and she tells Juliet that Romeo is a Montague. Romeo also discovers Juliet’s identity.
Important points
1. Romeo and Juliet’s first encounter (love at first sight)
2. Reactions when they find out whom each other are
3. Possible foreshadowing of their meeting