What’s it all about?

The story is, of course, about a pair of star-crossed lovers.

Two teenagers pursue their love for each other despite the fact that their families have been at odds with each other for decades.

The story combines sword fighting, disguise, misunderstanding, tragedy, humour, and some of the most romantic language found in literature all in the name of true love.

Romeo and Juliet as Tragedy

The whole play is tinged with sadness because in the prologue, we are told the characters die.

The main reason they die is due to fate or “the Heavens”

They are innocent victims of their parents’ feud.

We enjoy watching them fall in love and wish them well but it is heartbreaking when things fall apart for them.

Who’s who?

Montagues

Romeo – son to Montague.

Benvolio – cousin to Romeo.

Balthasar – servant & friend to Romeo.

Mercutio – friend to Romeo.

Lady Montague – wife to Lord Montague.

Montague – Romeo’s father and head of the family.

Friar Lawrence – a local priest, friend of Romeo.

Who’s who?

Capulets

Juliet – daughter to Capulet.

Capulet – Juliet’s father and head of the family.

Lady Capulet – wife to Lord Capulet.

Nurse – servant & Nurse to Juliet.

Tybalt – nephew to the Capulets.

Paris – a young nobleman.

Setting

Romeo and Juliet lived in

Verona, Italy with their

families

The time period is the 13th or

14th century, so they dress in

fancy clothes and have

servants

Many scenes take place on

the streets, Juliet’s home

(Capulet house)

The Prologue

Meaning ‘before

speech’, it gave the

audience hints

about what they

were about to see

and asked them to

try and understand

even if it didn’t all

make perfect

sense.

Two households, both alike in dignity,

In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,Where civil blood makes civil hands

unclean.

The Montagues & Capulets

Both very wealthy & powerful

families.

Italian city

The old feud between the

families. No one knows

the reason why they fell

out.

The feud continues with

new generations of

Montagues & Capulets

Suggesting that many

civilians are guilty for

killing others.

From forth the fatal loins of these two foes

A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life;

Whole misadventured piteous overthrowsDo with their death bury their parents' strife.

Loins are your privates! enemies

Their meeting was

destined to

happen through

fate.

suicide

It was an

adventure that

went wrong

But one good

thing came from it

in that it stopped

all the hate &

bloodshed

The fearful passage of their death-mark'd love,

And the continuance of their parents' rage,

Which, but their children's end, nought could

remove,

The time they had

together was very

dangerous

Suggests they died at

the hands of fate.

Rage at the other

families. Their

parents never knew

of the romance until

they were dead.

Only the death of their

own children would

make them stop

hating the other family

& make them call a

truce.

Is now the two hours' traffic of our stage;

The which if you with patient ears attend,

What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to

mend.

The play lasts for two

hours

You need to listen & be

patient

If you don’t quite

understand what I’ve

just said in this

prologue...

I’ll work hard to help

you understand in

the action that’s

about to happen!

Before we read each ACT…2 options:

1. Reference mini-summaries halfsheet

2. Read Detailed Summary (PDF on my web page)

*From Sparknotes.com

Reading summaries prior to reading the Old English Blank Verse

will benefit your reading comprehension immensely

As we read each ACT… PAY ATTENTION!

Use the margins to help you understand:

Old English words

Allusions

Characters

Definitions

Etc.

Have the summaries out for reference

Have your Language Cheat Sheet out for reference

Have a character list for reference

After we read each ACT…1. Narrative Summary

You will summarize each scene from the

perspective of a different character

2. Character Development Quote Search:

You will compile quotes based on our focus for each

Act (with line #s)

OUR FOCUS: Character development

After we read each ACT…

3. Informative/Explanatory Writing – Proper

Paragraph Form

You will answer a guiding question about our

focus for each Act and respond with analysis by

citing textual support

Final Essay

You will write a character analysis of one or two

characters. Prompts to come after Act 2.

Your essay will focus on character traits and

themes, so you will need to gather evidence of

how characters develop their character traits

and how their actions develop the themes of the

play.

Final Project Your final project will demonstrate your understanding of

one or two characters from the play.

You will have multiple options of projects.

Ex. A character’s diary, scrapbook, Instagram, mixed

CD, etc.

Specifics to come after Act 3

For your project you will need to have a thorough

understanding of your character and multiple quotes to

prove your character’s traits.

So as we are reading…

Be thinking of the characters you understand the

most

Track quotations that show character development

Analyze how the characters are developing

throughout the play