Edu 290 pp1

Romeo & JuiletRomeo & JuiletBy William ShakespeareBy William Shakespeare

Amanda OliverAmanda Oliver

Central Michigan UniversityCentral Michigan University

A Brief HistoryA Brief History

Written in the mid 1590s by William Written in the mid 1590s by William ShakespeareShakespeare

First documented performance was 1662First documented performance was 1662 Many producers of the show “rewrote” the Many producers of the show “rewrote” the

ending so Romeo and Juliet could be togetherending so Romeo and Juliet could be together In the nineteenth and twentieth century In the nineteenth and twentieth century Romeo Romeo

& Juliet & Juliet gained popularity againgained popularity again West Side StoryWest Side Story 18 films have been produced of this story18 films have been produced of this story

http://www.shakespeare-online.com/playanalysis/romeoplayhistory.html

ProloguePrologue

The scene is Verona, Italy and this is the The scene is Verona, Italy and this is the story of two wealthy families. Even though story of two wealthy families. Even though the families hate each other, their children the families hate each other, their children fall in love. Their love meets many fall in love. Their love meets many obstacles and because of a obstacles and because of a misunderstanding, they kill each other for misunderstanding, they kill each other for love. Their death brings the two families love. Their death brings the two families together and mends the feud. together and mends the feud.

http://shakespeare.mit.edu/romeo_juliet/full.html

Main CharactersMain Characters

Romeo- the only son of the Montague Romeo- the only son of the Montague householdhouseholdis in love with Rosaline at the beginning of is in love with Rosaline at the beginning of

the show, but falls for Juliet at first sightthe show, but falls for Juliet at first sightJuliet- the only daughter of the Capulet Juliet- the only daughter of the Capulet

householdhouseholdAlso falls for Romeo instantly, but is Also falls for Romeo instantly, but is

pledged to wed Parispledged to wed Paris

http://www.shmoop.com/romeo-and-juliet/

Characters (cont.)Characters (cont.)

Mercutio- a nobleman related to the Prince Mercutio- a nobleman related to the Prince of Verona, this loud spoken man is one of of Verona, this loud spoken man is one of Romeo’s closest friendsRomeo’s closest friends

Benvolio- a relative of Romeo and another Benvolio- a relative of Romeo and another close friend, the most level headed of the close friend, the most level headed of the groupgroup



Rosaline- Mentioned at the beginning of Rosaline- Mentioned at the beginning of the play as Romeo’s love interest but she the play as Romeo’s love interest but she is soon forgotten when Romeo meets is soon forgotten when Romeo meets JulietJuliet

Tybalt Capulet- Juliet’s blood thirsty cousinTybalt Capulet- Juliet’s blood thirsty cousinHe kills MercutioHe kills MercutioRomeo kills TybaltRomeo kills Tybalt

Paris- Juliet’s betrothed, he is Romeo’s Paris- Juliet’s betrothed, he is Romeo’s foil, impassionatefoil, impassionatehttp://www.shmoop.com/romeo-and-juliet/


Friar Lawerence- the Holy man that tries to Friar Lawerence- the Holy man that tries to advise the lovers, weds Romeo and Juliet advise the lovers, weds Romeo and Juliet and helps devise a plan to keep the couple and helps devise a plan to keep the couple togethertogether

Nurse- a confidant of Juliet, she also aides Nurse- a confidant of Juliet, she also aides the lovers to keep their affair a secretthe lovers to keep their affair a secret

Prince of Verona- He only wants peace in Prince of Verona- He only wants peace in his city, he represents the law, which has his city, he represents the law, which has little affect on both householdslittle affect on both households


Love and HateLove and Hate Two main sources of strife in the playTwo main sources of strife in the play

http://www.shmoop.com/romeo-and-juliet/http://www.flickr.com/photos/flem007_uk/2686002470/in/photostream/

SexSex

The whole play seems to be super charged with sexThe whole play seems to be super charged with sex Is Romeo and Juliet’s love “real love?”Is Romeo and Juliet’s love “real love?”

The balcony. Painting by Ford Madox Brown, 1870. Public domain.

MarriageMarriage

In Western culture, most people marry for In Western culture, most people marry for love, however this was not the case for love, however this was not the case for Romeo and JulietRomeo and JulietKeep in mind they are high school age Keep in mind they are high school age

Romeo is about 16 and Juliet is only 13Romeo is about 16 and Juliet is only 13Why is Juliet getting married so early in life to Why is Juliet getting married so early in life to

Paris? Paris? What are some of the reasons her family is What are some of the reasons her family is

pressuring her to get married?pressuring her to get married?


Religion as a MetaphorReligion as a Metaphor

Many of the text relates to love as a religionMany of the text relates to love as a religion"Call me but love and I'll be new baptized" "Call me but love and I'll be new baptized"

(2.2.4).(2.2.4).Romeo calls Juliet a "saint" and implies that Romeo calls Juliet a "saint" and implies that

he'd he'd reallyreally like to "worship" her body (1.5.2). like to "worship" her body (1.5.2).Romeo's "hand" would be "blessed" if it Romeo's "hand" would be "blessed" if it

touched the divine Juliet's (1.5.1).touched the divine Juliet's (1.5.1).Years before Shakespeare wrote this play, Years before Shakespeare wrote this play,

love was considered as holy as religionlove was considered as holy as religionJust like religion, love can become life-Just like religion, love can become life-

consuming and change peopleconsuming and change people


Oxymora Galore!Oxymora Galore!

What is an Oxymoron?What is an Oxymoron?is the combination of two terms ordinarily is the combination of two terms ordinarily

seen as opposites. seen as opposites. Shakespeare uses this literary device Shakespeare uses this literary device

many times throughout the playmany times throughout the playCan you name a few examples?Can you name a few examples?Why do you think he did this?Why do you think he did this?


Queen MabQueen Mab

First the basics:First the basics:Queen Mab is a tiny fairy that preys on Queen Mab is a tiny fairy that preys on

sleeping victimssleeping victimsShe induces wild dreamsShe induces wild dreams

What concoct she do for lovers? Soldiers? What concoct she do for lovers? Soldiers? Lawyers?Lawyers?

When she is in a bad mood she plagues When she is in a bad mood she plagues women “that dream of ‘kisses’ ” with cold women “that dream of ‘kisses’ ” with cold soressores

Her name Mab, was slang in Shakespeare’s Her name Mab, was slang in Shakespeare’s time for whoretime for whore


Queen Mab (cont.)Queen Mab (cont.)

Mercutio’s story about the infamous Mercutio’s story about the infamous fairy is in response to Romeo’s moping fairy is in response to Romeo’s moping about Rosalineabout Rosaline

His crazy story pokes fun at how crazy His crazy story pokes fun at how crazy Romeo is for loving this girl that Romeo is for loving this girl that doesn’t love himdoesn’t love him

Mercutio points out that dreams "are Mercutio points out that dreams "are the children of an idle brain,” calling the children of an idle brain,” calling Romeo stupid for dreaming his life Romeo stupid for dreaming his life awayawayhttp://www.shmoop.com/romeo-and-juliet/

The EndThe End

Even from the beginning is was clear Even from the beginning is was clear Romeo and Juliet were going to dieRomeo and Juliet were going to dieThe prologue mentions it clearlyThe prologue mentions it clearlyDeath is a theme throughout the playDeath is a theme throughout the play

Death eventually brings the two Death eventually brings the two families togetherfamilies togetherPrince comments that it is “"glooming Prince comments that it is “"glooming

peace" (5.3.11).”peace" (5.3.11).”


Mike_fleming Image on slide Nine Mike_fleming Image on slide Nine <http://www.flickr.com/photos/flem007_uk/2686002470/sizes/o/in/photostream/><http://www.flickr.com/photos/flem007_uk/2686002470/sizes/o/in/photostream/>

Mabillard, Amanda. Mabillard, Amanda. Sources for Romeo and Juliet.Sources for Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare OnlineShakespeare Online. 21 Nov. 2001. February . 21 Nov. 2001. February 27, 2011. < http://www.shakespeare-online.com/playanalysis/romeoplayhistory.html >.27, 2011. < http://www.shakespeare-online.com/playanalysis/romeoplayhistory.html >.

Shakespeare, William. Shakespeare, William. Romeo & Juliet. Romeo & Juliet. Romeo and Juliet: Entire Play.Romeo and Juliet: Entire Play. 1591. 1591.February 27, 2011. February 27, 2011. http://shakespeare.mit.edu/romeo_juliet/full.htmlhttp://shakespeare.mit.edu/romeo_juliet/full.html

Shmoop Editorial Team. “Romeo and Juliet.” Shmoop.com. Shmoop University, Inc., 11 Nov. 2008. Web. 27 Feb. 2011.

Edu 290 pp1

Education

Transcript of Edu 290 pp1