ROMEO AND JULIET

ACADEMIC ENGLISH 9

PLOT• Romeo and Juliet is the story of two young

people who fall in love, despite the fact that their families have been enemies for ages.• The story takes place over five days–

Romeo and Juliet meet, fall in love, get married, and die in a very short amount of time!

STRUCTURE• Begins with Prologue

(delivered by Chorus)• Has five acts (each

split into scenes)• Relies heavily on

figurative language• Written in Iambic

Pentameter• Has an “ABAB”

rhyme scheme

THE PROLOGUE• Shakespeare

borrowed this device from the Ancient Greeks• Tells us a summary

that includes the end of the story

THE CAPULETS• Juliet• Lord and Lady

Capulet (Juliet’s parents)• Tybalt (Juliet’s

cousin)• The Nurse

THE MONTAGUES• Romeo• Lord and Lady

Montague (his parents)• Benvolio (Romeo’s

cousin)• Balthasar (Romeo’s

servant)

IMPORTANT NEUTRAL CHARACTERS• Friar Lawrence: the local priest• The Prince: sort of the mayor of Verona• Paris: nobleman who wants to marry

Juliet• Mercutio: Romeo’s best friend who is

NOT a Montague

SETTING• Most of Romeo and Juliet takes place in

Verona, Italy• Some of the action occurs in Mantua,

Italy (a town not far from Verona)• Most of the action happens on Capulet

property• It is summer