William Shakespeare’s

Romeo and Juliet

Get to know the Author:

William Shakespeare:Born in 1564 –

Died in 1616Father was a glove

maker, tradesman, and bailiff (a mayor in today’s time)

Mother came from a prosperous farming family

More about the Author…

Continued William Shakespeare: At age 18 he married Anne Hathaway

They had a daughter Susanna and twins Judith and Hamnet.

More About our Author… Continued Willam Shakespeare:

By 1594, Shakespeare had joined Lord Chamberlain’s Men

Later renamed “The King’s Men” after James I came to power.

Shakespeare owned a share of Lord Chamberlian’s Men. He was very successful; therefore, he should have made a good living for his day.

More About Our Author… Continued William Shakespeare:

During his time, Shakespeare produced and wrote thirty-seven (37) plays.

Romeo and Juliet Romeo and Juliet is actually a

tragedy, despite its romance.

It was also taken from an old tale – Shakespeare turned it into a play.

It was written sometime between 1594 and 1596.

Background: The story of Romeo and

Juliet is a play about two young lovers and their romance in the midst of feuding families.

Setting: The play is set during the summer of the

1300s (the 14th Century) in two cities in Northern Italy – Verona and Mantua.

Verona, Italy Mantua, Italy

Characters: Capulets:

Lord Capulet – wealthy nobleman of Verona; enemy to Lord Montague

Lady Capulet – his wife

Juliet – their daughter; 13 years old

Tybalt – Lady Capulet’s nephew; Juliet’s cousin

Montagues: Lord Montague –

wealthy nobelman of Verona; enemy to Lord Capulet

Lady Montague – his wife

Romeo – their son Benvolio – Lord

Montague’s nephew; Romeo’s cousin and friend

More Characters…. Capulets:

Old Man – elderly relative of the family

Nurse – servant who has cared for Juliet since infancy

Peter – the Nurse’s servant

Sampson – servant

Gregory – servant

Montagues: Balthasar –

Romeo’s servant Abram – servant

More Characters: Chorus – actor who speaks directly to the

audience to introduce the play Prince Escalus – ruler of Verona Count Paris – relative of the Prince; suitor to

Juliet Mercutio – relative of the Prince; Romeo’s friend Friar Lawrence – Catholic Priest of the order of

Franciscans; pharmacist Apothecary – pharmacist in Mantua Friar John – Franciscan Priest Page – servant to Paris

Miscellaneous Information:

The Capulets and the Montagues were both considered very distinguished families. They were embroiled in a bitter feud with each other. Vendetta – a feud between two families,

often ignited by murder and perpetuated by acts of revenge. (These were common during the 1300s)

A street fight breaks out between their servants and spurs along the feud.

Italian families during this time were very large and often extended to their servants.

THE END!Happy

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