ROMEO AND JULIET

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

Aurora sala

Index

Shakespeare's life

1

Shakespeare's canon

2

Shakespeare's plays

3

ROMEO and Juliet

4

Life

The official version of his life

LEARNING EXPERIENCE

• Shakespeare is born in Stratford-upon-Avon.
• Was baptised on 26 April 1564.
• Was the soon of a rich merchant---> good education
• He could read and understand Latin but not Greek.
• 1582: He married a local woman (Anne Hathaway).
• 1592: He was active in London as an actor and a playwright.
• 1594: He started working for The Chamberlain's Men.

Shakespeare's canon is divided into 3 sub-groups: composition, style and themes

LEARNING EXPERIENCE

1) English History Plays2) Roman Plays 3) Comedies ---> novelle4) Problem Plays / Dark Comedies5) Tragedies6) Romances

Canon

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ROMEO AND JULIET(1594-1595)William Shakespeare

Plot

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Romeo and Juliet's plot:

"Romeo and Juliet," a tragic play by William Shakespeare, is set in Verona, Italy, and tells the story of two young lovers from rival families—the Montagues and the Capulets. The play begins with a street fight between the feuding families. Romeo, initially in love with Rosaline, quickly falls for Juliet at a Capulet party, and they secretly marry with the help of Friar Laurence, who hopes their love will end the feud.

Tragedy unfolds when Romeo kills Tybalt, Juliet's cousin, to avenge his friend Mercutio's death, resulting in his banishment. In a desperate attempt to reunite with Romeo, Juliet takes a potion that makes her appear dead, but the message about their plan fails to reach him. Believing she is truly dead, Romeo takes his own life at her tomb. When Juliet awakens and finds Romeo dead, she also chooses to end her life.Their tragic deaths ultimately lead to a reconciliation between their families, emphasizing the destructive nature of hatred and the poignancy of love, while illustrating the tragic consequences of familial conflict on innocent lives.

Themes

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The individual and society

Throughtout the play Romeo and Juliet are forced to battle against public and social institutions.the story shows us a battle between the private desires of the individual and crushing power of the responsibilities and actions imposed by social institutions.

Fate

Throughtout the play fate controls events. Tragedy is inevitable in a story where the fate introduces a series of mishaps.

Love

Romeo and Juliet is the most famous love story in English literature and love is the dominant theme of the play.

Characters

LEARNING EXPERIENCE

Romeo

Romeo is a fully rounded character: he's a handsome young man who has a passionate character and strong tendency to be impulsive. His immediateand desperate love for Juliet may seem a little suspect at the beginning of the play, but his brave action and his loyalty to Juliet prove the true nature of his love for her.

Juliet

Juliet, rather than being the simple prototype of the young gilr in love, shows a complexity that makes her one if the most famous female characters of western literature. At the benning of the play she appears shy and obedient, but as she falls in love with Romeo, she suddently grows and shows her maturity, indipendence and her ability to defend her love against any obstacle.

Characters

LEARNING EXPERIENCE

• Friar Laurence: A priest who helps Romeo and Juliet in their secret marriage, hoping to reconcile the feuding families.

• Mercutio: Romeo's close friend, known for his wit and eloquence. He has a playful yet cynical view of love.

• Tybalt Capulet: Juliet's hot-headed cousin, who despises the Montagues and seeks to maintain the honor of his family.

• Nurse: Juliet's caretaker and confidante, who provides comic relief but also assists in Juliet's romantic endeavors.

• Lord and Lady Capulet: Juliet's parents, who are concerned with their family's reputation and social standing.

• Lord and Lady Montague: Romeo's parents, who are also concerned about their son's well-being amidst the family feud.

The main characters of William Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" include:

The end

Romeo and juliet

Aurora Sala 4F