The document summarizes the plot of Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet. It introduces the long-standing feud between the Montague and Capulet families in Verona. Romeo, a Montague, falls in love with Juliet, a Capulet, at her family's party. However, as members of enemy houses, their love is forbidden. The document outlines key events and characters in Act 1 that set up the tragic story of the star-crossed lovers.

1. The Tragedy of Romeo and
Juliet
William Shakespeare 1564-1616

2. PROLOGUE
• Verona, Italy
• Montagues & Capulets:
– Generations of hate
– Kids fall in love
– Secret marriage
– Suicide*
– Families overcome the hate at tragic cost
* (Foreshadows the deaths of Romeo & Juliet)

3. Why does Shakespeare tell us
what happens to the lovers?
• A great storyteller can do this; the
details of the story are more important
than the ending.
• The audience will watch in
anticipation of the deaths, making
each action of the characters more
strongly felt.

4. Act I, scene 1
• Old hatreds are rekindled between:
– The servants of Capulets & Montagues
– Tybalt and Benvolio
– The Capulets & Montagues
• Prince of Verona decrees:
“If ever you disturb our streets again, your lives
shall pay the forfeit of the peace” (I.1.94-95).

5. • Capulet servants
boast about fighting
Montagues (enemy)
• They want to
provoke the
Montague servants
without getting
themselves in
trouble with the law
• A Capulet servant
insults/ bites his
thumb at Montague
Bite Your Thumb = Insult
servant which starts
a fight (riot)

6. • Benvolio
arrives and
tries to break Benvolio: Part, fools!Put up your
up fight swords; you know not what you do.
• Tybalt provokes
Benvolio into
fighting
Tybalt: What, drawn, and talk
of peace! I hate the word,As I
Tybalt
hate hell, all Montagues, and
thee:Have at thee, coward!

7. •Prince Escalus arrives,
Prince: If ever you disturb our streets again,
stops fight, and
Your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace sentences the family
that starts the next
fight/riot to death.
• Lord Montague and
wife and Lord Capulet
both appear at the
scene
-Lord Capulet is most
interested in fighting
-Lady Montague & Lady
Romeo & Capulet encourage their
Gang husbands not to fight

8. WHY?
• Why does a play about The feud affects citizens
forbidden love begin with of all classes in Verona.
Capulet & Montague
servants fighting?
• Immediately love &
violence are intertwined
• The servants behavior
reflects their masters’
ridiculous attitudes
(holding a violent grudge
against another family
without knowing the
reason of their hate)

9. Act I, scene 1
• Romeo Montague is heart-sick because
he’s been rejected by Rosaline.
• He asks his friend Benvolio, “ …teach me
how I should forget to think!” (I.1. 224)
• Benvolio encourages, “By giving liberty
unto thine eyes. Examine other beauties”
(I.1.225-226).

10. Romeo’s parents (Montagues) and
Benvolio discuss Romeo’s mood.
• Lord Montague points Lord Montague: Away from the light
steals home my heavy son,
out that Romeo is And private in his chamber pens himself,
Shuts up his windows, locks far daylight
staying in his room all out
And makes himself an artificial night:
day.
• Benvolio has seen
Romeo wandering
around.
• He sees that Romeo
wants to be left alone;
so, he doesn’t bother
him. Sad Romeo

11. Rosaline
Romeo tells Benvolio
that he is depressed
1. Romeo loves
Rosaline. (Romeo is
obsessed with her.)
2. Rosaline wants nothing
to do with him; she has
sworn off love and men to
become a nun
3. Benvolio wants Romeo
to look at other girls to
date

12. Shakespeare’s Purpose
• Introduce the age-old feud between the
Montagues & Capulets
• Introduce Romeo as a romantic, moody
teen who is sulking because of a breakup

13. Act 1 Scene 2
A. Count Paris, who is
21, asks Lord Capulet
if he can marry Juliet.
B. Capulet would like
Paris to wait 2 years
C. [All of Juliet’s
siblings are dead]
Lord Capulet: But woo her, gentle
D. Capulet will agree Paris, get her heart,
to the marriage only if My will to her consent is but a part;
An she agree, within her scope of
Juliet also agrees. He choice
tells Paris to begin Lies my consent and fair according
voice.
wooing her

14. Act 1, scene 2
• Capulet asks his illiterate servant to deliver
invitations to the party.
• The servant happens upon Romeo and his
pals, and asks them for assistance in
reading the invitations.
• Romeo sees Rosaline’s name on an
invitation and decides to attend.

15. D. Benvolio and
Romeo find out about
the Capulets’ party.
• 1. Romeo reads the
guest list for an
illiterate servant.
• 2. Rosaline is
invited to the party.
Romeo is interested
in going now!

16. Act 1, scene 2
• Problem: The Capulets and Montagues
are bitter foes.
• Benvolio promises that he’ll assist Romeo
in comparing Rosaline to other more
beautiful women, and “. . .make thee think
thy swan a crow” (I.2.89).
• Romeo pouts that he’ll attend but have no
fun.

17. Benvolio: Go thither; and, with
• E. Benvolio talks unattainted eye,
Compare her face [Rosaline’s] with
Romeo into some that I shall show,
And I will make thee think thy swan
crashing the party. a crow.
• 1. Benvolio wants
Romeo to compare
Rosaline to other
girls.
• 2. He thinks Romeo
will realize that
there are other
women in the Romeo in Mask
world.

18. Shakespeare’s Purpose
• Plot device:
– Used to shape the love triangle,
bringing Romeo, Juliet and Paris
together
–Used to bring Romeo into enemy
territory – a Montague in the
Capulet home

19. Act I, scene 3
• Lady Capulet asks her daughter,
Juliet, to “check out” Paris as a
potential husband.
• Juliet obediently complies, but lets
her mother know that marriage is not
something she’s been thinking about.

20. Act I, scene 3
• We meet Juliet’s nanny, the nurse,
who is especially protective of her.
• We also find out that Juliet’s 14th
birthday is approaching – Lammas
Eve.

21. Juliet, Nurse, Lady A. Lady Capulet
Capulet goes to see Juliet
about marrying
Count Paris &
encourages her to
marry him.
B. Nurse rambles
on and on; says
Lady Capulet: Well, think of marriage now; Juliet will be 14 in 2
younger than you,
Here in Verona, ladies of esteem, weeks. She speaks
Are made already mothers: by my count,
I was your mother much upon these years crude comments
That you are now a maid. Thus then in
brief: about Juliet,
The valiant Paris seeks you for his love.
showing her lower
class

22. Juliet
C. Juliet says that she hasn’t
thought about marriage at all.
• It does not appear she
wants to marry Paris
• but she is obedient to her
mother’s wishes.
D. Nurse thinks that marrying
Juliet to Lady Capulet: I'll
look to like, if looking liking Paris would be a good idea.
move:
But no more deep will I E. Juliet agrees to meet Paris
endart mine eye at the party and consider his
Than your consent gives
strength to make it fly. offer of marriage.

23. Shakespeare’s Purpose
• The audience knows that Juliet is aware of
Paris’ intent to marry her.
• The audience also knows that there may
be a brawl at the party because Romeo
and his friends are infiltrating enemy
territory.

24. Act I, scene 4
• Romeo, Benvolio, & Mercutio are about to crash
the Capulet party.
• Romeo vows he won’t have any fun because
he’s depressed about Rosaline’s rejection:
• “I am too sore enpierced with his [Cupid’s] shaft
to soar with his light feathers. . .under love’s
heavy burden do I sink” (I.4.19-22).

25. Act I, scene 4
• A discussion ensues about love.
• Romeo’s interpretation of love:
– Emotional & Spiritual
• Mercutio’s interpretation of love:
– Physical & Bawdy

26. Act I, scene 4
• Romeo begins to tell his pals about an
ominous dream he had.
• Mercutio mocks him.
• Romeo rebukes him, and then tells about
his dream, which makes him reluctant to
go to the party.

27. B. Mercutio tries to
cheer Romeo up
by talking about
his dream.
C. Romeo fears
that something
bad is going to
come of this night;
i.e. he might die.

28. Act I, scene 4
Romeo: I fear, too early: for my mind
misgives
Some consequence yet hanging in the stars
Shall bitterly begin his fearful date
With this night's revels and expire the term
Of a despised life closed in my breast
By some vile forfeit of untimely death.
FORESHADOWING

29. Act I, scene 4
• In other words,
–Romeo feels Fate has
predetermined that some event
tonight will cost him his life.

30. Mercutio’s Queen Mab
Monologue
• Queen Mab = an imaginary fairy
who brings dreams of people’s
fantasies & fears to them as they
sleep
• Romeo says he listens to his
dreams
• Mercutio uses the Queen Mab
speech to tell Romeo to ignore his
dreams; dreams are nonsense–he
gives many examples
• Mercutio is NOT romantic like
Romeo but rather a passionate
joker/master of puns.
Mercutiois a FOILto Romeo.
Mercutiois a FOILto Tybalt: he does
not believe in fighting for family
honor.

31. Act I, scene 5
• Lord Capulet begins the party,
inviting all to dance.
• Romeo spies Juliet, and
immediately falls heavily in love
with her, instantly forgetting about
Rosaline:

32. Rosaline Who?
Romeo: O, she doth
teach the torches to
burn bright!
It seems she hangs
upon the cheek of
night
Like a rich jewel in an The Capulet
Ethiope's ear Ball

33. Act I, scene 5
• Tybalt, Lady Capulet’s nephew, spies Romeo,
recognizes him as a Montague, and prepares to
kill him.
• Lord Capulet orders Tybalt to “endure” Romeo’s
presence, remembering the Prince’s decree.
• Tybalt obeys begrudgingly, but will seek revenge
at another time:

34. Act I, scene 5
• Tybalt remarks after Lord Capulet has
exited:
–“I will withdraw; but this intrusion
shall, now seeming sweet, convert
to bitt’rest gall*” (I.5.92-93)

35. Act I, scene 5
E. Romeo and Juliet meet
but do not exchange names.
F. They instantly fall in love.
• Romeo worships Juliet
with religious devotion
• Saints and prayers are
referenced in their
dialogue
• They kiss! Romeo to Nurse: Is she a
Capulet?O dear account! my life is
G. As people are leaving, my foe's debt.
Romeo asks who Juliet is.
Nurse explains: She is a
Capulet and his enemy.

36. H. Nurse also
identifies Romeo for
Juliet. He is a
Montague and her
enemy.
Juliet to Nurse: My only love sprung
from my only hate!
Too early seen unknown, and known too
late!
Prodigious birth of love it is to me,
That I must love a loathed enemy.
Juliet to Nurse: Go ask his name:
I. Both Romeo and if he be married.My grave is like to
be my wedding bed.
Juliet are depressed
at these discoveries.

37. Shakespeare’s Purpose
• Foreshadow death at the hands of Tybalt
• Introduce the conflict that sets the plot in
motion.
– Ironically Romeo & Juliet, whose families are
embroiled in a bitter family feud, fall madly in
love.