The document provides background information on William Shakespeare and his most famous play, Romeo and Juliet. It discusses that Shakespeare was an English playwright and poet from 1564 to 1616 who is considered the greatest writer in the English language. Romeo and Juliet is one of his most renowned tragedies, written in the late 1590s, which has inspired many modern adaptations like West Side Story. The play was performed in an open-air theater called The Globe with minimal staging and effects, and only men and boys acted all roles on stage during Shakespeare's time. The plot of Romeo and Juliet follows the classic tragedy structure of exposition, inciting incident, rising action, climax, falling action,

1. William Shakespeare Widely regarded as the greatest writer in English Literature

2. Shakespeare 1563-1616 Stratford-on-Avon, England wrote 37 plays about 154 sonnets started out as an actor

3. Stage Celebrity Actor for Lord Chamberlain’s Men (London theater co.) Also > principal playwright for them 1599> Lord Ch. Co. built Globe Theater where most of Sh. Play’s were performed

4. Shakespeare wrote: Comedies Histories Tragedies

5. Romeo and Juliet Written about 1595 Considered a tragedy West Side Story (Movie) based on R&J

6. The Theater Plays produced for the general public Roofless>open air No artificial lighting Courtyard surrounded by 3 levels of galleries

7. Spectators Wealthy got benches “ Groundlings”>poorer people stood and watched from the courtyard (“pit”) All but wealthy were uneducated/illiterate Much more interaction than today

8. Staging Areas Stage>platform that extended into the pit Dressing & storage rooms in galleries behind & above stage second-level gallery> upper stage> famous balcony scene in R & J Trap door>ghosts “ Heavens”> angelic beings

9. Differences No scenery Settings > references in dialogue Elaborate costumes Plenty of props Fast-paced, colorful>2 hours!

10. Actors Only men and boys Young boys whose voices had not changed play women’s roles Would have been considered indecent for a woman to appear on stage

11. Elizabethan (QE1) Words An,and: If Anon: Soon Aye: Yes But: Except for E’en: Even E’er: Ever

12. QE1 Words (contin.) Haply: Perhaps Happy: Fortunate Hence: Away, from her Hie: Hurry Marry: Indeed

13. QE1 Words (contin.) Whence: Where Wilt: Will, will you Withal: In addition to Would: Wish

14. Blank Verse Much of R & J is written in it: unrhymed verse iambic (unstressed, stressed) pentameter( 5 “feet” to a line) ends up to be 10 syllable lines

15. Prose Ordinary writing that is not poetry, drama, or song Only characters in the lower social classes speak this way in Shakespeare’s plays Why do you suppose that is?

16. Plot The sequence of events in a literary work

17. Exposition The plot usually begins with this: introduces>>>> setting characters basic situation

18. Inciting Moment Often called “initial incident” the first bit of action that occurs which begins the plot Romeo and Juliet “lock eyes” at the party

19. Conflict The struggle that develops man vs. man man vs. himself man vs. society man vs. nature

20. Crisis The point where the protagonist’s situation will either get better or worse protagonist>good guy antagonist>bad guy

21. Climax The turning point of the story>everything begins to unravel from here Thus begins the falling action

22. Resolution The end of the central conflict

23. Denouement The final explanation or outcome of the plot If this is included in literature, it will occur after the resolution.

24. Tragedy (Shakespearean) Drama where the central character/s suffer disaster/great misfortune In many tragedies, downfall results from> Fate Character flaw/Fatal flaw Combination of the two

25. Theme Central idea or >> Insight about life which explain the downfall

26. Metaphorical Language Comparison of unlike things > Paris standing over the “lifeless body” of Juliet, “Sweet flower, with flowers thy bridal bed I strew…” “ Thou detestable maw…”Gorged with the dearest morsel of the earth…” Romeo

27. Dramatic Foil A character whose purpose is to show off another character Benvolio for Tybalt look for others in R & J

28. Round characters Characters who have many personality traits, like real people.

29. Flat Characters One-dimensional, embodying only a single trait Shakespeare often uses them to provide comic relief even in a tragedy

30. Static Characters Characters within a story who remain the same. They do not change. They do not change their minds, opinions or character.

31. Dynamic Character Characters that change somehow during the course of the plot. They generally change for the better.

32. Monologue One person speaking on stage > may be other character on stage too ex > the Prince of Verona commanding the Capulets and Montagues to cease feuding

33. Soliloquy Long speech expressing the thoughts of a character alone on stage. In R & J, Romeo gives a soliloquy after the servant has fled and Paris has died.

34. Aside Words spoken, usually in an undertone not intended to be heard by all characters

35. Pun Shakespeare loved to use them!!! Humorous use of a word with two meanings > sometimes missed by the reader because of Elizabethan language and sexual innuendo

36. Direct Address Words that tell the reader who is being addressed: “ A right fair mark, fair coz, is soonest hit.” “ Ah, my mistresses, which of you all/ Will now deny to dance?”

37. Dramatic Irony A contradiction between what a character thinks and what the reader/audience knows to be true

38. Verbal Irony Words used to suggest the opposite of what is meant

39. Situational Irony An event occurs that directly contradicts the expectations of the characters, the reader, or the audience

40. Comic Relief Use of comedy within literature that is NOT comedy to provide “relief” from seriousness or sadness. In R & J, look for moments of comic relief that help “relieve” the tragedy of the situation