Romeo and JulietBackground Guide

Who WAS Shakespeare?

William Shakespeare was an English playwright and poet who lived in the 1500s and early 1600s (around 400 years ago).

His plays are now performed all over the world in hundreds of languages, and he is known as one of the greatest writers of all time.

The reason why Shakespeare’s work is so popular is that he wrote about human nature and how people behave.

Although his words can be difficult to interpret, his ideas are as relevant now as they were four centuries ago.

Shakespeare Background

After reading the background packet, you now know that there is little factual information about Shakespeare’s life and that we have to fill in the historical pieces of the puzzle.

Even if Shakespeare had never written a play, he would have been famous for his lyric and narrative poetry.

Most famous for his sonnets about love, friendship, and time.

A rose by any other name…

It has been said that Shakespeare contributed over 1700 now common words to the English language.

Some ones you might know include…Blushing

Addiction

Amazement

Bedroom

Eyeball

Fashionable

Laughable

Puking

Swagger

Dawn

And…

“Be-all and the end-all” (Macbeth)

“Break the ice” (The Taming of the Shrew)

“Eaten me out of house and home” (2 Henry IV)

“Elbow room” (King John)

“Kill with kindness” (The Taming of the Shrew)

“Knock! Knock! Who’s there?” (Macbeth)

“Too much of a good thing” (As You Like It)

Performing Shakespeare

There are three types of Shakespearean plays: Comedy, Tragedy, and History.

DRAMA: A work of literature meant to be performed for an audience. (see: drama terms)

Tragedy: A play, novel, or other narrative that depicts serious and important events in which the main character comes to an unhappy end.

Romeo and Juliet is a Romantic Tragedy.

Shakespeare’s Tragedies

Shakespeare’s tragedies are his most famous and popular plays.

Approximately ten of Shakespeare’s plays are usually thought of as tragedies, though many of his other plays, such as the history plays, also have tragic elements.

The Tragic Hero

TRAGIC HEROES: All of Shakespeare’s tragedies have a tragic hero, or “protagonist.” He is often a man of high rank. The protagonist creates, or is put into, a difficult situation which he must try to resolve.

A combination of bad luck and bad decisions lead to his death. The protagonist is often a relatively sympathetic figure. His soliloquies show his feelings and motives.

Elizabethan Theatre

Until the mid-16th century, most plays were performed outside London. Craftsmen or tradespeople put on traditional plays in town squares and on village greens.

As the theatre grew in size and importance, though, London became the center of English theatre.

In Shakespeare’s lifetime, theatre became hugely popular. Queen Elizabeth, who loved theatre, was one of Shakespeare’s most noble fans.

London’s TheatresThe first London theatre was called The Theatre. It was built in 1576 in north London, just outside the city walls.

From 1599 onwards, Shakespeare’s plays were usually performed at the Globe, a huge, open-air circular theatre in Southwark in London.

The theatre could hold 3,000 people, and there were two performances a day.

Along with the other members of his theatre company, the Chamberlain’s Men, Shakespeare owned a share in the Globe and made a lot of money from it (see diagram).

The Globe

The Globe

The Globe

The Globe

Look Up!

Do Now!

Answer the following questions on your notes packet:

Do you believe in love at first sight?

Can love overcome all obstacles?

Is it more important to follow your heart or be loyal to your family?

Innocence

What is innocence?Let’s define it!

What does it mean to lose one’s innocence?

Can one stay innocent forever?

DO NOW!: On a blank piece of paper, free write for 10 minutes on a time your innocence was lost. (I will be the only one who sees these but keep in mind if you share something that makes me think your health or safety is in jeopardy I have to go to guidance!)

Loss of Innocence

The idea of human’s fall from innocence can be seen in ancient texts such as Pandora’s Box or the Garden of Eden story.

This archetype begins with characters in a state of “innocence” or “ignorance,” learn harsh truths, and emerge transformed (not always for the better) from their new knowledge.

Romeo and JulietRomeo and Juliet is based on a poem by Arthur Brooke: The Tragicall History of Romeus and Juliet (1562). Romeo and Juliet was first published around 1597.

Most of the main characters in Romeo and Juliet are young, immature, and wealthy. They are used to getting what they want, whenever they want it (see character relationship sheet.)

Shakespeare set the play in Italy. Most of the action takes place in Verona, a large town ruled by a prince. Verona’s main area was a town square (think downtown Andover), which was sort of like a mall, with lots of small shops and tons of people around.

A portion of the play takes place in Mantua, a much smaller, more run-down city.

R&J Today

Unit Essential Questions

What does it mean to be “innocent”?

Is it always better to learn the truth?

Why might someone want to remain ignorant?

How do you know when you’ve “grown up”?

Unit Essential Questions

What does literature teach us about ourselves, our world, and the human condition?

How do personal choices create a catalyst for self discovery and understanding?

How does an author create meaning by using literary devices?

How does the use of specific reading and writing response strategies lead to greater comprehension and advanced interpretation of the text?

Unit Essential Questions

How does an author create meaning by using literary devices?

What is the relationship between reading, writing, and thinking?

Sources

Berry, Donovan, and Hummel. Conceptual Unit. December 2003.