Romeo and Juliet

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Shakespeare's source for Romeo and Juliet

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Poem by Arthur Brooke: 'The Tragicall Historye of Romeus and Juliet' (1562).

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Setting of Romeo and Juliet

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Verona: passionate & violent Italians

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Romeo and Juliet: Tragedy or Comedy?

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Tragedy: Dark love, death. Comedy: Comic conventions, love struggles.

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Characteristics of a Lyrical Play

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Mainly in verse, iambic pentameter; rich imagery from religion to nature.

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Romeo: Handsome, passionate, impulsive

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Uses love poetry for Juliet, becomes dynamic and bold, commits suicide for love, bound by family honor.

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Juliet Capulet: not a simple prototype of young love

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Beautiful, rebellious, matures through love, defends her love against obstacles.

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Climax of Romeo and Juliet

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Romeo and Juliet’s wedding

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Fate controls events in Romeo and Juliet

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Love and hate lead to death; lovers face social institutions.

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Prologue introduces:

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Setting, feud, fate, death of crossed lovers, length of play

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Star-crossed lovers

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Destined for an unhappy end: death