Everything you need to know before reading the play!

Romeo and Juliet

Love, death,

and youth

A drama for the ages

Setting, Character, and Theme

in Romeo and Juliet

Setting is WHERE and WHEN the drama takes place.

What is our setting?◦ 2010◦ Roswell, Georgia, USA

What Is Setting?

WHERE DOES THIS PLAY BEGIN?

verona

ItalyPlay performed in 1600s

1599

GLOBE THEATER

Characters are the people in a story or play. Another word for the main character is the

protagonist. Who do you think are the protagonists in Romeo

and Juliet? Characters can be static or dynamic

◦ Static characters stay the same◦ Dynamic characters change

The protagonist of a tragedy is the tragic hero◦ Generally good people◦ Tragic flaw leads to downfall

What Is a Character?

Characters in Romeo and Juliet Montagues Capulets

Romeo Juliet Mercutio Upper Class Tybalt

Benvolio Feuding* Nurse Lord and Lady Lord and

Montague Lady Capulet

Theme is the “big idea” in a piece of literature

What the author is really trying to say about people and life

Themes in Romeo and Juliet:◦ The power of love◦ Obedience to parents◦ The danger of violence

What is Theme?

Verona, Italy

Juliet Romeo

themes

motifs

+

YOUNG LOVE CAN BE IMPETIOUS AND IMPULSIVE

LOVE CAN LEAD TO MADNESS

THERE ARE DIFFERENT TYPES OF LOVE

FAMILY GRUDGES CAN LEAD TO DEATH & DESTRUCTION

YOU CAN NOT ESCAPE FATE

MOTIF: TIME

MOTIF: LIGHT VS DARK

Literary terms to know

These are in your packet

Which is your homework tonight

Print the Romeo and Juliet packet!

IMAGERY

DRAMATIC SPEECHES

SOLILOQUY:is a speech to one’s self. It reveals inner dialogue of a character

MONOLOGUE:SPEECH TO OTHERS; NOT TO SELF

ASIDE

DRAMATIC IRONY

an audience’s understanding of a

character’s words or actions is different from the character’s understanding. The audience’s special

knowledge enables it to view the characters

with superior understanding.

Verbal Irony

Isn’t that

cute?

You actually

think I

care…

metaphor

DIFFERENT VERSIONS

LUHRMAN

ZIFFERELLI

SO GET READY…

FOR ONE OF THE GREATEST

TRAGEDIES OF ALL TIME

LET’S LOOK A

T THE PROLOG

UE