Romeo & Julietby: William Shakespeare

An Introduction

http://students.ed.uiuc.edu/bach/rnj24/rj1968.html--

Plot• A tragedy- depicts serious important events

-the main character meets an unhappy ending

•The prologue previews the plot for the audience

•Acts I-V

•Time= 14th century (1300’s)

•Place= Verona, Italy & Mantua, Italy

CharactersThe Capulets

Capulet- father

Lady Capulet- mother

Juliet- daughter

Nurse- Juliet’s caretaker

Tybalt- Juliet’s cousinSampson , Gregory& Peter- servants

The Montagues

Montague- father

Lady Montague- mother

Romeo- son

Benvolio- Romeo’s cousin

Mercutio- Romeo’s friend

Abram & Balthasar- servants

Other characters:

Escalus- Prince of Verona Friar Lawrence- priest/brother of religious community

Paris- Prince’s relative; Juliet’s suitor Friar John- priest/brother of religious community

Apothecary- pharmacist/chemist

Here we go…

She is 14, he only a few years older. Their families are bitter enemies, sworn to hatred. Yet Romeo and Juliet meet and fall passionately in love. Defying their parents’ wishes, they are secretly married, but their brief happiness is shattered by fate. This famous pair of star-crossed lovers lives forever in Shakespeare’s haunting play… Romeo & Juliet.

Summary appears on the back of 1969’s Scolastic Inc. printing of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare.