ROMEO & JULIET

English 10-1

PROLOGUE

Importance of the chorus• suggests theme of drama and tragic course

events will take• person who delivered Prologue and/or Epilogue

was often an integral part of Greek drama

ACT I, SCENE I

Hostile houses of Montague (Romeo) and Capulet (Juliet) break into open conflict.

Prince, who is governor of the city, passes a decree which affects the later issue of the play

• next time they break the peace, they will pay for it with their lives

Fiery Tybalt has a gift for hating Kind and peace-loving Benvolio Meet Capulets and Montagues

CHARACTERS

a. Romeo:

i. romantic dreamerii. In love with love, rather than Rosalineiii. Loves to analyze his moodsiv. Easy and cleverv. brave swordsmanvi. Thinks he is a dedicated lover

b. Tybalt::

i. fiery dispositionii. Ready to fight and kill at a wordiii. Hates peace and Montagues as much as he hates hell.

Action contributed through plot:Party at Capulet’s Romeo and Paris to be presentWhat will happen?Paris’ interest in Juliet suggests a sub-plot

ACT I, SCENE II

Dramatic Interests:Fate: servant cannot read and goes to RomeoNew love affairsHumor of servant’s situationArgument regarding Rosalinesuspense

ACT I, SCENES III & IV

Plot – Action:

-Romeo is ready to enter the fateful feast and fears some consequence “hanging in the stars”

Dramatic Interest:-Pageantry of feast, masks, excitement and suspense surrounding Capulet’s feast-smart talk and play on words: Romeo, Benvolio, Mercutio’s speeches on love, heavy hearts, “soul of lead, no nimble soles on his feet” -new character: Mercutio-Mercutio’s explanation of dreams :poetic and imaginative

CHARACTERS:

Mercutio: intellectual, vital, inventive, practical, plain-looking, lively companion

Romeo: still in love, sad, sentimental, fond of puns. Obsessed with fate, resigned to what will be

Benvolio: peace – making, light hearted

ACT I, SCENE V

DRAMATIC INTERESTS:Romeo and Juliet meet and fall deeply in love in the instant

Note Romeo’s inconstancy: thought he was in love with Rosaline

Lovers aware of dangers involved in loving member of rival family

Tybalt: thoroughly aroused, raging. Montague has invaded Capulet home. Master of the Capulets has snubbed him. Alerts us to dangers of love between Romeo and Juliet.

Capulet:likeable, but not entirely wise; genial host, humorous; generous towards Romeo, does not banish him from feast; firm with Tybalt

CHARACTERS:

Romeo:renegade from Rosaline: Did he ever really love her? Beautiful in speech and action; directness of his speech shows previous talk to be empty words of foolish love

Juliet:daughter of nobleman; accepts Romeo’s advances and praises and reciprocates him; lines spoken after Romeo leaves, show her to have deep, intuitive foreboding…fate

Tybalt:fiery, show-off, man of deep and spiteful nature and of a resolute will: “I hate the word (peace) As I hate hell, all Montagues. And thee”