The tragedy of Romeo and Juliet

1. The tragedy of Romeo and Juliet William Shakespeare

2. Plot • A tragedy of star crossed lovers who due to feuding families are doomed to die instead of flourishing in their love.

3. Setting • Verona, Italy during the 14th or 15th century

4. House of Montague • Montague is the patriarch of the house of Montague. • Montague's wife is the matriarch of the house of Montague. • Romeo is the son of Montague, and the play's male protagonist. • Benvolio is Romeo's cousin and best friend. • Abram and Balthasar are servants of the Montague household.

5. House of Capulet • Capulet is the patriarch of the house of Capulet. • Capulet's wife is the matriarch of the house of Capulet. • Juliet is the 13-year-old daughter of Capulet, and the play's female protagonist. • Tybalt is a cousin of Juliet, and the nephew of Capulet's wife. • The Nurse is Juliet's personal attendant and confidante. • Peter, Sampson and Gregory are servants of the Capulet household.

6. Ruling house of Verona • Prince Escalus is the ruling Prince of Verona • Count Paris is a kinsman of Escalus who wishes to marry Juliet. • Mercutio is another kinsman of Escalus, and a friend of Romeo.

7. Other Characters • Friar Laurence is a Franciscan friar, and is Romeo's confidant. • A Chorus reads a prologue to each of the first two acts. • Friar John is sent to deliver Friar Laurence's letter to Romeo. • An Apothecary who reluctantly sells Romeo poison.

8. Summarization of events Pt.1 • Romeo attends the Capulet ball in hopes of meeting Rosaline. • Romeo instead meets Juliet where he falls in love with her. • Romeo sneaks the Montague’s orchard where he hears Juliet vowing her love to him despite the hatred of their families. • Romeo shows himself and they agree to get married.

9. Summarization of events Pt. 2 • Romeo and Juliet get married next day from meeting. • Tybalt challenges Romeo to duel which he declines so Mercutio accepts the challenge. • Mercutio is fatally wounded when Romeo tries to break up the fight. • Romeo kill Tybaltand is exiled with the threat of exections if he returns to Verona.

10. Summarization of events Pt 3 • Capulet agrees to marry Juliet to Count Paris and threatens to disown her if she refuses • Juliet goes to Friar Laurence for help and he gives her a drug to make her go into a dead like coma for 24hr • Friar Laurence promises to send a message to Romeo to let him know of their plan. • Juliet takes the drug the night before her wedding to Paris.

11. The Tragic Part of the story • Romeo doesn’t get the message and is informed by his servant that Juliet offed herself. • So Romeo buys some poison drinks to drink at the Capulet crypt. • He encounter Paris who he kills. • Then drinks the poison only to be found by the waking Juliet. • Juliet stabs herself with Romeo’s dagger. • The lovers are found dead by their families and the Prince mending their hatred.

12. Foreshadowing epic doom • Through the chorus first speech declaring Romeo and Juliet are doomed to die and “star-crossed” • Juliet “my grave is like to be my wedding bed” • The lovers’ thoughts of suicide, as when Romeo threatens to kill himself after killing Tybalt. • Friar Lawrence’s warnings to behave moderately if Romeo and Juliet wish to avoid tragedy: “These violent delights have violent ends . . . Therefore love moderately”

13. Foreshadowing pt 2 • The lovers’ mutual impression that the other looks pale and deathlike after their wedding night • Juliet’s faked death by Friar Lawrence’s potion. Romeo’s dream-vision of Juliet kissing his lips while he is dead

14. Other things to know about the Play • Written in present tense • Point of view that is third person following Romeo and Juliet occasionally used point of view from the servants of both families to illuminate action of their masters. • Theme • The forcefulness of love; love as a cause of violence; the individual versus society; the inevitability of fate

15. The End!