Romeo and Juliet
Biography of William Shakespeare William Shakespeare was born at Stratford upon Avon in April 1564.He wasa poeta ndplaywright widely regarded as the greatest writer of the English language and Britain’s national poet. He wrote about 38 plays and 154 sonnets, as well as a variety of other poems. He is sometimes referred to as the «Bardof Avon» or the«Swanof Avon».
Shakespeare is believed to have produced most of his work between 1586 and 1616. He is counted among the very few playwrights who have excelled in both tragedy and comedy and his plays combine popular appeal with complex characterization ,poetic grandeur and philosophical depth. Shakespeare’s words have been translated into every major living language, and his plays are continually performed all around the world. I t is, above all , his rich and wonderful use of language they must have made at that time a memorable experience for people of widely different kinds. Fortunately the deep satisfaction of enjoying Shakespeare’s work can be ours also, if we are willing to overcome the language difficulty produced by the passing of time.
The Elizabethan theatre
The Elizabethan theatre Although plays of one sort and another had been acted for many generations, no permanent playhouse was erected in England until 1576. Elizabethan players were accustomed to act on a variety of stages; in the great hall of a nobleman’s house or one of the Queen’s palaces, in town halls and in yards, as well as their own theatre. Playhouses were usually circular or hexagonal , with three tiers of galleries looking down upon the yard or pit, which was open to the sky. The stage jutted out into the yard so that the actors came forward into the midst of their audience.
The Elizabethan theatre Over the stage there was a roof , and on either side doors by which the characters entered or disappeared. All the scenes on the main stage began with an entrance and ended with an exit. There was no scenery. A chair or stool showed an indoor scene, a man wearing riding boots was a messenger , a king wearing armour was on the battlefield. Such simplicity was on the whole an advantage; the spectator was not distracted by the setting and Shakespeare was able to use as many scenes as he wished. No women were allowed to appear on the stage and all women’s parts were taken by boys.
The role of Fate in Romeo and Juliet A short summary 1
I t is through the family feud that fate principally operates in the play. «A pair of star -cross’d lovers» : these are the words in which Shakespeare introduces Romeo and Juliet to us. We know from the first that there is to be no «living happily ever after » for these two : they are destined to die. A boy and a girl are born into families which make it impossible that a marriage between them could be acceptable. They meet, very improbably, andfall in love at first sight. Within hours of a secret marriage, Romeo reluctantly fights Tybalt after a chance meeting in the streets, kills him and is banished. On the very same day, Juliet learns that she is to be forced into marriage with another man.
The role of Fate in Romeo and Juliet A short summary 2 The messenger taking news of Friar Lawrence’s scheme never reaches Romeo, and the timing of the events which close the play is such that Romeo kills himself before Juliet awakes, and Juliet kills herself before the watch arrives, though all these events take place within a few minutes of one another . I n addition we may feel that Fate is operating at deeper and less expressible levels: I s it possible for us to conceive of a love so wholly absorbing, so passionate, so idealized, being able to survive in the world as it is?
ACT 2 Scene Two Juliet: O RomeoRomeo , , wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name. Or if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, and I ’ll no longer be a Capulet. Romeo: ShallI hearmore, or shall I speak at this?
ACT 2 Scene Two Juliet: Tisbutthynamethatis my enemy: Thou art thyself , though not a Montague. What’s Montague? I t is nor hand nor foot, nor arm nor face, nor any other part belonging to a man. O be some other name. What’s in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet, so Romeo would were he not Romeo called, retain that dear perfection which he owes, without that title, Romeo doff thy name, and for thy name which is no part of thee, take all my self . Romeo: I taketheeat thyword: Call me but love, and I ’ll be new baptiz’d, Henceforth I never will be Romeo.
Characterizations The names Romeo and Juliet have come to epitomize passionate young love, so successful was Shakespeare in creating these characters through the power of poetry. Romeo is presented as a young man indulging himself in misery because he is rejected by the girl with whom he supposes himself in love. Romeo, though young, is shown as a man of the world. Juliet up to this point is presented as totally without emotional experience, imaginary or real . I n the balcony scene the two young people discover their true feelings. Love, pure but impassioned, is given superb expression in Juliet’s soliloquy in ACT 2 and we are deeply struck by her emotional maturity. Finally, Romeo, when his mind is also resolved, speaks lines over what he supposes is Juliet’s dead body which raise him to the rare dignity of a tragic hero. The boy we met dies a man and a few moments later the girl we met dies a woman. I t is this process of growth that it makes their characterization so masterly and so justly famous.
Characterizations
Characterizations Mercutio is witty, high-spirited and courageous. He has evidently never been in love, and indeed scarcely seems able to understand that emotion. He is given the qualities of a young Elizabethan Englishman. I t is because of his irritation at Tybalt, that he meets his death. His removal from the scene, though its immediate cause is an accident, is therefore a direct result of his character . Tybalt, is still a convincing person. With him, high spirits become contemptuous bravado and a sense of family honour an overbearing arrogance, which is rebuked even by the head of the Capulet’s family. This portrait is made a little more attractive by the fact that Juliet and the Nurse both loved Tybalt. Shakespeare needed someone against whom the extremes of Romeo and the fire and brilliance of Mercutio and Tybalt could be set off , someone who could present saner counsels. Within his framework, Benvolio is presented as sensible and restrained, but loyal and resourceful .
Characterizations Capulet is brilliantly portrayed. He likes to see himself as a benevolent man, an indulgent father and a genial host. His language sometimes is violent and intemperate. His language when faced with opposition from Juliet in ACT 5,showsh imasselfwilledinsensitive , andbrutalTheNurse . is earthy and talkative, with a primitive sense of humour . She is warm and affectionate. Her straightforward, unromantic ideas are essential to the plot. Friar Lawrence is so important in the action of the play. He moralizes, saying all that a religious man should say. He is not without touches of humour , though,and is shown to have a lively affection for his young friend Romeo.
ACT 5 Scene Three Oh my love, my wife, Death that hath suck’d the honey of thy breath, Hath had no power yet upon thy beauty: Thou art not conquerd, beauty’s ensign yet I s crimson in thy lips and in thy cheeks. And death’s pale flag is not advanced there.
ACT 5 Scene Three I will stay with thee And never from this palace of dim night Depart again: here, here will I remain, With worms that are thy chamber -maids: O here will I set up my everlasting rest: eyes look your last: Arms take your last embrace: and lips. O you the doors of breath, seal with a righteous kiss A dateless bargain to engrossing death. Here’s to my love. Thus with a kiss I die.
Συντελεστές Powerpoint: Πελαγία Κόκκαλη Video & φωτογραφίες: Νίκος Δάτσης Κιθάρα: Βικτώρια Ζήση Τραγούδι: Ευθυμία Γκοντέλου Μικρό θεατρικό: Μελίνα Αλεξάνδου, Αρτέμης Γκάτζης Κείμενα: Κούκια Κυριακή, Βικτώρια Ζήση, Κόκκαλη Πελαγία. Ευχαριστούμε τις καθηγήτριες Παπαγεωργίου Ελίνα, Φωτεινάκη Χριστίνα, Κουμπαρέλου Μάγδα και τους καθηγητές Παναγιωτίδη Νίκο , Βογιατζή Γιάννη και Κολέτσιο Κωνσταντίνο για τη βοήθειά τους στην