Name: Leila Herly Bruno__AP-_7 Date 12-17-2013_

Major Works Data Sheet

Advanced Placement Literature and Composition

Title: Romeo & Juliet
Author: William Shakespeare
Date of Publication:1597
Genre: Tragic Drama

Biographical Information about the Author:
William Shakespeare was born on April 23, 1564 in Stratford-
upon-Avon, United Kingdom. William was the third child of
John Shakespeare, a leather merchant, and Mary Arden, a local
landed heiress. William had two older sisters, Joan and Judith,
and three younger brothers, Gilbert, Richard and Edmund.
William Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway, and they had
three children. William Shakespeare is often called the English
national poet, and he is widely considered the greatest dramatist
of all time. William Shakespeare wrote 154 Sonnets mostly in the
1590s. Fairly short poems, they deal with issues such as lost love.
By 1592, William had begun a career as a playwright in London.
Two years later, he was an actor and part-owner of a playwright
company, Lord Chamberlains Men. Today, William Shakespeare
is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the history of English
language. He is considered one of the few playwrights to have
succeeded in writing both comedies and tragedies.
Historical Information:
The historical information of Romeo & Juliet & Shakespeares
life takes place during the renaissance. The renaissance begins in
the fourteenth century and ends in the seventeenth century. The
term renaissance means rebirth.There are many social, political
& intellectual dramatic changes that made up the renaissance.
The influence of the Roman Catholic Church and the Holy
Roman empire weakened with their inability to keep security &
unity among the Europeans, the outdated structure broke up and
the power moved to the nations that were developing their own
monarchies and languages. Romeo & Juliets features connect it to
Italian literature that Shakespeare was familiar with.
Characteristics of the Genre:
Romeo & Juliet is a Tragic Dramas
Plot Summary: A duel breaks out between two servants of the Montagues and the Capulets. After the swords are all put away, the
citizens of Verona are outraged by the constant violence. Prince Escalus, The Prince Of Verona, does not want anymore conflicts
between the families, so he says that the next person who fights will get killed. Romeo, the son of Montague, is in love with Rosaline,
but she does not love him like he loves her. When Romeo tells Benvolio about this Benvolio advises him that he should forget Rosaline
& find another, more beautiful one, but Romeo remains discouraged. Meanwhile, Juliet, the daughter of Capulet, is thirteen years old,
and Paris, a kinsman of the Prince of Verona, is seeking her hand in marriage. Lord Capulet sends off a servant, with a list of people
to invite to a masquerade & feast he usually holds. He invites Paris to the feast, hoping that Paris will begin to win Juliets heart.
Benvolio and Romeo attend the feast, but Romeo only decides to go because Rosaline is going to be there. When the feast begins,
Romeo sees Juliet from a distance & instantly falls in love with her & forgets about Rosaline. When Romeo speaks to Juliet they
experience an intense attraction. They kiss, and they dont even know each others names. When Romeo finds out that Juliet is Lord
Capulets daughter- he becomes deeply upset and agitated. When Juliet finds out that she kissed a Montague- she grows equally upset.
When Romeo and Benvolio are leaving the Capulets estate, Romeo jumps over the orchard wall in the garden, because he cant leave
Juliet behind. From his hiding place, he hears Juliets voice from above, calling his name. Romeo and Juliet exchange vows of love.
Friar Laurence sees the turn of Romeos change of heart & he agrees to marry them. Benvolio and Mercutio run into Tybalt Capulet,
Juliets cousin who is furious about the Montagues crashing their family party the other night. Tybalt challenges Romeo to a duel, but
Romeo doesnt want to fight because by marriage Tybalt is kinsman. Mercutio says hell fight Tybalt himself, Tybalt stabs Mercutio
under Romeos arm and Mercutio dies. Romeo gets enraged, kills Tybalt & flees from the scene. The Prince Of Verona declares Romeo
forever banished from Verona for his crime. Friar Laurence arranges for Romeo to spend his wedding night with Juliet before he has
to go back to Mantua. Juliet waits for the arrival of her husband in her room. The nurse comes in and tells her that Romeo killed
Tybalt. Juliet finds herself married to a man that killed her cousin, but she realizes that her duty belongs to Romeo. Romeo sneaks
into Juliets room that night, and they consummate their marriage and love. When the morning comes, they say goodbye, not knowing
when theyre going to see each other again. Juliet does not know how to tell her parents that shes married to Romeo, so she asks the
nurse for advice. The nurse advises Juliet to act like Romeo is dead& marry Paris. Juliet is disgusted with the nurses advice and she
goes to Friar Laurence instead. Friar Laurence thinks of a plan to get Juliet to Mantua to reunite her with Romeo. The plan was that
the night before her wedding with Paris she would drink a potion that will make her appear to be dead. After shes rested in the
familys crypt, Friar Laurence and Romeo will come and get her, and she will be free to live with Romeo away from their families
fighting. When Juliet comes back home, she learns that the wedding is moved up one day and she will be married tomorrow. That
night, she drinks the potion and the nurse finds her dead the next morning. The Capulets grieve and Juliet is taken to the tomb as
planned. The only thing is Friar Laurences plan for Romeo and Juliet never gets to Romeo in Mantua, Romeo only hears that Juliet is
dead. Romeo decided to kill himself instead of having to live without her. Romeo goes to the Apothecary, buys a small container of
poison and speeds back to Verona to take his own life at Juliets tomb. Outside the Capulets crypt, Romeo finds Paris putting flowers
on Juliets grave, they start fighting, and Romeo kills Paris. Just after, Romeo goes into the tomb, sees Juliet and ultimately drinks the
poison and dies by her side. Friar Laurence realizes that Romeo killed Paris and himself, when Juliet wakes up he hears the coming
of the watch, Juliet refuses to leave with him, so he leaves alone. Juliet sees Romeo has killed himself with poison, she then kisses his
poisoned lips, and when that doesnt kill her she daggers herself in the chest. When the watch arrives, then the Prince, Capulets and
Montague, Montague say that Lady Montague has died of grief over Romeos exile. Looking at their childrens bodies, Capulet and
Montague agree to end their feud and agree to raise gold statues of their children side by side in a newly peaceful Verona.
Describe the Authors Style:
William Shakespeares style in Romeo &
Juliet is epic, passionate and poetic.
Provide an example that demonstrates the style:

~ ~ ~ Memorable Quotes ~ ~ ~ ~
Quotes

Significance of each Quote:




Characters
Name Role in Story Significance Adjectives
Romeo

Juliet

Rosaline

Mercutio

Benvolio Montague

Tybalt Capulet


The Nurse

Friar Laurence

Lord Capulet

Paris


The Prince of Verona

Lady Capulet

Lady Montague

Friar John


Balthasar

Sampson & Gregory

Abram

The Apothecary

Peter

The Chorus

Protagonist , Antagonist

Protagonist, Antagonist

Antagonist

Antagonist

Antagonist

Antagonist


Antagonist, Guide Mentor

Antagonist, Guide Mentor

Antagonist

Antagonist


Antagonist

Antagonist

Antagonist

Antagonist


Antagonist

Antagonist

Antagonist

Antagonist

Antagonist

Antagonist
Interested In love not violence ,
falls in love with Juliet
Nave girl, who falls in love w/
her familys enemy.
Woman who Romeo is
infatuated with at the
beginning of the play.
Romeos close friend, he finds
love tiresome.
Montagues nephew, Romeos
cousin and thoughtful friend.
Juliets cousin on her mothers
side, he loathes Montague(s).

Juliets nurse, she cared for
Juliet all her life.
Friend to both Romeo & Juliet.

Father of Juliet and enemy to
Montague.
Kinsman of Prince, suitor of
Juliet preferred by Capulet.

A kinsman of Mercutio and
Paris

Juliets mother, Capulets Wife.

Romeos Mother, Montagues
Wife.
He was supposed to take the
news to Romeo about Juliets
false death.
Romeos dedicated servant.

Two servants of the house of
Capulet.
Montagues servant.

An Apothecary in Mantua.

A Capulet servant.

Single character, offers
commentary of the plays plots
and themes.







Romantic , Poetic , Frivolous

Nave , Obedient, Young

Gorgeous , Aloof , Chaste

Aggressive , Lively , Outspoken

Serious , Sensitive , Warming

Sophisticated , Fashionable,
Judgmental

Gossiper, Nice, Affectionate

Nosy , Sensible , Good-Natured

Proud , Honorable , Well-
Known

Blinded , Foolish , Ignorant

Kinsman , Concerned,
Powerful

Ineffectual, Dramatic, Fierce

Peaceful , Nice , Subtle

Incidental , Clumsy ,
Untrustworthy

Dedicated , Determined,
Trustworthy

Servants , Hateful , Successful

Fighter , Servant , Angry

Starving , Desperate ,
Merchant

Illiterate , Servant , Bad Singer

Narrator , Commenter , Single
Character




Setting and the Significance of Setting
(List and describe at least 3 examples)
Significance of Opening Scene:

Significance of the ending/closing scene:

Symbols Significance/Meaning of Title of Book
Poison:





Thumb biting:



The title is pretty straightforward , its a tradgedy of two kids
named Romeo and Juliet. The full title of the 1599 version was
named The Most Excellent and Lamentable Tradgedy of Romeo
and Juliet.
Possible Themes:

The Forcefulness of Love




Love as a Cause of Violence




The Individual Versus Society