1. oo
andand
JuliJuli
etet
WILLIAMWILLIAM
SHAKESPEARSHAKESPEAR

2. is a is a tragedytragedy written early in the career of written early in the career of
William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare about two young about two young
star-crossedstar-crossed lovers whose deaths ultimately lovers whose deaths ultimately
reconcile their feuding families. It wasreconcile their feuding families. It was
among Shakespeare's most popular playsamong Shakespeare's most popular plays
during his lifetime and, along withduring his lifetime and, along withHamletHamlet,,
is one of his most frequently performedis one of his most frequently performed

3. Romeo andJulietRomeo andJuliet belongs to a tradition of tragic belongs to a tradition of tragic romancesromances
stretching back to antiquity. Its plot is based on an Italian stretching back to antiquity. Its plot is based on an Italian
tale, translated into verse as tale, translated into verse as
The Tragical History of Romeus andJulietThe Tragical History of Romeus andJuliet by by
Arthur BrookeArthur Brooke in 1562 and retold in prose in in 1562 and retold in prose in Palace ofPalace of
PleasurePleasure by byWilliam PainterWilliam Painter in 1567. Shakespeare borrowed in 1567. Shakespeare borrowed
heavily from both but, to expand the plot, developedheavily from both but, to expand the plot, developed
supporting characters, particularly supporting characters, particularly MercutioMercutio and and ParisParis..
Believed to have been written between 1591 and 1595, the playBelieved to have been written between 1591 and 1595, the play
was first published in a was first published in a quartoquartoversion in 1597. This text wasversion in 1597. This text was
of poor quality, and later editions corrected it, bringing itof poor quality, and later editions corrected it, bringing it
more in line with Shakespeare's originalmore in line with Shakespeare's original

5. Although there is no record of whenAlthough there is no record of when
Shakespeare actually wroteShakespeare actually wroteRomeo andRomeo and
JulietJuliet, it was first performed in 1594 or, it was first performed in 1594 or
1595. It is likely that the play would have1595. It is likely that the play would have
been written shortly before its premierbeen written shortly before its premier
performance.performance.

6. ROMEOROMEO
ANDAND
JULIETJULIET
CHARACHARA
CTERCTER

8. House ofHouse of
CapuletCapulet
 CapuletCapulet is tHe patriarCH of tHeis tHe patriarCH of tHe
House of Capulet.House of Capulet.
 Capulet's wife is tHe matriarCHCapulet's wife is tHe matriarCH
of tHe House of Capulet.of tHe House of Capulet.
 Juliet is tHe 13-year-oldJuliet is tHe 13-year-old
daugHter of Capulet, and tHedaugHter of Capulet, and tHe
play's female protagonist.play's female protagonist.
 tybalt is a Cousin of Juliet, andtybalt is a Cousin of Juliet, and
tHe nepHew of Capulet's wife.tHe nepHew of Capulet's wife.
 tHe nurse is Juliet's personaltHe nurse is Juliet's personal
attendant and Confidante.attendant and Confidante.
 rosaline is lord Capulet's nieCe,rosaline is lord Capulet's nieCe,
and romeo's love in tHe beginningand romeo's love in tHe beginning
of tHe story.of tHe story.
 peter, sampson and gregory arepeter, sampson and gregory are
servants of tHe Capuletservants of tHe Capulet
HouseHold.HouseHold.

9.  House ofHouse of
MontagueMontague
Montague isMontague is
thethe
patriarchpatriarch
of theof the
house ofhouse of
Montague.Montague.
Montague'sMontague's
wife is thewife is the
matriarchmatriarch
of theof the
house ofhouse of
Montague.Montague.
Romeo isRomeo is
the son ofthe son of

10. 14 Fun Facts14 Fun Facts
1. Juliet was most likely played by a man because women were not1. Juliet was most likely played by a man because women were not
allowed to act.allowed to act.
2. Shakespeare original title for Romeo and Juliet is ” The Most2. Shakespeare original title for Romeo and Juliet is ” The Most
Excellent and Lamentable Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet.”Excellent and Lamentable Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet.”
3. In November 1582, Shakespeare applied for a license to marry3. In November 1582, Shakespeare applied for a license to marry
Anne Whateley.Anne Whateley.
4. Shakespeare wrote Romeo and Juliet and it was the first play4. Shakespeare wrote Romeo and Juliet and it was the first play
about romantic love.about romantic love.
5. Shakespeare was baptized on April 26, 1564, in Stratford-upon-5. Shakespeare was baptized on April 26, 1564, in Stratford-upon-
Avon, just three days before the Stratford parish register recordedAvon, just three days before the Stratford parish register recorded
an outbreak of the plague.an outbreak of the plague.
6. Romeo and Juliet, alongside Hamlet, is probably Shakespeare’s6. Romeo and Juliet, alongside Hamlet, is probably Shakespeare’s
most performed play and has also been adapted in many forms.most performed play and has also been adapted in many forms.

11.  7. Many of Shakespeare’s plays are based on others’7. Many of Shakespeare’s plays are based on others’
earlierplays, histories, and poems. This was commonearlierplays, histories, and poems. This was common
practice at that time.practice at that time.
8. The first definite reference to Shakespeare as a8. The first definite reference to Shakespeare as a
playwright is in a pamphlet by Robert Greene, whoplaywright is in a pamphlet by Robert Greene, who
wrote, “There is an upstart Crow, beautified with ourwrote, “There is an upstart Crow, beautified with our
feathers, that with his Tiger’s heart wrapped in afeathers, that with his Tiger’s heart wrapped in a
Player’s hide, supposes he is as well able to bombast outPlayer’s hide, supposes he is as well able to bombast out
a blankverse as the best of you: and being ana blankverse as the best of you: and being an
absolute absolute Johannes fac totumJohannes fac totum, is in his own conceit the, is in his own conceit the
only Shake-scene in a country.”only Shake-scene in a country.”
9.In the 1570s, John Shakespeare was prosecuted (or9.In the 1570s, John Shakespeare was prosecuted (or
threatened with prosecution) fourtimes forthe illegalthreatened with prosecution) fourtimes forthe illegal
activities of trading in wool and money-lendingactivities of trading in wool and money-lending
10. More than 80 spelling variations are recorded for10. More than 80 spelling variations are recorded for
Shakespeare’s name, from “Shappere” to “Shaxberd.Shakespeare’s name, from “Shappere” to “Shaxberd.

12.  11.Many of Shakespeare’s plays are based on others’ earlier plays,11.Many of Shakespeare’s plays are based on others’ earlier plays,
histories, and poems. This was common practice at that time.histories, and poems. This was common practice at that time.
 12.In Shakespeare’s time, theaters had no curtain and used little or no12.In Shakespeare’s time, theaters had no curtain and used little or no
scenery. Playwrights described the setting within the text of thescenery. Playwrights described the setting within the text of the
performance.performance.
 13.Shakespeare was buried in the Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon.13.Shakespeare was buried in the Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon.
He put a curse on anyone daring to move his body from that final restingHe put a curse on anyone daring to move his body from that final resting
place. His epitaph was:place. His epitaph was:
 Good friend for Jesus’ sake forbear,Good friend for Jesus’ sake forbear,
To dig the dust enclosed here:To dig the dust enclosed here:
Blest be the man that spares these stones,Blest be the man that spares these stones,
And curst be he that moves my bones.And curst be he that moves my bones.
 Though it was customary to dig up the bones from previous graves to makeThough it was customary to dig up the bones from previous graves to make
room for others, Shakespeare’s remains are still undisturbed.room for others, Shakespeare’s remains are still undisturbed.
 14. Shakespeare’s profession was acting. He is listed in documents of 1592,14. Shakespeare’s profession was acting. He is listed in documents of 1592,
1598 and 1603 as an actor.1598 and 1603 as an actor.