Context

• What were writers in Shakespeare's day not worried about?

  Plagiarism
• From where did Shakespeare take the plots and characters of his plays?

  Existing works
• Which ancient authors influenced the story of Romeo and Juliet?

  Ovid and Xenophon
• What inspired Shakespeare's version of Romeo and Juliet?

  Arthur Brooke's English translation
• How did Shakespeare change the plot's time frame in Romeo and Juliet?

  He shortened it for intensity
• Which characters did Shakespeare make more complex in Romeo and Juliet?

  Mercutio and Lord Capulet
• What genre is Romeo and Juliet classified as?

  Tragedy
• What comedic elements are present in Romeo and Juliet?

  Lighthearted tone and wordplay
• What type of jokes can be found in the opening scene of Romeo and Juliet?

  Puns about jobs
• How does Shakespeare engage with the concept of love in Romeo and Juliet?

  On a deeper level than typical comedies
• Who inspired the portrayals of love in Shakespeare's time?

  Petrarch
• What is the concept of courtly love?

  Dramatic declarations of love from afar
• How does Romeo's love for Juliet differ from his love for Rosaline?

  It is a deep spiritual connection
• What happens at the end of Romeo and Juliet?

  Both characters die
• How does the ending of Romeo and Juliet differ from traditional comedies?

  It features tragic deaths
• Why was Shakespeare obsessed with death in his plays?

  Due to experiences with mortality
• What significant event occurred in London in 1592?

  A massive plague struck
• How did the plague affect people's views on mortality?

  It forced deep contemplation of death
• In what historical context is Romeo and Juliet set?

  14th century Italy
• What political situation does Shakespeare reflect in Romeo and Juliet?

  Violence and political uncertainty
• What family rivalry inspired the conflict in Romeo and Juliet?

  The Capiletti and Monteci families
• What does the Capulet-Montague rivalry symbolize in the play?

  A warning against family feuds
• What was the societal view on marriage and family in Elizabethan England?

  Foundational building blocks of society
• How was society structured in Shakespeare's time?

  Patriarchal with male dominance
• Why does Capulet expect Juliet to obey him?

  He is the male head of the family
• How does Juliet's character challenge societal norms?

  She disobeys her father's wishes
• Who was a powerful woman that audiences might recall in relation to Juliet?

  Queen Elizabeth
• What are the key themes in Romeo and Juliet?

  • Love and its complexities
  • The impact of family feuds
  • The role of fate and fortune
  • Gender roles and societal expectations
  • The juxtaposition of comedy and tragedy
• How does Shakespeare's portrayal of love differ from traditional romantic comedies?

  • Deeper exploration of love
  • Critique of courtly love
  • Genuine connection versus superficiality
  • Tragic consequences instead of happy endings
• What influences shaped Shakespeare's writing during the Renaissance?

  • Rediscovery of ancient texts
  • Changes in religious beliefs
  • Political instability in England
  • The impact of the plague on society