context

• What period are Shakespeare's plays written before April 1603 considered?

  Elizabethan
• When was Romeo and Juliet written?

  Around 1595
• Who was the monarch during the writing of Romeo and Juliet?

  Queen Elizabeth I
• What type of conflict marked Queen Elizabeth I's reign?

  A bloody religious war
• What was the result of the feud between Catholics and Protestants?

  Violent conflict for many years
• What did Elizabeth I's reign signify for England?

  A period of relative stability and prosperity
• What underlying issue persisted despite stability during Elizabeth I's reign?

  Religious tensions between Catholics and Protestants
• What was established by Elizabeth I that led to plots against her life?

  The Church of England
• What significant event occurred in 1588?

  The defeat of the Spanish Armada
• What cultural movement spread to England by the late 16th century?

  The Renaissance
• What did the Renaissance revive in terms of influence?

  Classical learning
• How does the religious conflict during Elizabeth's reign relate to Romeo and Juliet?

  • Reflects the feud between Montagues and Capulets
  • Disrupts Verona like religious strife disrupted England
  • Explores individualism and tragic love, reflecting Renaissance ideals
• What societal system dictated women's status in Elizabethan England?

  Patriarchal system
• What rights did women lack in Elizabethan England?

  Right to own property or wealth
• How were single women viewed in Elizabethan society?

  Harshly judged
• What was expected of women within marriage during this period?

  To obey their husbands
• What qualities were expected of conventional Elizabethan men?

  Strong, aggressive, and loyal
• How were women perceived in terms of emotional strength?

  Viewed as emotionally and mentally frail
• What role did nurses play in wealthy Elizabethan families?

  Raised children until marriage age
• What bond did a wet nurse form with the child?

  Close bond, sometimes closer than mother
• How does Shakespeare critique traditional gender roles in Romeo and Juliet?

  • Juliet's defiance shows limited autonomy
  • Lady Capulet's obedience negatively impacts Juliet
  • Juliet's isolation critiques societal expectations
• How does Romeo defy male stereotypes?

  By showing peaceful behavior
• What does Romeo associate with his love for Juliet?

  Making him “effeminate” and weak
• What leads to Romeo and Juliet's deaths?

  Romeo's reckless and vengeful violence
• How does Juliet subvert traditional gender norms?

  • Proposes to Romeo, showing dominance
  • Questions discrimination in the feud
  • Acts rationally and sensibly
• What role does the nurse play in the social context of Romeo and Juliet?

  • Provides comedic relief
  • Represents class divisions
  • Acts as Juliet's source of advice and comfort
• What characterized courtly love in Elizabethan culture?

  Intense, melodramatic, and often fleeting
• What was common in the culture of courtly love?

  Unrequited love and secret affairs
• What was the average age of marriage in the Elizabethan era?

  Around 13 years old
• What was the average life expectancy during the Elizabethan era?

  40 years old
• How did wealthy fathers approach their daughters' marriages?

  Arranged marriages to improve social mobility
• What did Renaissance aristocrats believe about marrying for love?

  It was foolish
• How does Romeo's attitude towards love reflect societal norms?

  • Obsessive and impulsive, seen as a flaw
  • Courtly love depicted as superficial
  • Instant love for Juliet contrasts with grief for Rosaline
• What does Lord Capulet suggest about Juliet's readiness for marriage?

  She should wait until she is “ripe”
• What does Lord Capulet's statement about Juliet imply?

  Her duty is to bear children
• How do Romeo and Juliet defy societal conventions?

  • They prioritize love over family duties
  • Juliet prefers death to forced marriage
  • Their love challenges societal norms
• What role does religion play in Elizabethan life?

  It was dominant and central to families
• What belief did many Elizabethans hold regarding fate?

  Lives were predetermined by the stars
• How does Shakespeare's work engage with the concept of fate?

  Questions attitudes towards fate and free will
• What was the Great Chain of Being?

  A hierarchical system organizing society