CONTEXT R&J

• When was "Romeo and Juliet" written?

  1. 1595
• What era does "Romeo and Juliet" reflect?

  Elizabethan era
• What major conflict is reflected in "Romeo and Juliet"?

  Religious conflict between Catholics and Protestants
• How does "Romeo and Juliet" portray gender roles?

  Women are expected to be obedient and submissive
• What cultural movement influenced "Romeo and Juliet"?

  The Renaissance
• What was a significant impact of the Renaissance on literature?

  Emphasis on humanism and individualism
• What was the societal structure in Elizabethan England?

  Highly patriarchal
• What was a major form of entertainment in Elizabethan England?

  Plays
• Where is "Romeo and Juliet" set?

  Renaissance-era Italy
• What stereotype about Italy does Shakespeare draw on?

  Reputation for romance and love
• What tradition does the play's depiction of duelling reflect?

  Italian tradition of duelling
• How do the feuding families in the play relate to historical conflicts?

  Reflects religious conflict between Catholics and Protestants
• What was a consequence of Queen Elizabeth I's establishment of the Church of England?

  Plots against her life and threats from Catholic Spain
• How does "Romeo and Juliet" reflect traditional gender roles?

  Women are expected to be obedient
• What does the play's exploration of individual love signify?

  Emphasis on individualism from the Renaissance
• What constant threat is reflected in the play's tragic ending?

  The plague
• What are the key cultural influences on "Romeo and Juliet"?

  • Elizabethan England's religious tensions
  • Patriarchal social structure
  • Renaissance emphasis on humanism
  • Italian cultural stereotypes
  • Popularity of plays as entertainment
• How does "Romeo and Juliet" reflect the social context of its time?

  • Gender roles: women expected to be submissive
  • Individualism: consequences of defying norms
  • Religious conflict: Montagues vs. Capulets
  • Cultural progress: Renaissance influence
  • Threat of plague affecting society