«Romeo and Juliet» Two households, both alike in dignity In fair Verona, where we lay our scene, …………..

• •

Why a tragedy?

death and misfortune

(= sfortuna)

of the two protagonists the tragic role of FATE

(= fato)

in spite of

(= nonostante)

the absence of a villain

(= il cattivo)

• • • • • •

Why a comedy?

romantic and courtly love the instant attraction of the young lovers the masked balls the theme of equivocation the comic servants the street fights.

A tragic plot

INTRODUCTION:

the presentation of hero/heroine

DEVELOPMENT:

the hero/heroine’s rise to power or happiness

CLIMAX:

the high point of the hero/heroine’s fortunes

CRISIS:

the

turning point

in the hero/heroine’s fortunes

DECLINE:

deterioration of the hero/heroine’s situation

CATASTROPHE:

the hero/heroine’s

downfall

, often to a condition of humiliation, degradation and death.

Time Line

Sunday:

Romeo is turned down by Rosaline – goes to the Capulets’ masked ball – falls in love with Juliet – they promise to marry

Monday:

Romeo asks Friar Lawrence to marry them - the secret wedding takes place – death of Mercutio and Tybalt – Romeo is exiled – Juliet is promised to Paris – first wedding night before the exile

Tuesday:

Romeo leaves for Mantua – Juliet refuses to marry – the friar gives her the potion – Juliet takes the potion

Wednesday:

the Nurse discovers Juliet dead – Juliet ‘s corpse

(= cadavere)

is carried to the Capulets’ family vault – Balthasar reaches Romeo and tells him of Juliet’s death – Romeo leaves for Verona – Paris is killed by Romeo near Juliet’s tomb and poisons himself – Juliet awakes and stabs herself

(= pugnalarsi)

with Romeo’s dagger

(= pugnale)

Thursday morning :

the friar explains what happened and reconcile the Capulet and Montague families

The protagonists

• •

Juliet

a submissive

(= sottomessa)

and obedient girl living a sheltered

(= protetta)

life, and a Capulet develops into a resolute, firm-minded

(= determinata)

• young woman more practical than Romeo, she always speaks • • • frankly

(= in modo franco)

and directly honest with both Romeo and herself a tragic heroine though she is set within the courtly love convention, she is

unconventional

because she stands for

(= rappresentare)

innocence, belongs to no characterisation, is a real woman •

Romeo

a popular, lively

(= vivace)

, sociable member of the Veronese society, and a Montague • a courteous lover with intense adoration of • a chaste

(= casta)

woman impassioned

(= appassionato)

but impractical impulsive and impetuous

Secondary characters

•

The Nurse

Juliet’s equivalent of Romeo’s Mercutio • • • feels genuine love for Juliet supplies a lot of humour her attitude

(= atteggiamento)

to love contrasts with that of the heroine • speaks a lot, but says very little • changes her mind

(= cambiare opinione)

with great rapidity and agrees with whatever

(= qualsiasi cosa)

seems to be the opinion of the moment • can mainly talk of sex, child rearing

(= tirare su bambini)

and old memories • • •

Mercutio

Romeo’s equivalent of Juliet’s Nurse Romeo’s best friend and a

foil

to him a winning personality: gay (= allegro), witty

(= arguto),

shrewd

(= acuto),

always talking and jesting

(= scherzare)

, he provides comedy makes caustic

(= caustico)

comments on Italian duels and fashionable courtiers

(= cortigiani)

• his death turns the comedy into tragedy

Functional characters

• •

Tybalt

a Capulet and Juliet’s cousin the quarreller

(= persona litigiosa)

and the troublemaker

(= piantagrane);

a • • contrast to Benvolio, he behaves

(= comportarsi)

according to type • lack the liveliness and individuality of Mercutio or the Nurse always angry and seeking revenge a plot device •

Paris

very different from Romeo, but not the unpleasant •

(= spiacevole)

opposite calm and decorous, shows the • normal form of courtship

(= corteggiamento)

his affection lacks

(= mancare di)

passionate involvement

(= coinvolgimento)

but is sincere, genuine and tender

(= tenero)

• he wishes

(= desiderare)

to be with Juliet in death • •

Benvolio

a Montague and Romeo’s cousin the peacemaker

(= pacificatore)

• • • a contrast to Tybalt a foil to Mercutio and Tybalt a plot device

http://francismagnificentworks.tumblr.com/post/91594947544/bruce robinson-as-benvolio-in-romeo-juliet

• •

Friar Lawrence

a holy man the one person Romeo and Juliet can turn to •

(= fare ricorso)

throughout the play his is the voice of moderation in a stormy and violent world •

a plot device

: the means

(= mazzo)

that promotes the plot

(= trama)

• • • • • • • • • •

MAIN FEATURES of the PLAY

universal themes love and death are combined rivalry

(= rivalità)

and hostility: the

feud

(= faida)

between the two families

.

old hate

vs

young love

foreboding

(= presentimento)

and

fate lack

(= mancanza)

of knowledge

coming from bad communication; tragedy of unawareness

(= inconsapevolezza)

speed

as the medium of fate.

imagery of light linked to life and the courtly love convention imagery of darkness linked to death word play and plain speaking - punning for comic effect

THE END