1 / 11

Exploring Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet: Language, Themes, and Historical Context

Dive into the timeless tragedy of "Romeo and Juliet," set in 14th or 15th century Italy, written by the iconic playwright William Shakespeare. This exploration reveals the language differences and cultural nuances of the era, exemplified by Mercutio's Queen Mab speech and the biting of the thumb as an insult. Understand how costumes and social status influenced characters and interactions, showcasing the contrasts between past and present. Experience this classic narrative as a poignant lens into a world that, while distant, still resonates with contemporary themes of love, conflict, and identity.

gefen
Download Presentation

Exploring Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet: Language, Themes, and Historical Context

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Rome & Juliet Is this even English?

  2. Background • Takes place in Verona and Mantu, Italy • In fourteenth or fifteenth century • Written by Shakespeare • Performed at the Globe Theater

  3. Shakespeare • April 26, 1564-April 23, 1616 • Born at Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire, England • Famous Playwright • Wrote Romeo and Juliet

  4. Queen Mab Speech • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsRQSazjl4U

  5. What? • He is saying lovers dream of love, soldiers dream of wars, etc., and that dreams mean nothing • Develops character for Mercutio • Really shows the differences in the language • O, then I see Queen Mab hath been with you. . . .
She is the fairies’ midwife, and she comes
In shape no bigger than an agate stone
On the forefinger of an alderman,
Drawn with a team of little atomi
Athwart men’s noses as they lie asleep.

  6. Biting Your Thumb • Sampson. Nay, as they dare. I will bite my thumb at them; 
which is a disgrace to them, if they bear it. • [Enter ABRAHAM and BALTHASAR] • Abraham. Do you bite your thumb at us, sir? • Sampson. I do bite my thumb, sir. • Abraham. Do you bite your thumb at us, sir? • Sampson. [Aside to GREGORY] Is the law of our side, if I say ay? • Gregory. No. • Sampson. No, sir, I do not bite my thumb at you, sir, but I 
bite my thumb, sir. • Gregory. Do you quarrel, sir? • Abraham. Quarrel sir! no, sir. • Sampson. If you do, sir, I am for you: I serve as good a man as you. • Abraham. No better. • Sampson. Well, sir. • Gregory. Say 'better:' here comes one of my master's kinsmen. • Sampson. Yes, better, sir. • Abraham. You lie. • Sampson. Draw, if you be men. Gregory, remember thy swashing blow. • [They fight]

  7. OK… • Old timey way of flipping someone off • Says he is a “better man” • Insults his pride • Creates a fight • Had sarcasm back then

  8. Clothes

  9. Explanation • All about how fancy and expensive it was • People judged • Had to be unique and get people’s attention • Some of that is still true today

  10. To Sum It All Up… • Romeo & Juliet is like a history lesson • Takes a lot of effort to understand • Way different from today but still the same • A look into a time that we will never get to experience

  11. Sources • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsRQSazjl4U • http://www.opensourceshakespeare.org/views/plays/play_view.php?WorkID=romeojuliet&Act=1&Scene=1&Scope=scene • http://www.litcharts.com/lit/romeoandjuliet/backgroundinfo • http://www.wtps.org/wths/imc/Teacher_Assignment/english/Lapenta/dress.jpg • http://images.artnet.com/images_US/magazine/news/jeromack/jeromack10-22-07-2.jpg

More Related