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Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1564!. His father sold gloves and became an important person in the town!. William, one of eight children, was the eldest son, and probably educated at the local grammar school!. He married when he was only 18 and his wife, Anne Hathaway, was eight years older than him!. They had two girls and a boy (who died aged 11)!.
Nobody knows how Shakespeare began to write, or when he entered the theatre!. But we know he became a leading member of the theatre troupe known as 'The Lord Chamberlain's Men'!. The company proved very popular, and later, when King James I granted it the right to perform at his court, became known as 'The King's Men'!.
Shakespeare wrote more than 30 plays for 'The King's Men', making it the most important theatre company in the country!. He often wrote parts for particular actors, too!.
He was very successful and wealthy in his time, and his work has remained very popular ever since!.















Rome and Juliet in Popular Culture
The basic story, of two young lovers from opposing families in Italy, had been popular for hundreds of years before Shakespeare wrote the play!. However, there is no evidence Romeo or Juliet ever actually existed!. We think Shakespeare based the play on a poem he had read!.
What makes Romeo and Juliet special is how Shakespeare tells the story!. It has become perhaps his best-known play!. Romeo and Juliet has been filmed many times and adapted in all sorts of ways!. For instance, there are cartoon versions for children, older versions with the rude jokes taken out, and others set with gang fights in the US!.
There are also countless references to Romeo and Juliet in songs, books, even in ordinary conversation!. For instance, a young lad who goes out with lots of girls is often referred to as a real 'Romeo', even if he is actually called Wayne and lives in Nottingham with his mum!.
The play also contains a lot of expressions that Shakespeare invented and are still in use today, such as 'on a wild goose chase' or 'fool's paradise'!. More recently, builders have started to use the term 'Juliet balcony' (although many of them now spell it 'Juliette balcony')!. This is very shallow balcony with a rail in front of a patio door!. Oddly enough, there's no mention of a balcony in the play itself!. But it has become traditional to have Juliet talking to Romeo from one!.











Linking events
In your work, you need to show how different events fit together!. This means you should know the basic storyline and what other parts of the plot are relevant to your task!. If your task relates to a particular scene, you should know both what has already happened and what happens after the scene!.
Imagine you are looking at Act 3, Scene 1 (where Romeo kills Juliet's cousin, Tybalt)!. You would probably want to include details from the plot like:
? how the atmosphere beforehand (during Romeo and Juliet's marriage) was optimistic, warm and romantic
? how a fight is predicted at the start of the Act (with 'the mad blood stirring')
? how killing off two major characters (Mercutio and Tybalt) puts the focus directly on Romeo at the end of the scene (and Juliet at the start of the next scene)
? how the end of the scene relates to the earlier fight and the warning from the Prince in Act 1
? how the action switches to Juliet, with her dreams of love contrasting with the earlier violence
? Juliet
? Juliet is 13 and the daughter of Capulet and Lady Capulet!. Her character at first appears to be quiet, obedient and innocent!. She then meets Romeo and shows she is not as shy as we think!. She speaks as much as him and in the same style, and they kiss twice!.
? She then tells the audience of her love for Romeo, knowing his family is hated by hers!. She later announces her love for him again, not knowing he can hear!.
? Her thoughts are complex, showing her intelligence, and that her love of Romeo is sincere!. When she realises he is there, her thoughts are immediately for his safety!. She asks him to say he loves her, yet seems very practical about it, not wanting any proof - just his word!.
? Juliet shows her independence by proposing marriage!. She also says she will follow Romeo 'throughout the world'!. Juliet does not doubt her husband, even when she learns he has killed her cousin!. She is prepared to commit suicide for him, then bravely carries out the Friar's plan, meaning she disobeys her parents and takes a huge risk!. Finally, she commits suicide when she discovers Romeo dead beside her!.
? Those are the basic details of her character!. We can now look at how you could use these in your work!. Knowing the facts about a character is only the start, though!. We need to be able to use them effectively!. One way to do this is to have details or quotes from the play to support our ideas!. For instance:






Point Evidence
Juliet is quiet She says very little in Act 1, Scene Www@QuestionHome@Com

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You don't even know the plot!? Why don't you read the book- it's not exactly the hardest Shakespeare play!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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