Key Facts about Romeo and Juliet
Publication and Historical Context
- Written between 1591-1595 by William Shakespeare
- First published in 1597 (First Quarto - considered corrupt)
- Definitive version published in 1599 (Second Quarto)
- Based on Arthur Brooke's narrative poem "The Tragical History of Romeus and Juliet" (1562)
The play was incredibly popular during Shakespeare's lifetime and has remained one of his most frequently performed works.
Setting and Timeline
- Takes place in Verona, Italy
- Story spans approximately four days
- Action begins on Sunday morning and ends early Thursday morning
The rapid timeline of events is crucial to understanding the intensity and rushed nature of the young lovers' relationship.
Major Themes
- Love vs. Hate
- Youth vs. Age
- Fate vs. Free Will
- Individual vs. Society
Literary Style
- Written primarily in blank verse (unrhymed iambic pentameter)
- Contains both prose and poetry
- Features sonnets, particularly in the prologue and the lovers' first meeting
The prologue is a perfect Shakespearean sonnet:
Two households, both alike in dignity, In fair Verona, where we lay our scene, From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.
Key Characters
- Protagonists: Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet
- Supporting Characters:
- Friar Laurence
- The Nurse
- Mercutio
- Tybalt
