Literature: Romeo & Juliet
General facts
William Shakespeare (1564 – 1616)
He was born in Stratford-upon-Avon. He was probably educated at a grammar school,
where he learned Latin and Greek and studied the great classical writers, but he did not
go to university. In 1583, he married Anne Hathaway and had three children. In 1587, he
left his family and went to London to start a career as a professional writer, mainly for
the theatre.
In London, he joined a group of actors, 'The Lord Chamberlain’s Men', after 1603 known
as 'The King’s Men'. Shakespeare wrote plays for them which they performed in 'The
Theatre', one of the three Elizabethan theatres in London. King James I was one of
Shakespeare’s patrons (geldschieters) who provided both him and his acting company
with recognition and financial security. He was the reason the acting company became
known as the King’s Men in 1603.
Between 1592 and 1594, the theatres in London had to close due to the plague/Black
Death. In 1599, the company built their own new theatre on the south bank of the
Thames: The Globe, which was demolished in 1644. He divided his time between
London and Stratford and wrote his many poems and plays between 1587 and 1613. He
became a wealthy man and retired to Stratford, where he died in 1616, aged 52.
Characteristics and popularity of his plays:
Shakespeare’s plays have complex characters with many personality traits drawn from
real-life men and women. This reflects the Renaissance idea of humanism, which
viewed human beings as fascinating subjects of study.
His plays appealed to a large audience of all social classes:
They had spectacular and comic scenes which were attractive for simple labourers
and craftsmen.
They had elevated scenes of high drama which were interesting for more educated
people of higher classes: the merchants and nobility.
Literature: Romeo & Juliet 1
, The Globe Theatre
Original Globe Theatre:
Opened in 1599, built by The Lord Chamberlain’s Men (Shakespeare’s acting company).
It burnt down in 1613 and was reconstructed in 1614 until it had to close in 1642 due to
the 'Closure of the Theatres'. This was deemed necessary due to the need to prevent
large gatherings that could incite political unrest.
Modern reconstruction:
Simply called 'The Globe' (aka The Globe Theatre), it opened in 1997. It has a capacity of
1570 people (700 standing), is the only thatched-roof building in London, and receives
approximately 1.25 million visitors each year.
Theatre design:
There were three types of seats/places in the theatre:
Cheapest: standing in front of the stage.
Middle price: lower and middle galleries.
Most expensive: upper galleries.
It was built in a circular shape so the audience could hear the actors better due to the
echo and acoustics.
History: The Tudor Period & The War of the Roses
The Tudor Period (1485–1603) includes King Henry VIII, who started the Anglican
Church through the English Reformation, and Queen Elizabeth I. This period is part of
the Early Modern English Period (1500–1700).
The War of the Roses (1455–1487)
An important conflict in English history. It was a series of civil wars fought for control
of the English throne between two rival branches of the royal House of Plantagenet:
House of Lancaster (red rose)
House of York (white rose)
The conflict began after the reign of King Edward III. His son, Edward the Black Prince,
died before him. Although Edward III's grandson Richard II became king at the age of
Literature: Romeo & Juliet 2
General facts
William Shakespeare (1564 – 1616)
He was born in Stratford-upon-Avon. He was probably educated at a grammar school,
where he learned Latin and Greek and studied the great classical writers, but he did not
go to university. In 1583, he married Anne Hathaway and had three children. In 1587, he
left his family and went to London to start a career as a professional writer, mainly for
the theatre.
In London, he joined a group of actors, 'The Lord Chamberlain’s Men', after 1603 known
as 'The King’s Men'. Shakespeare wrote plays for them which they performed in 'The
Theatre', one of the three Elizabethan theatres in London. King James I was one of
Shakespeare’s patrons (geldschieters) who provided both him and his acting company
with recognition and financial security. He was the reason the acting company became
known as the King’s Men in 1603.
Between 1592 and 1594, the theatres in London had to close due to the plague/Black
Death. In 1599, the company built their own new theatre on the south bank of the
Thames: The Globe, which was demolished in 1644. He divided his time between
London and Stratford and wrote his many poems and plays between 1587 and 1613. He
became a wealthy man and retired to Stratford, where he died in 1616, aged 52.
Characteristics and popularity of his plays:
Shakespeare’s plays have complex characters with many personality traits drawn from
real-life men and women. This reflects the Renaissance idea of humanism, which
viewed human beings as fascinating subjects of study.
His plays appealed to a large audience of all social classes:
They had spectacular and comic scenes which were attractive for simple labourers
and craftsmen.
They had elevated scenes of high drama which were interesting for more educated
people of higher classes: the merchants and nobility.
Literature: Romeo & Juliet 1
, The Globe Theatre
Original Globe Theatre:
Opened in 1599, built by The Lord Chamberlain’s Men (Shakespeare’s acting company).
It burnt down in 1613 and was reconstructed in 1614 until it had to close in 1642 due to
the 'Closure of the Theatres'. This was deemed necessary due to the need to prevent
large gatherings that could incite political unrest.
Modern reconstruction:
Simply called 'The Globe' (aka The Globe Theatre), it opened in 1997. It has a capacity of
1570 people (700 standing), is the only thatched-roof building in London, and receives
approximately 1.25 million visitors each year.
Theatre design:
There were three types of seats/places in the theatre:
Cheapest: standing in front of the stage.
Middle price: lower and middle galleries.
Most expensive: upper galleries.
It was built in a circular shape so the audience could hear the actors better due to the
echo and acoustics.
History: The Tudor Period & The War of the Roses
The Tudor Period (1485–1603) includes King Henry VIII, who started the Anglican
Church through the English Reformation, and Queen Elizabeth I. This period is part of
the Early Modern English Period (1500–1700).
The War of the Roses (1455–1487)
An important conflict in English history. It was a series of civil wars fought for control
of the English throne between two rival branches of the royal House of Plantagenet:
House of Lancaster (red rose)
House of York (white rose)
The conflict began after the reign of King Edward III. His son, Edward the Black Prince,
died before him. Although Edward III's grandson Richard II became king at the age of
Literature: Romeo & Juliet 2
