Romeo and JulietRomeo and Juliet is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare early in his career near the end of the 16th century. This story of a love that can never be truly realized and the tragedy that ensues, involves two young star-crossed lovers whose deaths ultimately reconcile their feuding families, the Montagues and the Capulets, who had been engaged in a blood feud for many years. Based upon an Italian tale which was translated by 16th century English poet Arthur Brooke into the narrative poem “The Tragical History of Romeus and Juliet,” Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet was among his most popular plays during the Bard’s lifetime and along with Hamlet, is one of his most frequently performed plays today. Romeo and Juliet had a profound influence on subsequent literature. The archetypal young lovers in Romeo and Juliet, regarded as one of the greatest and most tragic love stories of all time, has generated the most, and most varied, adaptations, including prose and verse narratives, drama, opera, orchestral and choral music, ballet, film, television, and painting. Before then, romance had not even been viewed as a worthy topic for tragedy. As Harold Bloom writes, Shakespeare "invented the formula that the sexual becomes the erotic when crossed by the shadow of death.” The word "Romeo" has even become synonymous with "male lover" in English. |
From inside the book
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... face with some that I shall show, And I will make thee think thy swan a crow. ROMEO. When the devout religion of mine eye Maintains such falsehood, then turn tears to fire; And these who, often drown'd, could never die, Transparent ...
... face with some that I shall show, And I will make thee think thy swan a crow. ROMEO. When the devout religion of mine eye Maintains such falsehood, then turn tears to fire; And these who, often drown'd, could never die, Transparent ...
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... face? Thou wilt fall backward when thou hast more wit; Wilt thou not, Jule?' and, by my holidame, The pretty wretch left crying, and said 'Ay'. To see now how a jest shall come about. I warrant, and I should live a thousand years, I ...
... face? Thou wilt fall backward when thou hast more wit; Wilt thou not, Jule?' and, by my holidame, The pretty wretch left crying, and said 'Ay'. To see now how a jest shall come about. I warrant, and I should live a thousand years, I ...
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... face ? Thou wilt fall backward when thou comest to age ; Wilt thou not , Jule ? ' it stinted , and said ' Ay ' . JULIET . And stint thou too , I pray thee , Nurse , say I. NURSE . Peace , I have done . God mark thee to his grace Thou ...
... face ? Thou wilt fall backward when thou comest to age ; Wilt thou not , Jule ? ' it stinted , and said ' Ay ' . JULIET . And stint thou too , I pray thee , Nurse , say I. NURSE . Peace , I have done . God mark thee to his grace Thou ...
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... face, And find delight writ there with beauty's pen. Examine every married lineament, And see how one another lends content; And what obscur'd in this fair volume lies, Find written in the margent of his eyes. This precious book of love ...
... face, And find delight writ there with beauty's pen. Examine every married lineament, And see how one another lends content; And what obscur'd in this fair volume lies, Find written in the margent of his eyes. This precious book of love ...
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... face, To fleer and scorn at our solemnity? Now by the stock and honour of my kin, To strike him dead I hold it not a sin. CAPULET. Why how now, kinsman! Wherefore storm you so? TYBALT. Uncle, this is a Montague, our foe; A villain that ...
... face, To fleer and scorn at our solemnity? Now by the stock and honour of my kin, To strike him dead I hold it not a sin. CAPULET. Why how now, kinsman! Wherefore storm you so? TYBALT. Uncle, this is a Montague, our foe; A villain that ...
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Common terms and phrases
ABRAM Alack APOTHECARY aqua vitae art thou BALTHASAR banished beauty bite my thumb CAPULET'S HOUSE cell County Paris cousin crystal scales daughter dead dear death dost thou doth Enter CAPULET Enter FRIAR LAWRENCE Enter JULIET Enter ROMEO Exeunt Exit eyes fair fair Verona Farewell father fear fee simple flower FRIAR JOHN gentleman give golden window gone grave GREGORY grief hand hate hath hear heart heaven hence Here’s hither holy hour kinsman kiss LADY MONTAGUE lips live look lord love’s lovers Madam maid maidenhead Mantua marriage married MERCUTIO mistress MUSICIAN naked weapon night peace PETER pray thee PRINCE PRINCE ESCALUS quarrel Rosaline SAMPSON SCENE slain soul speak stand stay sweet sword tears tell thine thou art thou hast thou wilt Thursday tomorrow tonight Tybalt Verona villain watch weep wife Wilt thou word young Zounds