| when was Shakespeare born? | April 23, 1564 |
| what was Shakespeare’s father? | a respected shopkeeper and successful politician elected bailiff (present day mayor) of Stratford-on-Avon |
| what was one responsibility of the bailiff? | auditioning and granting a license to traveling actors |
| what was Shakespeare’s education like? | he attended grammar school free due to his father’s social standing, but had no other known formal education |
| when did Shakespeare get married? | he got married in 1582, at the age of 18, to Anne Hathaway, who was 26 |
| how many children did Shakespeare have? | 3 children: Susanna (1582), and twins Hamnet (died age 11) and Judith (1585) |
| how did Shakespeare start his career? | he went to London while his family stayed in Stratford |
| how was Shakespeare’s career? | – in 1594, at age 30, he became a charter member of Lord Chamberlain’s Men, which later became the King’s Men ~ named for wealthy patron who supported them, King James I- Shakespeare was first an actor, then a playwright- in 1612, at age 48, Shakespeare retired to Stratford as a wealthy gentleman (he applied for a coat of arms in 1596) |
| when did Shakespeare die? | April 23, 1616 (age 52) |
| who was the Elizabethan Class structure named after? | Queen Elizabeth I, 1558-1603 |
| what was the Elizabethan Class structure? | 1. Gentlemen A. Greater Sort: King, Barons, Lords, & Noblemen B. Lesser Sort: Knights, Esquires, & Gentlemen2. Citizens/Burgesses A. Citizens owned businesses B. Burgesses were public officials3. Yeomen: supervisors of laborers 4. Artificers & Laborers: lowest class/skilled workersTHEN5. Social Fallout Group: Gypsies, thieves, beggars, & prostitutes |
| primogenture | oldest son inherited wealth from father- men could advance status – women born into status of father and could only advance through marriage |
| what was the average age for both genders to get married? | women: 20-24men: 23-27 (waited until after job training)- usually a little younger for the upper class |
| what were the marriage customs like? | – people usually married for love and knew each other for most of their lives- approval by parents followed by engagement announcement – ceremony took place in Church of England- feast after wedding, but no honeymoon |
| what does the prologue do for the story? | it welcomes the audience and gives them a small hint of what is to come in the story |
| Why Friar Laurence was to blame for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet (reason 1) | 1) First, he never should have agreed to marry them in the first place. His reasoning for this, as stated in Act 2 Scene 3, was that he hoped their marriage might mark the end of the bitter feud between the Montagues and Capulets. (“In one respect I’ll thy assistant be,/For this alliance may so happy prove/To turn your households’ rancor to pure love.”) The part of his plan which was missing, however, was how the couple would ultimately announce that marriage. The secrecy of the whole ordeal is what comes back to haunt them later on in the play. (The fight between Tybalt and Mercutio/Juliet’s parents wanting her to marry Paris) Overall, he married them too quickly, without fully thinking things through. The Friar should have realized that they were far too young and that they should get to know each other before rushing things. Also, knowing Romeo, who recently was weeping over Rosaline, he should know that Romeo was not yet mature or ready for marriage. He certainly wasn’t trying to cause damage, but he at least should have thought of the consequences his actions would have. |
| Why Friar Laurence was to blame for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet (reason 2) | 2) Friar Laurence should have made sure Romeo confirmed the plan before poisoning Juliet. He had a good idea in Act 4 Scene 1, but he did not carry it out well. “In the meantime, against thou shalt awake,/Shall Romeo by my letters know our drift,/And hither should he come; and he and I/Will watch thy waking”. The Friar had sent Friar John to tell Romeo the plan, but Friar John did not make it to Mantua in time. The Friar should have been wise and sent the letter, had confirmation from Romeo, and then given the poison to Juliet. Or, he could have delivered the letter in a more secure way, perhaps himself. The Friar was not wise in trusting only one man to deliver such important information. |
| Why Friar Laurence was to blame for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet (reason 3) | 3) Friar Laurence ran away when Juliet needed him the most, and by leaving her alone, it allows her to kill herself. In the tomb scene, the Friar attempts to help Juliet before he runs away when he says, “Stay not to question, for the Watch is coming; come, go, good Juliet. I dare no longer stay.” in Act 5 Scene 3.He feared getting caught and runs away, leaving Juliet behind, which was selfish of him. Had he stayed a little longer, he could have stopped Juliet from killing herself. |
| Why Friar Laurence was to blame for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet (conclusion) | Friar Laurence was the most responsible for the deaths of both Romeo and Juliet. He makes his decisions too quickly without fully thinking them through. While others may have contributed, no one is more to blame than Friar Laurence. Romeo and Juliet were only impulsive because they were in love and desperate, but the Friar had no excuse to have acted in haste. He meant no harm, but because of his decisions, he caused Romeo and Juliet to die. |
Romeo and Juliet Exam
November 28, 2019