21ST CENTURY LITERATURE

Romeo and Juliet

written by William Shakespeare

Submitted by:
Rexner Acosta Ong
Submitted to:
Ronavilla C. Pamitan
I.Elements Plot

A.Intro
Romeo and Juliet's prologue, which establishes the setting and provides a
synopsis of the play's plot, serves as the play's introduction. The prologue contains
the well-known phrases, "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" and "Where civil blood makes civil hands
unclean.
B.Rising action
Romeo and Juliet's increasing action covers the first fight between the
Capulets and Montagues, Romeo and Juliet's secret marriage, Romeo's exile from
Verona, and the sad circumstances that result in their deaths.

C.Climax
Act III, Scene 1, where Tybalt murders Mercutio and Romeo then kills
Tybalt in retaliation, is widely seen as the play's climax. This occurrence
represents the play's terrible resolution's point of no return.

D.Falling Action
The aftermath of Romeo and Juliet's deaths, which includes the families'
coming together through their shared grief, and the development of a new
order in Verona—symbolized by the Prince's edict that the Montagues and
Capulets will no longer fight—come under the heading of Romeo and Juliet's
falling action.

E.Resolution
The resolution in Romeo and Juliet is when the two feuding families, the
Montagues and the Capulets, decide to end their long-standing feud and
come together in grief after the tragic deaths of Romeo and Juliet. The Prince
of Verona also acknowledges the tragic nature of the events and promises to
erase the animosity between the two families.
II.Character
1. Romeo- A handsome young man of about 16 years old, who is the son of the
Montagues. He is impulsive and easily gets carried away by his emotions.

2. Juliet- A beautiful girl of about 13 years old, who is the daughter of the
Capulets. She is smart, confident, and witty.

3. Tybalt- Juliet's cousin, who is hot-tempered and a skilled swordsman. He is

fiercely loyal to his family and hates the Montagues.

4. Lord Capulet- Juliet's father who holds a high societal status and is a respected
figure in Verona. He is short-tempered and stubborn but eventually shows signs of
caring for his daughter.

5. Lady Capulet- Juliet's mother who is cold and distant towards her daughter. She
cares more about social status than her daughter's happiness.

6. Lord Montague- Romeo's father who is initially an enemy to the Capulets. He is

a reasonable and calm person, who is saddened by Romeo's behavior.

7. Lady Montague- Romeo's mother who is a nurturing and loving figure. She
worries about her son's behavior and well-being.

8. Nurse- Juliet's caretaker who is mostly responsible for her upbringing. She is
talkative and bawdy, and deeply cares for Juliet.
9. Friar Laurence- A Franciscan Friar who secretly marries Romeo and Juliet
hoping to unite the two families. He also provides support and guidance to Romeo
in difficult times.

10. Paris- A young nobleman who is interested in marrying Juliet. He is handsome,

respectful and has good manners.

11. Mercutio- Romeo's best friend, who is a witty, playful, and charismatic
character. He is killed in a sword fight with Tybalt, which ultimately leads to the
downfall of both Romeo and Juliet.

12. Benvolio- Romeo's cousin and close friend, who is trying to keep him out of
trouble and reconcile the two families. He is peaceful and rational.

III.Point of view 1-3rd

First Person Point of View:
This occurs when a character in the story narrates the events or expresses
their thoughts and feelings using first-person pronouns such as "I," "me," or "my."
In Romeo and Juliet, there are a few instances where characters use the first-
person point of view to share their innermost thoughts. For example, Romeo uses
this point of view when he speaks to himself in Act II, Scene 2: "But, soft! what
light through yonder window breaks? / It is the east, and Juliet is the sun. / Arise,
fair sun, and kill the envious moon, / Who is already sick and pale with grief."

Second Person Point of View:

This point of view is less commonly used in literature but occurs when the
narrator directly addresses the reader or another character using second-person
pronouns such as "you" or "your." Romeo and Juliet does not use this point of
view.
Third Person Point of View:
This is the most common point of view in literature and occurs when the
narrator is not a character in the story but rather an observer who relates the
events of the story using pronouns such as "he," "she," and "they." In Romeo and
Juliet, William Shakespeare uses the third-person point of view throughout the
play to describe the actions of the characters and tell their story.

IV.Symbolism
1.Flowers - Flowers represent the ephemeral nature of love. They are
beautiful, but they wither quickly and eventually die. This symbolises the fleeting
happiness of Romeo and Juliet's love.

2. Swords - Swords represent the violence and aggression that prevails in

Verona. They are symbols of the feud between the Montagues and the Capulets.

3.Masks - Masks represent the deceit and hypocrisy that exists in Verona.
They symbolise the idea that people hide their true selves behind a façade.

4. Fire - Fire represents the passion, desire and intensity of Romeo and
Juliet's love. It also represents the destructive nature of their love.

5.The Lark and Nightingale - The lark and nightingale are symbols of Romeo
and Juliet. The lark represents the morning, symbolising Romeo’s happiness, while
the nightingale represents the night, symbolising Juliet’s sorrow.
6. Poison - The poison that Romeo acquires is a symbol of the dangerous
and fatal nature of love. It represents the idea that passions and emotions can be
lethal if left unchecked.
 7. The Balcony - The balcony in Juliet's room is a symbol of the forbidden
love between Romeo and Juliet. It represents the separation that exists between
the two lovers due to societal conventions and familial disputes.

8. The Sun - The sun represents Romeo's joy and happiness. When Romeo
is banished from Verona, he associates the sun with sadness and grief.

9. The Moon - The moon represents Juliet's power and beauty. Romeo is
struck by Juliet's beauty when he sees her on her balcony, and he associates her
with the moon.

10. The Stars - The stars represent the fate and destiny of Romeo and Juliet.
They are seen as celestial beings that control the lives of the two lovers.

V.Theme
The play explores different facets of love, such as romantic love, familial
love, and the love between friends. In the beginning, Romeo is in love with
Rosaline, but his affections shift quickly to Juliet, an encounter that leads to their
doomed romance. The play shows how love can inspire people to great acts of
passion and courage, but it can also make them irrational and foolish, leading to
tragedy. The theme of fate is also present in the play, suggesting that the destiny
of Romeo and Juliet is predetermined, making their love doomed from the start.
The theme of societal pressure is also relevant, as societal expectations and rules
force Romeo and Juliet to seek secret and dangerous ways to be together.
Together, these themes create a tragic and powerful commentary on the nature of
love and the impact of societal norms on personal relationships.