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My favourite Italian writer is Alessandro D'Avenia. He was born in Palermo, therefore he has a different perspective about life because the life in Sicily is different than in the North. More chaotic, very loud and friendly. He is an Literature teacher and he shares his passion about Literature and writers to his students.

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A little bit about Shakespeare's London...

In Shakespeare's time, London was by far the most populated city in England. Most of the people living in London were migrants from other parts of England, like Shakespeare! London was the great industrial centre of England. Being in a troupe of players with a noble patron was essential to acting within legal bounds in England at the time. There were mixed opinions regarding theatre at the time: Was it irreligious? Did it distract people from work? Are the theatre yards a petri dish for rowdiness? Was it wonderful entertainment?

The location:

The area south of the Thames River and west of London Bridge was the main entertainment district. Bankside is the name of the district. Bankside had brothels, inns, animal baiting arenas, theatres, and gaming houses, leased and licensed by the Bishop of Winchester. So you can imagine, the theatre was situated in a fairly lively area for London in the 1600s.

The wealthy audience members of the Globe could take the wherry (water taxi) across the Thames, but most people would need to walk across London Bridge in order to get to Bankside. Although it is now free to travel across, London Bridge used to be the only bridge crossing this section of the Thames and it was privatised. The bridge was quite lively in itself, with shops on both sides.

There were two significant theatres that preceded Shakespeare's Globe. The first theatre Bankside housed was called The Rose, built in 1587. Two of Shakespeare's plays were performed here: Henry IV Part One, and Titus Andronicus. A new theatre, The Swan, was built in 1595, and then Shakespeare's Globe was built in 1599.

The OG Globe Theatre:

This theatre was unique because it was owned by, and built for, actors. The predecessor of the Globe, The Rose, was built by a businessman. This meant that the decisions regarding the Globe were all made by the actors and the playwrights. The Globe was divided into shares - Shakespeare paid £10 for a 10% share. For fourteen years, the Globe was a great success. Many of Shakespeare's plays were performed for the very first time in the original Globe Theatre, like Hamlet, Kind Lear, and Othello. A fellow playwright to Shakespeare, Ben Jonson, described the Globe as "The glory of the bank."

There were no female actresses in the original performances. Female parts were played by adolescent boys who maintained feminine voices.

The OG audience:

Audience members of the Globe Theatre varied in wealth greatly. The Globe was a hot pit for ideas, discussion, socialising, entertainment, and politics. There are two sections for the audience: the yard and the stalls.

The Yard:

The yard is the standing area next to the stage. This is hardly dissimilar to the mosh pit at a rock concert. The audience members here paid £1 for entry to the yard and stood like packed sardines in front of the stage. To give you some olfactory imagery: everyone was smelly and likely drunk. Water for washing wasn't easy to come by, and usually baths were taken by commoners once per year (if that). Queen Elizabeth I was seen as one of the cleanest bodies in the land - and it's said that she showered just four times per year. On top of a concoction of a year's worth of body odour, many commoners had few items of clothing, meaning that they likely wore the same clothes to work and then to the theatre. Are you ready for more imagery? People were often drunk. Put simply: water wasn't clean and beer is tasty. So in front of the stage, is a pit of smelly and likely drunk people paying £1 for a bath in someone else's sweat in the atmosphere of Shakespeare's greatest works.

The Stalls:

The stalls were different. The positions in the stalls that sit adjacent to the stage wouldn't be considered prime real estate in a theatre production today - you see the action from side on! In Shakespeare's time, these seats were an opportunity to hear the play rather than just see it. Also, the people in these spots framed the stage, so they likely would show off their wealth to the people below with marvellous hats and padded clothing to prove their wealth and full stomach.

About 90% of the population at this time was illiterate. In some cases, even the literate population hadn't touched some of Shakespeare's works yet as they weren't published in print in his life time. The theatre, therefore, had great importance as a forum for political discussion and education. Queue: Shakespeare twisting history at times.

Up in flames

On the 29 th of June in 1613, there was a new play by Shakespeare being performed: All Is True (sometimes titled: Henry VIII). The first two performances of the play had been wonderful successes. The audience was warned in the prologue that if they wanted a play full of laughter and conflict, they should instead brace themselves for something more serious.

The fourth scene of the play has the following stage directions:

" Drum and Trumpet, Chambers discharged."

The chambers it refers to were small cannons that would fire blanks. The wadding in the chamber that was intended to squeeze down the gunpowder, caught fire and landed on the thatched roof of the gallery. The Globe only had two doors, and the theatre held up to 3000 people. Fortunately, nobody died and it is alleged that only one man's trousers set on fire, to which he responded by pouring his beer on his pants to successfully save himself. Also, many of the costumes and play scripts were saved as well. It was one of the biggest news stories in London at the time.

Globe Theatre 2.0

The King's Men chose to rebuild the Globe for about £1,400, and it opened in June 1614. The company performed at the Globe between May and October. They also played at the Blackfriar's theatre (much smaller, but more profitable as tickets were more expensive) for the rest of the year. The second Globe Theatre had a larger roof than the first, and this time it was tiled instead of thatched. Next to the Theatre was a shop where beer, food, and tobacco were sold to theatregoers.

As government changed hands, the Puritans closed down all theatres in 1642 and it was destroyed in 1644 for housing. Tragic.

Globe Theatre 3.0

Sam Wanamaker was an American actor and director who arrived in England in 1949. He was amazed to realise the only commemoration of Shakespeare's life and work in London was a bronze plaque on a brewery wall. From 1969 until his death, Wanamaker worked to make a Globe Theatre that would serve as a functioning theatre, an exhibition, and education centre. A committee of academics, architects and historians were pulled together in order to recreate the Globe Theatre that Shakespeare once played in. There were council disputes about gaining control of the land. The current Globe Theatre sits a few hundred metres away from the original site.

True to the original style of the Globe, the framework is made with timber and oak pegs. There was much debate about the size of the stage, the arrangement of the bays in the stalls, and the decoration, but it is believed that the current version of the Globe is the most accurate reconstruction. The modern theatre has 6 fire exits, although just 2 was suffice in order to provide safety in the original fire. The new Globe theatre even has a thatched roof like the original! There was a huge fire in London in 1666 that destroyed about four fifths of the city - so the Globe had to apply for special exemptions from laws that prohibited thatched rooves.

The Globe Theatre now:

The cheapest tickets for the yard cost only £5 now. The theatre aims to remain accessible and enjoyed by many. The theatre performs every year from Shakespeare's birthday in April until October. Although most of the performances are Shakespeare's own, plays written by other playwrights are performed too. The theatre now holds 1,500 people - about half of the original Globe's capacity.
Shakespeare's Globe now has a YouTube channel. If you're interested in prop creation, behind the scenes, or snippets of the performances, see more at here!

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Shakespeare's Globe Theatre: What you need to know

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In Shakespeare's time, London was by far the most populated city in England. Most of the people living in London were migrants from other parts of England, like Shakespeare! London was the great industrial centre of England. Being in a troupe of players with a noble patron was essential to acting within legal bounds in England at the time.

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Step inside the Globe Theatre

Everyone, no matter where they are in the world, can now walk around Shakespeare's Globe with our virtual tour and 360 iOS app.

Use this page or download the app to tour the Globe Theatre from the comfort of your own home. Our interactive 360 degrees virtual tour uses photos, videos and audible wonder to guide you along the way.

This online digital tour is free. We ask that you consider a donation to us in return, as a charity currently relying on your support more than ever before. Thank you.
DONATE

Using your mouse or your finger if you are on a mobile or tablet tap the box that says "VIEW 360".

Then click and hold or tap and drag the screen to look around the interior of the Globe Theatre.

Tap on the circles and explore the images, videos and sounds that are located around the Globe Theatre.

Tap out when you are done and keep tapping away to find discover more!

Have fun and keep on discovering!

Packed with interesting facts, videos and photos, our free app allows anyone in the world to explore a virtual version of the world's most iconic theatre.

Move around the virtual theatre, zoom in and out and reveal the theatre's oak frame. Venture through the oak doors and head inside, where you can explore the theatre as stunning 360 degree images. Locations include an actor's-eye view from the stage, backstage in the tiring-house, the musicians' gallery and standing in the Yard.

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Walk around the Globe Theatre at Shakespeare's Globe with our online virtual tour and 360 iOS app.

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Learn about the Globe Theatre, it's history and architecture as well as other fascinating Globe Theatre facts! You can also discover handy resources too!

What was the Globe Theatre?

The Globe Theatre was a theatre in London most commonly associated with the famous playwright William Shakespeare. It was built in 1599 in on Maiden Lane (now known as Park Street) in Southwark on the South side of the River Thames.

The Globe was an open-air amphitheatre shaped like a doughnut. It had a seating capacity of up to 3000 spectators. There were shelters over the seats and the stage, but the middle section was open to the sky. The sun was the only source of light - so plays were performed in the daytime instead of at night as they are now. No candles were used for lighting because the Globe was built using very flammable materials like wood and plaster, which meant it was vulnerable to fire.

The Globe was closed down by the Puritans in 1642 when they issued an order for the closure of all the theatres in London. The building itself was pulled down from 1644 to 1645 to make room for housing tenements.

10 Interesting Globe Theatre Facts

Here are some more fascinating facts about the Globe Theatre:

1. The timber used to build the Globe Theatre was actually reused wood from "The Theatre" - an earlier theatre owned by the father of one of the Globe's funders.

2. Depending on the genre of play being performed, colour coded flags were used outside the theatre to let spectators know what type of play they would be seeing. A red flag was flown for a history play, white for a comedy play and black for a tragedy play.

3. A crest above the main entrance to the Globe Theatre was inscribed with the Latin motto "Totus mundus agit histrionem". In English, this can be translated to "The whole world is a playhouse".

4. To announce to the audience that the play was about to begin, a trumpet would be blown to signal to people it was time to take their final places.

5. Outbreaks of the Bubonic Plague were so serious in London that in 1603 and 1608 the Globe Theatre was forced to limit the spread of the illness.

6. The Globe Theatre burnt down in 1613 after a special effect on stage went wrong. A cannon used for a performance of Henry VIII set light to the thatched roof and the fire quickly spread. Supposedly it took less than two hours to burn down completely.

7. Luckily, according to one of the few surviving documents of the event, nobody was hurt in the fire except for a man whose burning trousers had to be put out with a bottle of beer!

8. Following the fire, the Globe Theatre was rebuilt on the exact same spot in 1614.

9. As a young writer, William Shakespeare bought shares in the theatre, meaning he benefited financially as his popularity grew and the theatre became more successful.

10. There were no actresses performing at The Globe Theatre - or any other theatre at that time. All the female roles were instead played by young boys, this is because theatre stages were seen as too risqué for ladies.

The Design of the Globe Theatre

The intriguing design of the Globe Theatre responded to a mix of styles and traditions - particularly the design of Roman amphitheatres.

A Globe Theatre diagram, designed before the construction of the theatre, shows it as a circular building with steep walls and a thatched roof. Inside, a stage stood at the centre of an open yard and three tiered seating areas were built into the high walls that surrounded the stage. The tiered seats could hold up to 3000 people and another 1000 could fill the yard which surrounded the stage.

Strangely, not much more is known about the design of the interior of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. Globe Theatre diagrams all focused on the outside of the theatre. Historians do not really know what the inside of the theatre and the stage actually looked like. The best sources that historians have, are written descriptions and clues written into the plays that were performed on the theatre stage.

If you want to teach your children a little more about the Globe theatre, check out our Globe Theatre Colouring Sheet. They are perfect for creating your own Globe Theatre diagram.

Despite having few references to the interior of the theatre, a group of actors and builders decided to recreate the Globe Theatre using several Globe Theatre diagrams and written references.

Modern Reconstruction: Shakespeare's Globe

There is a new reconstruction of the Globe Theatre, built not far from its original location in Southwark. The project called 'Shakespeare's Globe' took 27 years to complete before it was opened to the public in 1997.

In Shakespeare's time the River Thames was much wider, meaning the original Globe Theatre was right on the riverside, so the reconstruction was built to be right next to the river to make it even more similar to the original.

Shakespeare's Globe was built using the same techniques as the original, so it's also made out of wood and plaster. However, the modern reconstruction has sprinklers installed to protect against fire.

The seating arrangements are also the same. Groundlings can buy a ticket to stand in the pit, and if you are sitting on a bench you have to hire a cushion separately!

Shakespeare and the Globe Theatre Resources

If you're looking for support in helping you teach children about Shakespeare and the Globe Theatre, then we have plenty of fantastic ready-to-use resources for you to explore!

There's our brilliant William Shakespeare Differentiated Lesson Teaching Pack, which includes everything you need to engage KS1 pupils with learning about Shakespeare.

We also have a great KS2 Imagine Shakespeare Resource Pack as well. It's filled with amazing Shakespeare and Globe Theatre facts for KS2. You might also be interested in our lovely Globe Theatre Colouring Sheet too! It makes for a great calming activity to use with kids.

And for older learners, there's our Facts About Williams Shakespeare PowerPoint to check out! Perfect to use with pupils at Key Stage 3 and 4.

All of our resources have been created by experienced teachers, meaning you can be sure they're reliable and relevant to the National Curriculum. Plus, we have a team of talented designers and illustrators who make sure each of our PowerPoints, worksheets and resources look eye-catching and appeal to kids.

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What was the Globe Theatre? - Facts and Information

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Learn about the Globe Theatre, it's history and architecture as well as other fascinating Globe Theatre facts! You can also discover handy resources too! The Globe Theatre was a theatre in London most commonly associated with the famous playwright William Shakespeare.

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Globe Theater Model

Enjoy this super fun and free printable paper model. All of the paper models you find on this site are originals of PaperToys.com!

A paper toy is a little toy 3D model that can be built by cutting and folding paper. Use tape or glue to hold the edges together. Simply choose a template below, print it out, and get to work!

Our free papercraft models come in mostly PDF printable form and are available for download. Any type of paper can be used as long as you can print it. Choose a design, print it out, cut out the model, and start folding it together. We have lots of different designs and models to print. It's a fun DIY projects for kids, teens, and adults alike.

The above model was made from details found from historical etchings and prints of the original Globe Theatre. This required quite a bit of research as there were actually three Globe Theatre buildings, and inaccuracies abound. This model represents the Globe as it probably looked around the time that Shakespeare's plays were presented there (1599-1608). When the lease ran out on James Burbage's Theatre in 1598, members of the Lord Chamberlain's Men took most of its timbers across the Thames to a south-bank site close to Henslowe's Rose, where they built the new Globe Theatre. It was polygonal with a three-tiered gallery surrounding an open yard. The stage was 40 to 50 feet wide and the seating capacity was nearly 3000. Shakespeare was among the six "houekeepers" and from 1599 to 1608 most of his finest plays were first publicly performed there. It passed hands to a group known as the Blackfriars Theatre from 1608 to 1609. It was destroyed by fire in 1613, rebuilt and remained active until 1642. It was demolished in 1644. Excavation was begun in 1989. More historical information is available at the Shakespeare's Globe Research Database.

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Globe Theater Model - Free Printable 3D Paper Cut Out Template

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Make a Shakespeare's Globe Theater Model out of paper with our free to print & download PDF cutout and fold paper craft!

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Romeo and Juliet Synopsis - Shakespeare Lives

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Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare | MB Pictures

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Steven Spielberg's "West Side Story" | Official Trailer | 20th Century Studios

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William Shakespeare Sa vie - Biographie en français

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Romeo and Juliet - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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ROMEO JULIET appears above at a window JULIET
Oh, what a shitty day!
ROMEO
She speaks!
Say something else, hot stuff! you are
A piece of ass, no doubt.
Athletic shoulders,
Nice eyes,
A sexy, slightly vacant gaze,
Good legs
And seriously awesome bosoms for your age.
JULIET ROMEO
[Aside] I feel like a dirty voyeur, should I say something?
JULIET
It's just your name that's the problem.
You're the same as me, but I'm not a Montague.
What's a Montague anyway? It's not a hand or a foot
Or an arm or anything like that, it wouldn't matter
If you lost it. I wish you had a different name!
What's in a name? Roses would still smell nice
Even if they were called something different.
So would Romeo, even if he changed his name,
He'd still be hot.
Romeo, lose the name and let's get serious,
This is just stupid.
Take me!
ROMEO
Tell me about it.
From now on, I'll be called something else.
I won't be Romeo anymore. I'll call myself MC Love.
JULIET
Who the fuck is hiding down there?
Are you spying on me? I'll call the police!
ROMEO JULIET
I haven't heard you talk much before,
But I'd know that voice anywhere!
That's you isn't it, Romeo Montague?
ROMEO
Um, no, not if you don't like the name.
JULIET ROMEO JULIET
Seriously, they'll chop your balls of if they see you.
ROMEO
Hell, I'm more scared of looking in your eyes
Than a good beat down or a drive-by shooting.
I'll be OK. I hope...
JULIET
Still, I'd rather they didn't see you.
ROMEO JULIET
How did you find my house, anyway? Are you stalking me?
ROMEO JULIET ROMEO
Baby, I swear by that fat old moon up there
That makes the fruit trees glow -
JULIET
Don't swear by the moon,
It's always changing.
And don't call me "baby."
ROMEO
Oh, okay. What shall I swear by?
JULIET ROMEO
But, but, if, um...
JULIET
Listen, you don't need to swear: you're cool,
But this is all a bit over the top.
I mean, you're moving a bit quickly,
Like a damned lightning bolt.
I'm going to bed. Good night!
It's been a long day and I have school tomorrow.
Let's see what happens next time we meet.
Good night, good night!
Sleep well!
ROMEO
Is that it? That's so unsatisfying.
JULIET
Well what the hell do you want to do tonight?
ROMEO
Let's tell each other that we love each other.
JULIET
Christ, we've been doing that all night.
I'd tell you again if I could.
ROMEO
What, so now you don't love me? I'm confused.
JULIET Nurse calls from within the expensive mansion
Shit, someone's coming! Make a run for it!
I'm coming nurse! Don't cheat on me Montague.
Hang on a sec, I'll come back in a bit.
Juliet exits, leaving Romeo hanging around like a tool ROMEO
Damn, I'm kind of scared about all this
And totally confused.
Getting stoned earlier was a bad idea.
Juliet comes back to the balcony JULIET
I'm back again, then I'll definitely be leaving.
Listen, if you are serious about this
And want to get married, text me tomorrow.
We'll go get married somewhere,
Just tell me where and when;
I'll give you everything
And follow you wherever you want to go.
NURSE
[Calling from within] Madam! Get your ass out here!
JULIET
I'm coming, calm the hell down! - But if you're messing with me, I'll seriously -
NURSE
[From within] Madam!
JULIET
I'm coming already -
God, she's annoying
Listen, I'll text you tomorrow.
ROMEO
Awesome. Did you say marriage earlier?
JULIET
Night then...
Juliet leaves ROMEO He starts to leave Juliet comes back out to the balcony yet again JULIET ROMEO
Damn she's got a sexy little voice.
A bit insistent though.
Typical woman.
JULIET
Romeo!
ROMEO
Alright already!
JULIET
At about what time
Shall I text you tomorrow?
ROMEO
About 9 o'clock would work for me.
JULIET
Cool. I'll look forward to it.
Why did I call you back?
ROMEO
I've no idea. But you sounded quite desperate.
JULIET
Maybe I just wanted you to keep standing there.
I like you hanging around below by balcony.
ROMEO
It's nice down here.
There's lots of fruit to eat.
JULIET ROMEO
Um, OK, I'll be your little bird.
JULIET Juliet finally exits - for good this time ROMEO

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The Romeo and Juliet Balcony Scene in Modern English | StudioKnow

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ROMEO JULIET appears above at a window JULIET Oh, what a shitty day! ROMEO She speaks! Say something else, hot stuff! you are A piece of ass, no doubt. Athletic shoulders, Nice eyes, A sexy, slightly vacant gaze, Good legs And seriously awesome bosoms for your age.

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In the Italian city of Verona, two families hate each other. Romeo is from the Montague family and Juliet is a Capulet, but they fall in love at first sight. This is their tragic love story.

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Video SparkNotes: Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet summary

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Shakespeare in Love | Official Trailer (HD) - Joseph Fiennes, Gwyneth Paltrow | MIRAMAX

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West Side Story (1957) : a musical inspired from Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare

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West Side Story (1957) : a musical inspired from Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare

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West Side Story (1961) - Official® Trailer [HD]

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"Good Night, Good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow,
that I shall say good night till it be morrow."

The bodies of Romeo Montague (17) and underage lover Juliet Capulet (14) were found today. The pair committed suicide when a bid to elope failed.

Romeo had taken a deadly dose of poison believing that his girlfriend was already dead - but she was only unconscious. When the lovestruck lass woke to discover he'd topped himself, she stabbed herself in the heart.

FAMILIES AT WAR
The tragedy comes only a few days after a brawl between rival Capulets and Montagues left two yobby youngsters,

Tybalt and Mercutio, dead. The feuding families are well known for hating each other. But they've now vowed to give up their ancient grudge in memory of their tragic teens.

The affair between the two began after a chance meeting at an exclusive Capulet ball - gatecrashed by rakish Romeo. Falling in love at first sight, they snatched secret moments with each other whenever they could - helped by a few sympathetic friends.

DESPERATE PLOT
Neither family knew about the couple, who had even secretly wed with the help of local

Continued below...

Juliet Capulet
A beautiful young woman with everything to live for, Juliet was the Capulet's only child. Up until these tragic events this quiet girl had never been in any trouble.

Romeo Montague
Well-liked lad around town Romeo always stood up for his mates.
He could handle himself but was smart enough to stay out of trouble if he could.

Tybalt
Juliet's cousin Tybalt was driven by his hatred for the Montagues. A troublemaker, he had a reputation for starting fights. Friends described him as 'bitter'.

Mercutio
Romeo's best mate, Mercutio was related to royalty - but that didn't stop him liking a joke. This party animal was a bit too fond of a fight, but he stuck by his friends.

holyman Friar Laurence. So when Mr Capulet's attempted to force a match on Juliet, it pushed her into the desperate plot that killed her.

With Romeo on the run after killing Tybalt, Juliet turned to meddling monk Laurence to get out of her desparate situation.

Bizarrely, his solution was to give the junior beauty a drug that laid her out, then fire off a message to Romeo to come to the rescue.

But Romeo rushed in to rescue his teen bride unaware of the half-baked potion plot and saw Juliet apparently dead - setting in motion two grim suicides.

What they said: "But soft! What light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun." "What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet."

Read the whole play Today's weather All about writing
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BBC - Drama - 60 Second Shakespeare - Shakespeare's plays, themes and characters - Romeo and Juliet

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"Good Night, Good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow, that I shall say good night till it be morrow." The bodies of Romeo Montague (17) and underage lover Juliet Capulet (14) were found today. The pair committed suicide when a bid to elope failed.

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Romeo and Juliet Introduction

Want more deets? We've also got a complete Online Course about Romeo and Juliet, with three weeks worth of readings and activities to make sure you know your stuff.

Before young William Shakespeare wrote his play about two poetry speaking, hormone-driven teenagers who defy their families' long-standing feud and risk everything to be together, love wasn't even considered a suitable subject for a "tragedy."

Not anymore. Written at the beginning of Shakespeare's career as a playwright, The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet (c. 1595) is now considered to be the greatest love story of all time. It wasn't a sleeper hit, either: the play was so popular in its own time that it was published twice during Shakespeare's life (1597 and 1599). Considering the state of printing press technology at the time, that's kind of a big deal.

Shakespeare adapted the storyline from Arthur Brookes' popular Tragicall History of Romeus and Juliet (1562), a long English poem based on a story that dates back to a novella by Masuccio Salernitano called " Mariotto and Giannozza" (1476). But it's not just a remake. Ever heard of the Tragicall History of Romeus and Juliet? Yeah, we thought not. Shakespeare made the story immortal-or, at least extremely long-lived. The balcony scene alone (Act 2, Scene 2 in most editions of the play) is one of the most memorable and recognizable moments in all of Western literature.

Despite its fancy pedigree, Romeo and Juliet is also considered to be one of Shakespeare's most accessible works. Along with Julius Caesar, it's typically one of the first Shakespeare plays studied by Western students, who get a dose of Elizabethan theater, Shakespearean language, and, of course, love poetry. And it's not just a school favorite; it's an audience favorite, too. Romeo and Juliet has been performed countless times by world-renowned theater companies and remains an audience favorite.

It's also one of the most adapted plays of all time-Franco Zeffirelli made it into an Oscar winning film in 1968 and the play was also adapted into a Tony Award winning musical, West Side Story (1957). Romeo and Juliet has inspired countless pop lyrics, like Taylor Swift's " Love Story," Dire Straits' " Romeo and Juliet," and The Reflections' doo-wop style "(Just Like ) Romeo and Juliet." Almost any "forbidden love" stories can trace their genealogy back to Romeo and Juliet, from Wuthering Heights to Stephenie Meyer's saga.

But is it really nothing more than a silly blockbuster? Is reading Romeo and Juliet the equivalent of students 400 years from now studying Love Actually? Famous seventeenth-century journaler Samuel Pepys dismissed the plays as "the worst that ever [he] heard in [his] life" ( source). And even we have to admit that Romeo seems a lot more like an emo teenager than a man in the grips of immortal passion.

Well, you're not going to wait around for us to tell you, are you?

What is Romeo and Juliet About and Why Should I Care?

A lot of people think the balcony scene is about as deep as a twelve-year-old interpretation of true love. Boy meets girl, they stare into each other's eyes and say a lot of poetic things. Cue sappy music. Anybody who makes it past the age of fourteen, of course, realizes that's not what love is about. Swearing undying commitment to each other fifteen minutes after they've met isn't love-it's infatuation.

But Romeo and Juliet is not just about what happens when two hormonal teenagers collide. It's clear to anyone who's watched Engaged and Underaged that getting what you want out of young love isn't always all it's cracked up to be. The real moral of the story here is that sometimes love is doomed to fail, and that applies no matter how old you are and what time you're living in.

Why? Because no one loves in a vacuum. In the first few weeks of a love affair, you might feel like you and your lovah are in a world of your own-but pretty soon, reality comes crashing back. You've got homework to do, or jobs to go to; parents breathing down your neck, or employers wondering why you keep calling in sick. And that's not even to mention your friends, who've stopped inviting you to hang out.

But let's say that you do stay together. You marry your teenage sweetheart and set up house together. Pretty soon, you've got bills to pay, maybe kids to feed, or you're the one who's waking up at 6AM to take the dog for a walk again.

Our point? Romeo and Juliet is at least partly a tragedy about the clash between private love (you and your honey) and public interest (convenient marriages, or paying bills, or raising a family). We may not have quite the same roadblocks that Romeo and Juliet have, but intense, passionate love can be just as antisocial in the 21st century as it was in the 16th century. How do you negotiate the minefield? Well, hopefully better than Romeo and Juliet did.

Romeo and Juliet Resources

Movie or TV Productions

West Side Story, 1961
West Side Story is a retelling of Romeo and Juliet as a musical centered around two warring New York City gangs. The classic film was directed by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim.

Tromeo and Juliet, 1996
Tromeo and Juliet is a campy, street punk version of Romeo and Juliet that high school teachers are highly unlikely to show in class. It also happens to feature a whole lot of raw meat (we're not kidding).

Shakespeare in Love, 1999
Shakespeare in Love is a fictionalized account of how Shakespeare overcame writer's block and penned Romeo and Juliet, starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Joseph Fiennes. Anyone who hearts Shakespeare should see this film. (Psst. It's co-written by Tom Stoppard, the guy responsible for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead.)

Romeo Must Die, 2000
Romeo Must Die, a modern re-telling of the classic play, directed by Andrzej Bartkowiak and starring Jet Li.

Gnomeo and Juliet, 2008
Gnomeo and Juliet, an animated film featuring Emily Blunt as Juliet and James McAvoy as Gnomeo.

Tonight, Tonight
West Side Story (1961) is a retelling of Romeo and Juliet as a musical centered around two warring New York City gangs. The people behind this movie are a who's who of awesome mid-century Broadway (Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, Jerome Robbins). There's literally no way you'll regret watching this, except if you run out of tissues.

Eternal Love
Stephenie Meyer thought of as an updated Romeo and Juliet. Do you agree?

Videos

"Rome-old and Juli-eh"
An 18th season episode of The Simpsons is called "Rome-old and Juli-eh" - it's about old Grandpa Simpson's "forbidden" love affair with Marge's sister Selma, who is much younger but equally unattrractive. You can watch the full episode here.

Historical Documents

"The Story of Pyramus and Thisbe"
Book 4 of Ovid's Metamorphoses (Ovid started the project around 2 A.D.) contains "The Story of Pyramus and Thisbe," another source for Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. You can read and download an English translation here.

Pyramus and Thisbe in A Midsummer Night's Dream
Act 5, Scene 1 of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream (written around the same time as Romeo and Juliet) features a performance of "Pyramus and Thisbe," a play-within-the-play that explores the same themes as Romeo and Juliet. You can read it here (and check out Shmoop's learning guide for Midsummer while you're at it). This is a link to Act 5, Scene 1 but you can follow the links to read the entire play.

Through the Wall
Book 4 of Ovid's Metamorphoses (Ovid started the project around 2 A.D.) contains "The Story of Pyramus and Thisbe," another source for Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. You can read and download an English translation here.

Sourced
Act 5, Scene 1 of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream (written around the same time as Romeo and Juliet) features a performance of "Pyramus and Thisbe," a play-within-the-play that explores the same themes as Romeo and Juliet. You can read it here (and check out Shmoop's learning guide for while you're at it). This is a link to Act 5, Scene 1 but you can follow the links to read the entire play.

Other

"60 Second Shakespeare"
Think Romeo and Juliet would make a great tabloid cover story? You're not the only one. Check out the BBC's hilarious "60 Second Shakespeare."

'Speare
Galaga meets Romeo and Juliet? Play 'Speare, an arcade-style video game that helps users learn about Shakespeare's language and plays. Compliments of the Canadian Adaptations of Shakespeare Project.

Interactive Folio
Check out the "Interactive Folio" of Romeo and Juliet, where you can click on the lines of the play for access to definitions, fun facts, images, dramatic readings, and cool video clips.

Websites

Game Theory
Galaga meets Romeo and Juliet? Play 'Speare, an arcade-style video game that helps users learn about Shakespeare's language and plays. Compliments of the Canadian Adaptations of Shakespeare Project.

Shakespeare in Love with Tom
Shakespeare in Love is a fictionalized account of how Shakespeare overcame writer's block and penned Romeo and Juliet, starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Joseph Fiennes. Anyone who hearts Shakespeare should see this film. (Psst. It's co-written by Tom Stoppard, the guy responsible for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead. Dude knows his Shakespeare.)

Video

Audio

Images

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Want more deets? We've also got a complete Online Course about Romeo and Juliet, with three weeks worth of readings and activities to make sure you know your stuff. Before young William Shakespeare wrote his play about two poetry speaking, hormone-driven teenagers who defy their families' long-standing feud and risk everything to be together, love wasn't even considered a suitable subject for a "tragedy."