SECOND WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE INTER−SCHOOL CONTEST • Historial Background: • When & where was Shakespeare born? He was born in 1564 in Stratford−upon−Avon, Warwickshire. • What's the name of Shakespeare theatre, when was it built & what happened to it? Was called The Globe Theatre. The original Globe opened in 1599. It burned down in 1613 and was immediately rebuilt. The Puritans closed it in 1642. • Name 3 types of works that Shakespeare wrote: Shakespeare created several plays that, through the intervention of magic, art, compassion, or grace, often suggest redemptive hope for the human condition. Shakespeare's earliest dramatic works: Hamlet, Henry VI, Parts II, III, he Comedy of Errors, and I he Taming of the Shrew, the Two Gentlemen of Verona, Love's Labour's Lost. a study of a weak, sensitive, self−dramatizing but sympathetic monarch. • Who was queen of England during Shakespeare's time and how was this period of time called? Queen Elizabeth I. Shakespearean time • How old was Shakespeare when he married & what was the name of his wife? He was 18 years old when he married Anne Hathaway, the daughter of a farmer. • How many children did Shakespeare have? He was father of 3 children. Sussana who born in 1583, and the twins Judith and Hamlet, born in 1585. Shakespeare's only son Hamlet (named after one of Shakespeare's neighbors, Hamlet Sadler) died at age 11 in 1596. • What's the name of Shakespeare's own troupe of actors? Royal Shakespeare Company − actors: Ashcroft, Dame Peggy* Bernhardt, Sarah* Burbage, Richard* Burton, Richard* Campbell, Mrs. Patrick* Cronyn, Hume* Cushman, Charlotte Saunders* Dench, Judi* Evans, Dame Edith Mary* Evans, Maurice* Forbes−Robertson, Sir Johnston* Gambon, Michael* Garrick, David Hiller, Dame Wendy*

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Hopkins, Sir Anthony Kean, Edmund* Kemble, Fannie* Kemble, John Phillip* Macready, William Charles* Mansfield, Richard* O'Toole, Peter* Olivier, Laurence Kerr, 1st Baron Olivier of Brighton Redgrave, Sir Michael Scofield, Paul* Siddons, Sarah Kemble Terry, Dame Ellen Alicia Thompson, Emma* Thorndike, Dame (Agnes) Sybil.* • When did Shakespeare die & where was he buried? William Shakespeare, died on April 23, 1616, and was buried in the Holy Trinity Church in Stratford−upon−Avon, Warwickshire. • Give the complete name of Shakespeare's parents: John Shakespeare & Mary Arden. • What does Shakespeare's epitaph say? His epitaph reads: Good friend for Jesus sake forbearer to dig the dust enclosed heare: Blese be ye man yt spares the stones And curst be he yt moves my bones. The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet The story is, of course, about a pair of star−crossed lovers. Two teenagers pursue their love for each other despite the fact that their families have been at odds with each other for decades. The story combines swordfighting, disguise, misunderstanding, tragedy, humor, and some of the most romantic language found in literature all in the name of true love. In Verona, Italy in the late 1500's, two powerful families the Montagues and the Capulets have been feuding with each other for years. Old Capulet, Juliet's father, throws a party to which he invites to all his friends. The Montagues are not invited of course, but Romeo devises a plan to get a look at Rosaline; a young girl he has been pursing. He disguises himself and slips into the party. Once inside, his attention is stolen; not by Rosaline, but by Juliet. Romeo falls instantly in love, but is disappointed when he finds out that Juliet is a Capulet. Juliet notices Romeo too, but she is unaware that he is a member of the hated Montagues. Not able to believe that the one who caught her eye is a member of the enemy family, Juliet goes out onto her balcony to tell the stars about her strong but forbidden love. At the same time, Romeo is lurking in the bushes below. He overhears Juliet confess her love for him to the heavens. No longer able to control his powerful feelings, Romeo reveals himself to her and admits that he feels the same. The very next day, with the help of 2

Romeo's friend Friar Lawrence, Romeo and Juliet are secretly married. On the day of the wedding, two of Romeo's friends, Benvolio and Mercutio, are walking through the streets of Verona when they are confronted by Juliet's cousin, Tybalt. Tybalt is out to get Romeo for crashing the Capulet's party so he starts a fight with his friends. Romeo shows up, but does not want to fight Tybalt because he no longer holds a grudge against Juliet's family. Romeo's friends can't understand why he won't stand up for himself so Mercutio steps in to do it for him. A swordfight with Tybalt follows. Mercutio is killed. To avenge the death of his friend, Romeo kills Tybalt, an act that will award him even more hatred from the Capulet family. The Prince of Verona banishes Romeo and he is forced to leave Juliet, who is devastated by the loss of her love. Juliet's father, not knowing of his daughter's marriage, decides to marry her to another young man named Paris. In despair, Juliet consults with Friar Laurence. He advises her to agree to the marriage, but on the morning of the wedding, she will drink a potion that he prepares for her. The potion will make it look like Juliet is dead and she will be put into the Capulet burial vault. Then, the Friar will send Romeo to rescue her. She does as the Friar says and is put into the vault by her heartbroken parents. Bad news travels fast. Before the Friar can tell Romeo of the hoax, Romeo hears from someone else that his beloved Juliet is dead. Overcome with grief, Romeo buys a poison and goes to Juliet's tomb to die beside his wife. At the door of the tomb, Romeo is forced to fight Paris, whom he swiftly kills. Nothing will stop him from joining his love. Inside the vault, Romeo drinks the poison and takes his last breath next to his sleeping wife. Moments later, Juliet awakens to see her husband's dead body. She learns what has happened from Friar Laurence who has just arrived and accessed the scene. With no reason left to live, Juliet kills herself with Romeo's dagger. The tragedy has a tremendous impact on both the Montagues and the Capulets. The families are hurt so much by the death of their children that they agree to never fight again. • Questions about the book: • Describes Romeo's behavior at the beginning of the play, that made his friends Benvolio & Mercutio wonder what was happening to him? From days ago, Romeo was so melancholic. He was crying and he didn't want to hear or talk to any of his friends. He was always alone and nobody knew what was he thinking about. • Why was Romeo so melancholic at the beginning of the play? Because his love to Rosaline, a young girl he has been pursing; was not corresponded. • What did Benvolio suggest his friend Romeo to do get over his obsession for Rosaline? He suggested him to go at the Capulet's party and check another girls. • What was Capulet's answered to Paris when he told him he wanted to marry his daughter Juiet? That her daughter was still a little girl, but he was an important man who could make her so happy; and that it was an excellent opportunity to the family. So he accepted his offer. • What happened at the Capulet's party? Romeo was cautivated by Juliet. It was the first time that they saw each other, and they fall in love at the moment. Caulets announced her little daughter marriage with Dave Paris.

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• Why was Romeo & Juliet's love forbidden? Because Montagues & Capulets were two powerful families, who have been feuding with each other for years. Their hate was the biggest one in that time. • Why did Lady Capulet urge her daughter Juliet to marry at the age of 13 and what was the name of her suitor? Because, he was an important man who could make her little daughter so happy; and it was an excellent opportunity to the family. Her suitor was Dave Paris. • To which animal does Juliet compare Romeo when she accepts to marry him? She compared him to a falcon. • Why did Friar Lawrence agree to marry Romeo & Juliet against their families wishes? Because he wanted stop the hate between the Capulets & Montagues, getting the peace with their children marriage. • What circumstances forced Romeo to leave Verona? On the day of the wedding, two of Romeo's friends, Benvolio and Mercutio, are walking through the streets of Verona when they are confronted by Juliet's cousin, Tybalt. Tybalt is out to get Romeo for crashing the Capulet's party so he starts a fight with his friends. Romeo shows up, but does not want to fight Tybalt because he no longer holds a grudge against Juliet's family. Romeo's friends can't understand why he won't stand up for himself so Mercutio steps in to do it for him. A swordfight with Tybalt follows. Mercutio is killed. To avenge the death of his friend, Romeo kills Tybalt, an act that will award him even more hatred from the Capulet family. The Prince of Verona banishes Romeo and he is forced to leave Juliet Verona. • What was Juliet's parent's reaction to her refusal to marriage to Paris? Their reaction was so harsh. Juliet's father told her that if she doesn't do it, he wouldn't considerate her as his daughter any more. Lady Capulet was rigid to her husband decision. • Explain Friar Lawrence's plan to prevent Juliet's marriage to Paris: He advises her to agree to the marriage, but on the morning of the wedding, she will drink a potion that he prepares for her. The potion will make it look like Juliet is dead and she will be put into the Capulet burial vault. Then, the Friar will send Romeo to rescue her. • Describe the tragedy of the last scene of the play: Before the Friar can tell Romeo of the hoax, Romeo hears from someone else that his beloved Juliet is dead. Overcome with grief, Romeo buys a poison and goes to Juliet's tomb to die beside his wife. At the door of the tomb, Romeo is forced to fight Paris, whom he swiftly kills. Nothing will stop him from joining his love. Inside the vault, Romeo drinks the poison and takes his last breath next to his sleeping wife. Moments later, Juliet awakens to see her husband's dead body. She learns what has happened from Friar Laurence who has just arrived and accessed the scene. With no reason left to live, Juliet kills herself with Romeo's dagger. The tragedy has a tremendous impact on both the Montagues and the Capulets. The families are hurt so much by the death of their children that they agree to never fight again. Second Stage: 4

• Some people say Romeo was not really in love with Rosaline but only infatuated. Do you agree with this opinion? Yes, I agree with this opinion, because if he had been really in love with her, he would have fought until he could be with her. If there is a true love between two persons, it will never makes one of them to forget or replace the other with a third person. • What do you think about marriages at early age? Compare those days with our days. In old days this situations was more acceptable than in our days. Today there are lots of factors that make it very difficult. Currently, people and society think and live different than the way Romeo and Juliet used to live. Prejudices have been increasing from those days until the present. I personally think that it isn't a good idea to get married before getting a diploma, before getting a carrier or a profession. Young persons are the present and the future of their nations; so, marriage makes it more difficult for a person to study. Marriage is a serious compromise that has to be taken with a mature mentality, if not, it will bring lots of problems that will destroy the couple and its children. • What do you think about committing suicide for love? I really think that the menssioned suicides for love, are not really for love. The desesperation and the fear of being alone, or losing someone who we think we really love, makes us to take this senseless decision. Love never destroys, it creates. • What do you think about the Capulet & Montague making up their quarrel after their children deaths? It was late to make up their quarrel. Hate killed themselves. It's very sad that some of them had to die to achive peace, and forget the hate. Heaven found a way of killing a hate with love.

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