Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

Mary Ellen Snodgrass is an award-winning author of textbooks and general reference works, and a former columnist for the Charlotte Observer. A member of Phi Beta Kappa, she graduated magna cum laude from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and Appalachian State University, and holds degrees in English, Latin, psychology, and the education of gifted children.

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"For never was a story of more woe
 
Than this of Juliet and her Romeo."
 
Romeo and Juliet is the tragic story of "star-crossed lovers" from feuding families. Complete with a masquerade ball, a duel, a secret marriage, a sleeping potion, and pushy parents, the play packs a lot of action and emotion into five days of passion, romance, duplicity, and tragedy. Now you can end your Shakespearian woes with this modern translation and aids that make understanding the play quick and painless:
* A brief synopsis of the plot and action
* A comprehensive character list that describes the characteristics, motivations, and actions of each major player
* A visual character map that shows the relationships of major characters
* A cycle-of-death graphic that pinpoints the sequence of deaths and includes who dies, how they die, and why
* Reflective questions that help you understand the themes of the play
 
With Shakespeare on the Double! Romeo and Juliet, you may just fall in love with the Bard.

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Shakespeare on the Double! Romeo and Juliet

John Wiley & Sons

Chapter One

Prologue

At Verona, the chorus describes a lengthy blood-feud between the rival houses of Capulet and Montague. The prolonged enmity causes the deaths of two lovers. Their sacrifice is necessary to end the hostilities.

Scene 1

On a street in Verona, Capulet's servants, Gregory and Sampson, encounter Montague's men, Abraham and Balthasar. On the Montague side, Benvolio joins the fray with his sword raised. On the Capulet side, Tybalt follows Benvolio. Alerted to the street brawl, Capulet and his wife hurry to the scene. At Capulet's demand for a weapon, Prince Escalus halts the latest outbreak of the lengthy feud. He condemns to death the next citizen who breaches the peace. The prince summons Montague to court that afternoon in Old Freetown and arranges a meeting with Capulet. Meanwhile, Lady Montague frets over her son Romeo's unhappiness. Benvolio recalls seeing Romeo wandering a grove west of Verona an hour before sunrise. Despondent and lovesick, Romeo arrives in Verona shortly after nine. Benvolio is unable to lift Romeo's spirits.

Scene 2

In a Verona street, Count Paris discusses with Capulet a betrothal with Capulet's 13-year-old daughter Juliet. Capulet hesitates to pledge so young a girl to matrimony, yet accepts Paris's proposal if Juliet concurs with the plans. Capulet invites Paris to a traditional feast at the Capulet house on Sunday evening. An illiterate servant carries the invitation to the guests' homes. The servant stops Benvolio and Romeo to help him decipher the guest list. Benvolio decides to put on a mask and intrude on the party. Still mooning over Rosaline, who is one of the guests, Romeo agrees to accompany Benvolio.

Scene 3

At the Capulet home, Lady Capulet and the nurse discuss with Juliet the marriage offer from Paris. The nurse reminisces over her years of tending Juliet, whom she nursed in infancy after the death of the nurse's daughter Susan. Juliet is not eager to marry, but she promises to study her suitor's face and behavior at the feast.

Scene 4

That night, Romeo follows Benvolio and their high-spirited friend Mercutio by torchlight to the Capulet house. Mercutio annoys Romeo with blather about Queen Mab, the fairy queen, who influences human dreams.

Scene 5

Friends and relatives of the Capulets dance at a ball and await a late-night banquet. Although Romeo is a Montague, Capulet welcomes him. Romeo falls instantly in love with Juliet. Her hostile cousin Tybalt threatens to attack Romeo for coming uninvited to the gathering. Capulet quiets Tybalt, his brother's son, reminding him that the host has the last word on invitations. Capulet recalls when he was young and went masked to amusements. Romeo, unaware of Juliet's identity, kisses her. Too late, he and Juliet learn that they are members of opposite sides of the feuding Capulets and Montagues.

ACT II

Prologue

The chorus reports that Romeo has given up his pursuit of Rosaline because he prefers Juliet. Unlike the dismissive Rosaline, Juliet is more affectionate and receptive of Romeo's courtship.

Scene 1

Before dawn the next morning, Romeo paces alongside the Capulet orchard. He avoids his friends, who ridicule his lovesickness. He climbs the wall to get a second look at Juliet.

Scene 2

Outside Juliet's room, Romeo hears her sighing with love for him. She regrets that they belong to feuding families. He moves close enough to reveal his presence. The two denounce their family connections and pledge mutual love.

Scene 3

At sunrise, a Franciscan priest, Friar Laurence, collects herbs. Romeo arrives to discuss his new love. The friar suspects that Romeo flits from one girl to another out of immaturity. Friar Laurence encourages the idea of Romeo's union with Juliet as a way to end the protracted feud between the Capulets and the Montagues.

Scene 4

On Monday morning, Romeo walks through Verona in an upbeat mood that puzzles Benvolio and Mercutio. Romeo makes plans with Juliet's nurse to get Juliet to Friar Laurence's cell for the wedding. As an excuse to see the Friar, Juliet will get permission from her parents to go to confession. The nurse, who has tended Juliet from birth, warns Romeo not to deceive or disappoint the girl. Romeo sends a rope ladder with the nurse.

Scene 5

At the Capulet orchard, Juliet anticipates the nurse, who has not returned by noon. The nurse, arriving breathless from her walk to town, informs Juliet that Romeo will marry her that afternoon at Friar Laurence's cell. The rope ladder will allow Romeo to unite with his wife at her room that night.

Scene 6

Romeo and Juliet meet a third time at Friar Laurence's cell. He hurriedly unites them in wedlock.

ACT III

Scene 1

Benvolio and Mercutio taunt Tybalt with his nickname, the "Prince of Cats." Tybalt strikes back. Because Romeo is now Tybalt's cousin by marriage, he stands between Tybalt and Mercutio. Aiming under Romeo's arm, Tybalt thrusts his sword into Mercutio. Mercutio, realizing that he is mortally wounded, curses the Capulet and Montague families. In a rage at the loss of Mercutio, Romeo kills Tybalt. The Capulets demand punishment for Tybalt's killer. Lady Capulet proposes that Prince Escalus execute Romeo. The prince chooses a merciful course by exiling Romeo from Verona.

Scene 2

When the nurse informs Juliet of the latest street fight, Juliet mourns for Tybalt, even though he had a reputation for provoking his enemies. Juliet sends the nurse with a ring for Romeo, who has retreated to Friar Laurence's cell.

Scene 3

Meanwhile, Romeo grieves over a banishment that will end his marriage to Juliet. The nurse urges Romeo to help Juliet recover from the loss of a dear cousin. The friar suggests that Romeo go to Mantua and wait until the friar can work out a solution. Balthasar, Romeo's servant, will carry messages from Friar Laurence to Mantua.

Scene 4

Concerned for his daughter's intense sorrow, Capulet sets the wedding for Thursday. He hopes that marriage to Count Paris will ease his daughter's bouts of weeping. When Juliet balks at the plan, her father demands that she report to St. Peter's Church at the appointed time.

Scene 5

At daylight on Tuesday, the bridal couple hear the song of a lark, a token of morning. Juliet tries to keep Romeo in her room, but he must leave for Mantua or else face arrest. Capulet, who doesn't suspect his daughter's secret marriage, orders her to prepare for a wedding with Paris. The nurse thinks that Paris is the better choice of mate for Juliet. Juliet retreats to the friar's cell for advice.

ACT IV

Scene 1

When Juliet reaches Friar Laurence's cell, she encounters Paris finalizing the wedding plans. She gives him no indication of her marriage to the recently exiled Romeo. After Paris leaves her to confess in privacy, she mourns the turn of events that separates her from her husband. The friar chooses a powerful herb to suppress Juliet's vital functions. By swallowing the herb that night, Juliet will seem dead. The Capulets will inter her body above ground in the family burial vault. The ruse...