Romeo and Juliet, Act 1 scene 1, Act 3 scene 1 and Act 5 scene 3.

GCSE COURSEWORK- Shakespeare.

The three scenes I have chosen from Romeo and Juliet are, Act 1 scene

1, Act 3 scene 1 and Act 5 scene 3. Romeo and Juliet is a story of two

“star -crossed lovers” from rival families, the Montagues and the

Capulets. It is a romantic tragedy. The very first scene shows violence

between the servants of the rival families. The location of this scene is

significant because it sets the scene for the play. Act 3 scene 1is full of

violence and blood and people are killed. Act 5 scene 3 is when Romeo

threatens his own friend and builds up anger.

The play was written by William Shakespeare. It was written between

1589-1595. In the old days people came to watch an entertaining

drama, and not cheesy romance. So, the characters had to keep the

audience awake with a lot of violence and conflict throughout the play.

The audience might have liked “Romeo and Juliet” because there was

romance, violence and ended with a tragedy. If they didn’t like the play

they would have thrown rotten vegetables at the actors and jeer at

them. The characters were played by male actors. Even the female

characters were played by men, who had soft voices. 16th-17th century

theatres lacked stage effects etc. The plays were performed at midday

in open roofed theatres. If the scene had changed from day to night the

actors would talk about it in their lines. E.g. ”which dark night hath so

discovered.” 2.2.106.

The first scene of the play, act 1 scene 1 is very important for the

introduction of the play. It sets the scene for the streets of Verona. The

characters Sampson and Gregory, Capulet’s servants, are first seen in

this scene. This gives the play an exciting start and it is well written to

make us aware that the conflict is between Montagues and Capulets.

Before this scene a prologue had been said. It was titled “The tragedy of

Romeo and Juliet”. It gives us a preview of the play: the bitter quarrels

of the Montagues and Capulets are ended up only by the death of their

children, Romeo and Juliet. In the second scene County Paris appears in

Capulet’s home asking permission for Juliet’s hand in marriage. Capulet

says his daughter is still “a stranger to the world”, but he will agree if

Juliet consents. i

Capulet’s servants, Sampson and Gregory, joke together in a public

place in Verona. They boast that they are superior to the Montagues. “I

will ...