1.1.1

Tragedy & Setting

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Tragedy

The play can be classified as a tragedy. Tragedies are plays that tell stories of people who make errors and suffer. In most tragedies, the main characters die at the end (like Romeo and Juliet).

Downfall

Downfall

  • Tragedies are stories about the downfall of the characters.
    • This means that these characters begin the play in happy situations and end up in terrible ones (like Romeo and Juliet themselves).
Wider forces

Wider forces

  • Sometimes, the wider forces in the world cause tragedy. This includes things like chance.
  • In this play, fate causes a lot of the tragedy – Romeo and Juliet were fated to fall in love and die to end the fighting of their families.
Villains

Villains

  • Sometimes it is villains who cause tragedy.
    • Tybalt causes further tragedy as he tried to get vengeance (revenge) on Romeo and kills Mercutio.
    • By doing this, he causes Romeo to take revenge on him.
Tragic characters

Tragic characters

  • Often, tragic characters bring about their own downfall.
  • They have a flaw (an error) in their character, such as ambition or immorality, which makes them make mistakes of judgment
  • Do Romeo and Juliet bring about their own downfall?
    • Their decision to get married could be considered an error in judgement – they do not really think about the consequences of their actions in terms of their families’ reactions.
    • Other errors in judgement could be their individual decisions to commit suicide without thinking it through.
Romeo and Juliet

Romeo and Juliet

  • Romeo and Juliet suffer because of bad luck, but also their own bad judgements.
    • Romeo’s rash decision to fight Tybalt and Juliet’s decision to take the sleeping potion has negative outcomes.

Setting

Shakespeare wrote Romeo and Juliet in England sometime around 1594 to 1595 (the Elizabethan era).

Physical setting

Physical setting

  • The play was set in Verona in Italy for the most part, with Romeo banished to Mantua later in the story.
  • A range of settings are present in the text, from marketplaces to large family houses and tombs.
Social setting

Social setting

  • The social setting is central to the story – the two families are rich and powerful but don’t abide by (stick to) the law with regards to feuding (arguing over a long period of time).
Significance of Verona

Significance of Verona

  • During the Elizabethan era, very few English people would have been able to visit Italy. They would have had very little knowledge or understanding of life in Italy, especially Verona.
  • Italy was a great place to set a story like Romeo and Juliet.
    • Because of the Romans, Italy is linked to many classical stories and myths. This means it is a very effective setting for stories of dramatic romance and violence.
  • Italy was a Catholic country during this period, while England was in religious turmoil (a state of uncertainty or disruption). There was lots of fighting between Catholics and Protestants in England.
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1

Context

1.1

Context

1.1.1Tragedy & Setting1.1.2Relationships1.1.3Religion & Fate1.1.4End of Topic Test - Context1.1.5Diagnostic Misconceptions - Era1.1.6Diagnostic Misconceptions - Location
2

Plot Summary

2.1

Prologue

2.1.1Prologue
2.2

Act 1

2.2.1Scene 12.2.2Scene 1 Quotes2.2.3Scene 22.2.4Scene 32.2.5Scene 42.2.6Scene 52.2.7End of Topic Test - Prologue & Act 1
2.3

Act 2

2.3.1Scenes 1-22.3.2Scene 32.3.3Scene 42.3.4Scenes 5-62.3.5End of Topic Test - Act 2
2.4

Act 3

2.4.1Scene 12.4.2Scene 22.4.3Scenes 3-42.4.4Scene 52.4.5End of Topic Test - Act 3
2.5

Act 4

2.5.1Scene 12.5.2Scenes 2-32.5.3Scenes 4-5
2.6

Act 5

2.6.1Scene 12.6.2Scene 22.6.3Scene 32.6.4Scene 3 - Quotes2.6.5End of Topic Test - Acts 4 & 52.6.6Diagnostic Misconceptions - Drugs2.6.7Diagnostic Misconceptions - Knowing about the Wed2.6.8Diagnostic Misconceptions - Order of Deaths
3

Key Characters

3.1

Romeo

3.1.1First Impressions & Juliet's Effect3.1.2Character Development3.1.3Reactions & Key Quotes3.1.4Diagnostic Misconceptions - Age3.1.5Diagnostic Misconceptions - Banishment3.1.6Diagnostic Misconceptions - Naivety
3.2

Juliet

3.2.1First Impressions & Character Development3.2.2Tragic Character3.2.3Key Quotes3.2.4End of Topic Test - Romeo & Juliet3.2.5Diagnostic Misconceptions - Real People?3.2.6Diagnostic Misconceptions - Montagues vs Capulets
3.3

Mercutio

3.3.1Characterisation3.3.2Key Quotes
3.4

The Nurse, Benvolio & Tybalt

3.4.1The Nurse3.4.2Benvolio3.4.3Tybalt
3.5

Friar Laurence

3.5.1Characterisation3.5.2Key Quotes3.5.3End of Topic Test- Mercutio, Nurse & Benvolio3.5.4End of Topic Test - Tybalt & Friar Laurence3.5.5Diagnostic Misconceptions - What is a Friar?
3.6

Grade 9 - Key Characters

3.6.1Grade 9 - Key Characters3.6.2Grade 9 - Key Characters: Extract Analysis
4

Key Themes & Concepts

4.1

Power & Danger of Love

4.1.1Romeo's Loves4.1.2Friendship & Family4.1.3Violent Love4.1.4End of Topic Test - Love
4.2

Violence, Fate & Gender

4.2.1Violence, Conflict & Suicide4.2.2Exam-Style Questions - Violence & Death4.2.3Fate & Destiny4.2.4Gender4.2.5End of Topic Test - Violence, Fate & Gender4.2.6Grade 9 - Key Themes4.2.7Diagnostic Misconceptions - Type of Play
5

Writing Techniques

5.1

Writing Techniques

5.1.1Language, Rhythm & Rhyme5.1.2Symbolism & Imagery5.1.3Dramatic Irony & Soliloquys5.1.4End of Topic Test - Writing Techniques5.1.5Diagnostic Misconceptions - Wherefore
6

Recap: Main Quotes

6.1

Main Quotes by Act

6.1.1Act 16.1.2Act 26.1.3Act 36.1.4Act 46.1.5Act 5
6.2

Main Quotes by Character

6.2.1Romeo6.2.2Juliet6.2.3Mercutio6.2.4Friar Laurence6.2.5Nurse6.2.6Benvolio6.2.7Tybalt

Practice questions on Tragedy & Setting

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    Things that cause tragedies in Shakespearean plays:True / false
  2. 2
    What happens to most characters at the end of tragedies?Multiple choice
  3. 3
    Which of these show Romeo and Juliet's bad judgements?True / false
  4. 4
    What cause tragedies?Fill in the list
  5. 5
    Where is Romeo banished to?Multiple choice
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