Act One, Scene Five of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

Act One, Scene Five of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

'Romeo and Juliet' is one of the most well known plays that there has

ever been, and included in the play is the very famous line; 'O Romeo,

Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?' These legendary plays and lines show

just how excellent Shakespeare's works are.

William Shakespeare was born in 1564, died in 1616. In his lifetime he

wrote thirty-seven plays in total and became a renowned playwright.

'Romeo and Juliet' was the second tragedy written, and it was probably

written at about 1599, and was the second of his tragedies. Like all

the plays of Shakespeare, 'Romeo and Juliet' was written for a typical

Elizabethan playhouse. These theatres came about from 1576, when the

first theatre was built. Before this time, plays had been performed by

a group of actors (all male) who travelled from town to town, using

open places, such as inn-yards, or with permission, the hall of a

noble house as a theatre. Shakespeare's own theatre the Globe was

quite typical of that period. It was hexagonal in shape, with three

roofed galleries that encircled an open courtyard. The stage, which

was quite plain and high, projected into the yard, where the standing

audience surrounded it. At the rear of the stage were two doors at

either side for the entrances and exits of the actors, and above the

doors was a balcony that could by used by musicians or for scenes on

an upper level. Over the stage was a thatched roof supported by

pillars called the 'heavens'. It could be used to lover characters

from during the play. Underneath was a space that could be used by

characters ascending and descending thro...

... middle of paper ...

... define ranks, and puns can be used. This would keep

the audience interested and excited. This also helps the audience to

feel the emotions that the audience are going through, and it helps

the audience to get a vivid picture of what is happening.

In conclusion I think that Act One Scene Five is a very effective

piece of drama. It combines a range of techniques to capture the

audience, and keep them interested throughout. The variation in

language not only helps the audience to define ranks, and feel the

emotions the characters are going through, but also to keep the

audience interested throughout the scene and to give variation to the

language. In the video, the scene is presented using modern techniques

to enhance Shakespeare's original techniques, and to update it rather.

Overall it is an excellent piece of drama.