It’s the age old story of a young man and a young woman who are in love with each other, but their families do not like each other. It’s the story of how they need to keep their love for each other a secret. And, ultimately it’s the story of a love that can never be, and ends with an unhappy ending. The story of course is one of the most famous stories of all time – William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.
The story of Romeo and Juliet is a familiar story that has been told on the stage and in the movies. The story has also been the basis of many similar stories and adaptations, including the musical West Side Story.
Romeo and Juliet
The story of Romeo and Juliet revolves around two families: the Montague’s and the Capulet’s. Romeo is a son of the Montague family, while Juliet is a daughter of the Capulet family. The problem revolves around that fact that the two families are mortal enemies of each other, and the two young lovers are forbidden to see each other. The remainder of the story involves the two keeping their relationship a secret.
- Folger Shakespeare Library
- Romeo and Juliet: List of Scenes
- Study Guide for Romeo and Juliet
- Story of Romeo and Juliet
- Entire Play of Romeo and Juliet
- Storyline of Romeo and Juliet
Characters
As mentioned above, the main characters, Romeo and Juliet, are from rival families. The Montague family is led by Lord and Lady Montague. The Capulet family is led by Lord and Lady Capulet. Other major characters in the story are Prince Escalus, Count Paris who is also seeking the hand of Juliet and Mercutio.
- Romeo and Juliet Character Analysis
- Character Profiles for Romeo and Juliet
- Character Comparison of Romeo and Juliet and West Side Story
- Characters and Story of Romeo and Juliet
- Character List
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare is the author of Romeo and Juliet, as well as many other stories such as MacBeth, Hamlet and A Midsummer Nights Dream. Shakespeare’s work has been adapted for the stage, opera and cinema. William Shakespeare is generally regarded as one of the finest playwrights of all time.
- Shakespeare Timeline
- William Shakespeare Biography
- Shakespeare Plays and Poems
- Biography of William Shakespeare
- Works of William Shakespeare
Teaching Resources
The works of Shakespeare, in particular Romeo and Juliet, is one of the most studied plays of all time. It is frequently a favorite of high school drama clubs and English Teachers everywhere.
- Teaching Resources for Romeo and Juliet
- Shakespeare Teaching Resources
- Teaching Resources for Romeo and Juliet
- Shakespeare Lesson Plans
- Romeo and Juliet Teaching Resources
- PBS Romeo and Juliet Teaching Resources
Article written by Janice D. McDonald