Table of Contents

Introduction; A summary of the plot; What is the play about? How does Romeo and Juliet differ from Shakespeare's comedies? Why is Romeo introduced to us indirectly? What do we make of Romeo's first appearance? How is Juliet introduced? Why is Mercutio so important? How does Mercutio prepare us for Juliet? Why is Romeo's first glimpse of Juliet so important? What is it that makes the balcony scene so memorable? What's in a name? How does Juliet speak her love? How does Shakespeare handle time in Romeo and Juliet? Why is Juliet so young? How does Shakespeare show Juliet's "erotic longing"? Is there a moral in this play? A short chronology.

About the Author

Simon Palfrey is Professor of English Literature at Oxford University, and a Fellow of Brasenose College. His books include Late Shakespeare: a New World of Words, Doing Shakespeare (a TLS International Book of the Year), Shakespeare in Parts (written with Tiffany Stern), winner of the Medieval and Renaissance Drama Society's prize for best new book, and the forthcoming Shakespeare's Possible Worlds. He is the founding editor, with Ewan Fernie, of Arden's series of original 'minigraphs', Shakespeare Now! His creative work includes a novel, The Life and Death of the Brothers Macbeth (written with Fernie), and a new play, Demon's Land, inspired by Spenser's 1590s poem Faerie Queene, and set in Palfrey's home state of Tasmania.

Reviews

"Romeo and Juliet is as inspiring to read as it is to watch. This guide illuminates the text without losing any of the passion and is essential reading for all Shakespeare students." Dame Judi Dench