Romeo and Juliet
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Romeo and Juliet, written by William Shakespeare around 1595, is based on the narrative poem, "The Tragical History of Romeus and Juliet," written in 1562 by Arthur Brooke.
Set in Renaissance Italy, Romeo and Juliet is a story about the love between two teenagers whose families have been at war with one another for many years. When the feud worsens between the Montagues and Capulets, two prominent families in the city of Verona, the two "star-cross'd" lovers, Romeo and Juliet, come up with an elaborate plan to escape the fighting and be together. But the web of violence, lies, and miscommunication they become entangled in ultimately brings about their demise. The play deals with a variety of topics, such as love, hate, friendship, loyalty, parenting, stereotypes, labelling, and fate, and reminds us that the youngest and most inexperienced in our society can sometimes teach us the most profound lessons. Romeo and Juliet Illustrated Through The Ages - Ford Madox Brown. Romeo and Juliet, 1867 - Bunbury, Henry William. Romeo and Juliet with Friar Laurence (1792-96) - Calderon, Philip H. Juliet (1888) - Dadd, Richard. Sketch for the Passions. Love (1853) - Frank Dicksee. Romeo and Juliet, 1884. - William Hatherell. "Where's Romeo?", c. 1912. - Frederic Leighton. Count Paris . . ., c.1856-58. - Frederic Lord Leighton. The Reconciliation of the Montagues and Capulets, 1854. - Frederic Lord Leighton. The Reconciliation of the Montagues and Capulets over the Dead Bodies of Romeo and Juliet, 1853-55. - John Everett Millais. The Death of Romeo and Juliet, 1848. - John R. S. Stanhope. Juliet and Her Nurse, 1863. Pictures of Shakespeare Ever wonder what Shakespeare really looked like? As Shakespeare did not come from a noble background no portraits or pictures of the Bard, or any members of his family, were commissioned. Neither is there any evidence that Shakespear commissioned his own portrait or pictures in his later, prosperous years. There is no evidence that a portrait or pictures were ever painted of the Bard whilst he was still alive, nor is there any written description of his physical appearance. The following images or pictures of William Shakespeare were all apparently crafted after his death. The pictures portrayed of Shakespeare differ dramatically. Take a look. View pictures of The British Library's copy of Romeo and Juliet written in 1597 Reinventing Romeo and Juliet The story of Romeo and Juliet permeates our culture. References to Shakespeare's star-crossed lovers resound throughout the media and can be found in Brazilian soap operas and American snack adverts. The term "Romeo" is a euphemism for a philandering lover or "ladies man". It is also the name of England football star David Beckham's younger son. Music The story of Romeo and Juliet has inspired: the stage name of best-selling teenage rap artist, 'Lil Romeo (born August 1989) songs by Dire Straits, Bruce Springsteen, The Supremes, Rick Astley, Lou Reed and Tom Waits a ballet by Prokofiev a tone poem (or "overture-fantasia") by Tchaikovsky At least 24 operas Books A number of books have taken up, altered or developed the theme of star-crossed lovers. In Joan Lingard's Across the Barricades, a 16-year old Protestant girl, Sadie Jackson, falls in love with Kevin McCoy, a Catholic boy during the Troubles in Northern Ireland. The plot is largely indebted to Shakespeare's play. Tromeo and Juliet Two punk versions of the play exist: Punk Side Story is a mock musical soundtrack which adapts the songs of the original West Side Story score into a crude, punk rock style. Tromeo and Juliet (1995, Lloyd Kaufman) is a Troma Pictures movie featuring body piercings, gory violence, and mutilations - plus Lemmy from the band Motorhead as Narrator. Film and Musicals Many versions of the story have been made into films, from Mississippi Marsala, West Side Story and Rooftops to Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet and Shakespeare in Love. Other musical adaptations include Terrence Mann's 1999 rock musical William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, Gérard Presgurvic's 2001 Roméo et Juliette, de la Haine à l'Amour and Riccardo Cocciante's 2007 Giulietta & Romeo. |