William Shakespeare is one of the worlds greatest writers. He wrote plays and poetry, for the people in London to watch and enjoy. William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon.  He later went to London, to train to be an actor, but he soon became famous for writing plays. People around him, including his colleagues and family and freinds said he was the best writer of his time. Most people now say he was the best of all time. It was a great loss when he passed away at 52, especially, on his birthday.

Romeo and Juliet is one of the most famous plays in the world. This is iconic in English literature, and plays a massive part in the English heritage.The plays are as famous now as they where back in the day. Shakespeare, and his life gets explored and learnt about from all ages, all around the world, primary school, to college and university.  Most people of all ages love Shakespeare and his iconic works.

For the first two acts, the play is rather a (slapstick)comedy, like the classical comedy(back in the day). The play then starts to unfold as a tragedy, in Act 3 Scene 1 when Mercutio dies. The play ends up being a story of love and tragedy , and not much of a comedy anymore. Fate is explained as a predetermined path, set out by ‘God’,which is out of a persons control. The outcome could be negative, as well as positive.

The play is kicked off with the prologue, this explained the whole play, in only fourteen lines. The prologue just literally explains that there, are two families with an ‘ancient grudge’ against each other, meaning family members are always fighting. The prologue states that from these two families, “two star-crossed lovers” will end the fight between their families, but only by dying.

Romeo and Juliet are stated as”star-crossed lovers…” which literally means, against the stars. Stars were thought to control people’s destinies and fate. Meaning that it wasn’t fate, and it wasn’t planned by God that they would be together.

Fate is portrayed through the whole play, from start to the end. The first example of fate is shown in Act 1 Scene 2 , when Peter, an illiterate servant walks up to two rich looking men in the street,(which happen to be Romeo and Mercutio) to read out the guest list for the Capulet party. When Romeo reads the list aloud, Roselyn appears on the list, the only love of his life ( at that moment) Fate brought Peter to ask Romeo for help in which resulted in Romeo to see Roselyn’s name and going to the party. When he eventually gets there, he sees Juliet, completely forgetting about Roselyn and falling in love with Juliet, a member of his families enemy. If Peter had never come asked Romeo, he would have never met Juliet.  Even before the Capulet party, Romeo tells Mercutio that he had a dream that something will happen at the party that will be the end of him, which actually eventually happened when he met Juliet, which caused his death at the end. The Capulets and Montagues were very religious, therefore Romeo says “…But He that hath the steerage of my course. Direct my sail…”. Romeo is the boat, in his path of life, and He (God) is the pilot of the boat.

Shakespeare uses a large range of powerful language , one of which is the use of metaphors. A metaphor is simply something that you use to describe something as something else.

(Romeo) “My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand to smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.” Romeo is wanting to kiss Juliet, saying that it would be a wonderful experience ir

(Romeo)”But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet t is the sun.” Romeo is describing Juliet as such a beautiful thing, like the sun.

Fate and Destiny were big themes in  ‘Romeo and Juliet. Fate is a path set by God  outside a persons control. This is firstly shown by the quote “star-cross’d  star lovers ” in the prologue m meaning that they were togeher, against the starsThe whole play, and story was built around the idea of fate. Romeo and Julietsdestiny was set on an unchangeable course.

(Mercutio , Act 5 Scene 3) “…A great power than we can contradict…” That “great power”, is of course, God.

Lambic pentameter is a line, one stressed word, and one unstressed e.g. “Two households both, alike in dignity…” The prologue is the very first example of ‘lambic pentameter’, where the whole paragraph rhymes and flows. Lambic Pentameter was used to entice people to listen, as some people were drunk, and didn’t actually listen. This encouraged people to keep on listening, and was also nice to hear.