Romeo and Juliet

by William Shakespeare

Assigned by 1 of the 9 reading lists, catalogue entry only

Written
c. 1595
Language
English
Length
Short · 280 ppunder 120 pages
Difficulty
Moderate2 of 5 for a first-year reader

We recommendRomeo and JulietFolger Shakespeare Library (Simon and Schuster), 2004The standard school edition, with glosses for every hard line.

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In Verona, where the Montague and Capulet families feud in the streets, Romeo Montague crashes a Capulet feast and falls in love with Juliet Capulet. They are married in secret by Friar Laurence the next day. Hours later Romeo kills Juliet's cousin Tybalt to avenge his friend Mercutio and is banished. To escape a forced marriage Juliet takes a potion that feigns death; the letter explaining the plan never reaches Romeo, who kills himself at her tomb, and she wakes to stab herself.

No reading guide yet

The catalogue entry above is complete: the dates, the form, the themes and every program that assigns Romeo and Juliet are verified against each program's published list.

What is missing is the part that takes real work: the summary, the key passages, and a recommended translation. The edition named below is the one most programs assign, so the buy links are useful already.

Browse the 48 works that do have a guide →

The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, Verona, Montague, Capulet, Mercutio, Tybalt, Friar Laurence, the Nurse, balcony scene, star-crossed lovers, Shakspere, the Bard, the Bard of Avon