ENGLISH LITERATURE (CBSE/UGC NET)

Detailed explanation-1: -Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare early in his career about the romance between two Italian youths from feuding families. It was among Shakespeare’s most popular plays during his lifetime and, along with Hamlet, is one of his most frequently performed plays.

Detailed explanation-2: -The First Folio, in 1623, categorized Shakespeare’s plays as Comedies, Histories, and Tragedies. Shakespeare wrote the great tragedies-excluding Romeo and Juliet, which is not, strictly speaking, a true tragedy-between 1601 and 1606, and apparently Hamlet was written first.

Detailed explanation-3: -The story is, indeed, based on the life of two real lovers who lived and died for each other in Verona, Italy in 1303. Shakespeare is known to have discovered this tragic love story in Arthur Brooke’s 1562 poem entitled “The Tragical History of Romeo and Juliet”.

Detailed explanation-4: -Between about 1590 and 1613, Shakespeare wrote at least 37 plays and collaborated on several more. His 17 comedies include The Merchant of Venice and Much Ado About Nothing. Among his 10 history plays are Henry V and Richard III. The most famous among his tragedies are Hamlet, Othello, King Lear and Macbeth.

Detailed explanation-5: -Luigi da Porto – the real Romeo – has spent the last six years as a paraplegic due to a war wound received in 1511. During this time, he has dedicated his life to his health and his beloved Lucina – the real Juliet.