We know that Shakespeare was

baptized on April 26, 1564 and it is

assumed that he was born on April
23, 1564. We also know that in
1582 at age eighteen, Shakespeare
married Anne Hathaway, an older
women who was twenty six at the
time. Shakespeare left Stratford for
London to make his fortune roughly
fours years later.
Shakespeare headed to London
sometime in 1586, there already
was an established community of
playwrights.By1595, Shakespeare
was suffiently successful to be
named as one of the more senior
members of the Lord Chamberlain's
men, an acting company that
performed frequently before court.
This was no small honor; this
prominent theatre company later
became the royal company called
the
King's
Men,
making
Shakespeare an official playwright
to the King of England. By 1596,
Shakespeare was so successful as
a playwright that his family was
finally granted a Coat of Arms which
amongst other things allowed
Shakespeare to call himself a
"gentleman".
Shakespeare's fortunes were
also improving during this
time. In 1598 Shakespeare
became a ten percent owner
of the new purpose built
theatre in London, the
famous Globe Theatre were
so many of his plays would
later be performed. By 1611,
Shakespeare
retired,
returning to Stratford and in
1616 Shakespeare died

A Chorus introduces two feuding

families of Verona, the Capulets
and the Montagues. On a hot
summer's day fighting by the
young men of each faction is
stopped by the Prince who
threatens the law. Capulet plans a
feast to introduce his daughter,
Juliet, who is almost fourteen, to
the Count Paris who seeks to
marry her. By a mistake of the
illiterate
servant
Peter,
Montague's son, Romeo, and his
friends Benvolio and the Prince's
cousin Mercutio, hear of the party
and resolve to go in carnival
disguise. Romeo hopes he will
see his adored Rosaline; instead
he meets and falls instantly in
love with Juliet.
The Montagues are recognised
by Juliet's cousin Tybalt and are
forced to leave the party just as
Romeo and Juliet have each
discovered the others identity.

Romeo lingers near the Capulet's

house and talks with Juliet when
she appears on her balcony. With
the help of Juliet's Nurse the
lovers arrange to meet next day
at the cell of Friar Lawrence when
Juliet goes for confession, and
there they are married.
Tybalt picks a quarrel with
Mercutio and his friends and
Mercutio is accidentally killed as
Romeo intervenes to try to break
up the fight. In anger Romeo
pursues Tybalt, kills him and is
banished by the Prince for the
deed. Juliet is anxious that
Romeo is late meeting her and
learns of the fighting from her
Nurse. With Friar Lawrence's help
it is arranged that Romeo will
spend the night with Juliet before
taking refuge at Mantua.
To calm the family's sorrow at
Tybalt's death the day for the
marriage of Juliet to Paris is
brought forward. Capulet and his
wife are angry that Juliet does not
wish to be Paris's bride, not
knowing of her secret contract
with Romeo. Friar Lawrence
helps Juliet by providing a
sleeping draught, and

1. What is the name of Romeo's first love?

a) Juliet
b) Rosaline
c) Mary
2. Where does the story take place?
a) Verona
b)Venicec) Rome
3. Which family does Tybalt belong to?
a) The Prince b) Montagues c) Capulets
4. Where is Romeo supposed to take refuge?
a) Rome
b)Mantua
c) Milan
5. Who want to marry Juliet?
a) Count Paris b) Count Montori c) Mercutio
6. Who provides Juliet with the poison?
a) Juliets nurse b) Friar Lawrence c) Tybalt.
7. What sort of poison did Juliet use?
a) Sleeping draught
b) hash c) none

when the wedding party arrives to

greet Juliet next day they believe
she is dead. The Friar sends a
colleague to warn Romeo to
come to the Capulet's family
monument to rescue his sleeping
wife.
The message miscarries and
Romeo, hearing instead that
Juliet is dead, buys poison in
Mantua. He returns to Verona and
goes to the tomb where he
surprises and kills the mourning
Paris. Romeo takes his poison
and dies just as Juliet awakes
from her drugged sleep. She
learns what has happened from
Friar Lawrence but she refuses to
leave the tomb and stabs herself
as the Friar returns with the
Prince, the Capulets and
Romeo's lately widowed father.
The deaths of their children lead
the families to make peace,
promising to erect a monument in
their memory.

8. Did Romeo and Juliet marry?

a) no
b) yes
9. Who does Romo find near Juliets tomb?
a) Juliets father b) Lady Montague
c) Count Paris
10. What does Romeo do when he sees Juliet?
a) He kills Paris and then kills himself b) he cries
c) he lreturns to Mantua
11. What does Juliet kill herself with?
a) with poison b) with pills
c) with a knife
.

Romeo and Juliet summary from: http://www.shakespeare.org.uk/content/view/182/182/

Shakespeare biography from: http://absoluteshakespeare.com/