Skip to main content

What is the setting of Romeo and Juliet? What country is this city in? What does this city look like today?

Verona is located in Northern Italy. It has a present-day population of around 250,000. It looks like many other Italian cities of that size--old, peaceful, quiet, picturesque. The buildings are mostly one- and two-stories with tile roofs. The colors are predominantly those of the white stucco walls and red tile roofs. Many of the streets are still paved with cobblestones. There is, of course, much sunshine. It is visited by many foreign tourists because of...

Verona is located in Northern Italy. It has a present-day population of around 250,000. It looks like many other Italian cities of that size--old, peaceful, quiet, picturesque. The buildings are mostly one- and two-stories with tile roofs. The colors are predominantly those of the white stucco walls and red tile roofs. Many of the streets are still paved with cobblestones. There is, of course, much sunshine. It is visited by many foreign tourists because of the city's association with Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. This play is known and loved all over the world because of its theme of young love and tragedy. Much of the play takes place outdoors in the midst of the city. It is warm, and the nights are beautiful and sultry. The air is scented with the flowers grown in window-boxes and gardens all over the Verona, tempting young people to stay up late, as Romeo and Juliet do in the famous balcony scene in Act 2, Scene 2. 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Can you analyze the poem "Absolution" by Siegfried Sassoon?

Sure! Siegfried Sassoon fought in World War I and was wounded in battle; he spent much of his life speaking out against war, and these pacifist feelings are easy to see in his poems. This one, "Absolution," was published in 1917, the same year that Sassoon was hospitalized for what we know today as post-traumatic stress disorder. "Absolution" is a short poem that contains three stanzas of four lines each. The word "absolution" means "forgiveness," and... Sure! Siegfried Sassoon fought in World War I and was wounded in battle; he spent much of his life speaking out against war, and these pacifist feelings are easy to see in his poems. This one, "Absolution," was published in 1917, the same year that Sassoon was hospitalized for what we know today as post-traumatic stress disorder. "Absolution" is a short poem that contains three stanzas of four lines each. The word "absolution" means "forgiveness," and the v...

How and why does James Gatz become Jay Gatsby? Describe the young Gatsby/Gatz.

James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune,... James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune, whereas they arose from well-to-do families. Gatz became Gatsby through determination and discipline. At the end of the novel, the narr...

In chapter one of The Great Gatsby, what advice does Nick's father give him? How does this make him a good person to tell this story?

Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches... Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches into a discussion of how pe...