Other Strange Things.

Some of the things the characters do in Shakespeare's plays seem really strange to us. Remember, though, this is because of the plays' context - they were wriiten 400 years ago.

The Characters Names look Odd.

Don't be put off by the fact that some of the characters have funny looking names. Shakespeare set some of his plays in foreign countries and gave the characters foreign names.

E.g.

1) Mercutio

2) Tybalt

3) Benvolio

No, not the Italian footy team's midfield - they're characters from Romeo and Juliet. They sound Italian because the play's set in Italy.

4) Ariel

Sometimes the character names are supposed to be funny or represent something. Don't worry if you don't get them or find them side-splittingly hilarious. People's sense of humour and the meaning of names in Shakespeare's day were different - it's that context thing again (See my notes). As long…