| Term | Definition |
|---|
| A midsummer night's dream | This story is framed by the wedding of Theseus, the Duke of Athens, to Hippolyta, the Queen of the Amazons. It involves the bickering fairy monarches, Oberan and Titania, the mischievous spirit. Puck, and their enchanted meddling in the lives of two Athenian couples and a groupd of village simpletons, headed by a character named bottom. |
| Romeo and Juliet | In fair Verona, Italy, two families (the Capulets and the Montagues), carry our an ancient feud which appears to have no end in sight. Within that background, Juliet Capulet and Romeo Montague secretly fall in love and marry. Nut their fates tear them apart and their love brinds about their tragic deaths. |
| Richard II | This history play marks the first time that Shakespeare explores the idea that a person's character determines his/her own fate. King Richard the Scond is challenged by a group of unhappy nobles, headed by his cousin, Bolingbroke. Instead of meatting his foe immediately, Richard wastes his time and energy in Ireland, and his indeciesive flaw in his resolve cost him both his throne and his life. |
| Love's Labour's Lost | King Ferdinand of Navarre and three of his noble friends vow to live without the company of women for three years. Of course, once they do that, the beautiful Princess from France arrives in courst, along with three of her friends. For the rest of the play, the men try to woe the women, while still pretending to keep their vows. In the end, the men propose to the visitors, who promise to answer them in a year and a day. |
| The Merchant of Venice | This comedy revolves around three Venetian businessmen, named Antonio, Bassiano, and Shylock, the issue of money lending and debt paying, and the beautiful and talented Portia, who wisely resolves the disputes. |
| Henry IV parts 1-2 | King Henry II does battle with both his political foes, headed by Henry Percy, Hotspur, and his hardliving, party animal son, prince Hal. As Hotspur's rebels challenge the throne, the young prince shakes his wild ways, and destroys the rebels, only to become king. |
| As you like it | Celia and Rosalind banish themselves from the Court of Duke Frederick, to find love and adventure in Arden Forest. Accompanied by the court jester, Touchstone, Rosalind meets with a band of outlaws, falls in love with and marries Orlando, and eventually returns to her kingdom. |
| Henry V | A continuation of the life of the once Prince Hal, no King Henry V of England, this play find Henry leading a small army into France to do battle with a vastly supoerior French army. Partly through fate and partly trough the sheer force of his character and leadership, Henry's army carries the day at the Battle of Agincourt, forcing the French to Surrender. |
| Julius Caesar | The tide of rebellion carries the great Caesar to his untimely death. Mark Antony, a true friend of Julie Caesar, hunts down the villainous assassins, headed by the noble Brutus, and overtakes them at the Battle of Philippi. Marc Antony is forced to preside over the funeral of yet another dear firned, Brutus. |
| Much Ado about nothing | Benedick and Beatrice battle and tease their way through most of the play, only to discover the true love they hold for each other. The vile Don John attempts to ruin the lives of the Duke, Don John, and his beloved. Hero by spreading slanderous lies and rumors. The village sheriff, Dogberry, complicates matters by being a general buffoon. |
| Twelfth night | The twisted plaoy of this play revolves around a set of fraternal twins separated during a shipwreck. Viola, the sister, lands in the kingdom of Illyria. She disguises herself as a man, becomes a servant to the Duke, and promptly falls in love wityh him. Advisedby the fat, comic knight, Sir Toby Belch, she becomes entangled in a web of fools, until she discovers her lost twin brother, Sebastian. |
| The Merry Wives of Windsor | Sir John Falstaff, the comical companion of Prince Hal, fals in love with both Mistress Ford and Mistress Page, both married housewives in the town of Windsor. As the women of the play discover his intentions, they decide to make Falstaff the victum of a long series of emarrassing, humbling tricks. The fat knight learns important lessons about the true nature of love. |
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