Romeo and Juliet (Cliffs Complete) [Paperback]

William Shakespeare (Author), Karin Jacobson (Editor), Sidney Lamb (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 8, 2000 | ISBN-10: 0764585746 | ISBN-13: 978-0764585746 | Edition: 2nd

In the CliffsComplete guides, the novel's complete text and a glossary appear side-by-side with coordinating numbered lines to help you understand unusual words and phrasing. You'll also find all the commentary and resources of a standard CliffsNotes for Literature.

CliffsComplete Romeo & Juliet offers insight and information into a work that's rich both dramatically and thematically. Every generation since Shakespeare's time has been able to identify with some romantic or thematic aspect of the play.

Discover what happens to these famous, star-crossed lovers and what causes the family feud between the Montagues and Capulets — and save valuable studying time — all at once. Enhance your reading of Romeo & Juliet with these additional features:

• A summary and insightful commentary for each act
• Bibliography and historical background on the author, William Shakespeare
• A look at Early Modern English intellect, religion, politics, and society
• Coverage of Shakespeare's source and the play's performance history
• A character map that graphically illustrates the relationships among the characters
• Review questions, a quiz, discussion guide, and activity ideas
• A Resource Center full of books, articles, films, and Web sites

Streamline your literature study with all-in-one help from CliffsComplete guides!

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

This tragedy of doomed lovers from warring families has inspired poetic expression from young lovers the world over. The 300-year-old drama is perhaps Shakespeare's best-known work.

The CliffsComplete Romeo and Juliet is a revised and expanded study edition. It contains Shakespeare's original play, a glossary, and expert commentary in a unique, 2-column format. To enhance your learning, notes and definitions appear directly opposite the line in which they occur, and a review section follows the play. This edition also introduces you to the life, works, and times of William Shakespeare.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Cliffs Notes; 2nd edition (May 8, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764585746
• ISBN-13: 978-0764585746
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #209,539 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in April 1564, and his birth is traditionally celebrated on April 23. The facts of his life, known from surviving documents, are sparse. He was one of eight children born to John Shakespeare, a merchant of some standing in his community. William probably went to the King's New School in Stratford, but he had no university education. In November 1582, at the age of eighteen, he married Anne Hathaway, eight years his senior, who was pregnant with their first child, Susanna. She was born on May 26, 1583. Twins, a boy, Hamnet ( who would die at age eleven), and a girl, Judith, were born in 1585. By 1592 Shakespeare had gone to London working as an actor and already known as a playwright. A rival dramatist, Robert Greene, referred to him as "an upstart crow, beautified with our feathers." Shakespeare became a principal shareholder and playwright of the successful acting troupe, the Lord Chamberlain's Men (later under James I, called the King's Men). In 1599 the Lord Chamberlain's Men built and occupied the Globe Theater in Southwark near the Thames River. Here many of Shakespeare's plays were performed by the most famous actors of his time, including Richard Burbage, Will Kempe, and Robert Armin. In addition to his 37 plays, Shakespeare had a hand in others, including Sir Thomas More and The Two Noble Kinsmen, and he wrote poems, including Venus and Adonis and The Rape of Lucrece. His 154 sonnets were published, probably without his authorization, in 1609. In 1611 or 1612 he gave up his lodgings in London and devoted more and more time to retirement in Stratford, though he continued writing such plays as The Tempest and Henry VII until about 1613. He died on April 23 1616, and was buried in Holy Trinity Church, Stratford. No collected edition of his plays was published during his life-time, but in 1623 two members of his acting company, John Heminges and Henry Condell, put together the great collection now called the First Folio.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Romeo and Juliet I've found for teaching, July 2, 2008

By 

A. Elbert "English teacher" (Union City, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Romeo and Juliet (Cliffs Complete) (Paperback)

I've been teaching Romeo and Juliet to ninth graders for eight years, and this is by far the best edition I've used to teach. The commentary is helpful, and pointed out important topics for discussion. There is plenty of room to write notes in the margin -- in fact, I've got two copies, both with notes, so that I have an emergency backup! One of the most useful things I found in this edition is the character map in the beginning of the book, which I've modified into a handout that I give my students to help keep all the characters straight! I can't wait until Cliffs Complete has released versions of all of Shakespeare's plays!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Full text + helpful information, October 10, 2005

By 

The Actor (Chicago) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Romeo and Juliet (Cliffs Complete) (Paperback)

I have to say that the information given in this book was definitely helpful. I liked how they summarized the following scene at the beginning of the scene and had commentary on the scene at the end. The commentary is definitly helpful, although it could be a little bit more in depth in places. It is particularly helpful how they define terms in the margins that may be unfamiliar to readers.

Most of the information in the introduction/bio of Shakespere/etc. wasn't new to me and it seems pretty similar to the introduction in their other books, but it is still helpful for review and to readers who are unfamiliar with this information.

Definitly recommended. Excellent study tool.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Educational Tool, April 12, 2010

By 

Dog and book lover (Southeastern, CT) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Romeo and Juliet (Cliffs Complete) (Paperback)

I work as a high school English teacher and I love the Cliffs Complete texts. I purchased Romeo and Juliet last year because it was my first time teaching the play and I wasn't too informed. There is a very valuable summary and analysis section after each scene which I found invaluable. Instead of having to peruse pages of literary criticisms and reviews, I just read this to get an understanding of the text. I imagine that college students (whether taking an intro course or advanced level lit class) will also benefit from using this text as supplemental to primary texts and sources.