Romeo and Juliet Summary

Two star-crossed lovers fall hopelessly in love despite the heated feud between their families, the Montagues and the Capulets. Romeo first meets Juliet at a ball hosted by her father, Lord Capulet.

  • After the ball, Romeo and Juliet meet on her balcony, where they swear undying love to each other. With the aid of Friar Laurence, the lovers are secretly married the next day.
  • Juliet’s hotheaded cousin Tybalt challenges Romeo to a duel. Romeo declines, not wanting to fight Juliet’s kin. Romeo’s friend Mercutio takes his place in the duel and is killed. Enraged, Romeo slays Tybalt. For this offense, the Prince of Verona banishes Romeo from the city.
  • Meanwhile, Lord Capulet has arranged for Juliet to marry Paris, unaware of her marriage to Romeo. Juliet seeks the help of Friar Laurence, who gives her a sleeping potion that mimics death. He assures her that Romeo will be waiting for her when she wakes up in the family tomb, but Romeo never gets the message. He drinks poison in her tomb. Upon waking to find Romeo dead, Juliet stabs herself with his dagger.

Hamlet Summary

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Prince Hamlet has been summoned home to Denmark to attend his father’s funeral. One night, a Ghost reveals itself to Hamlet, claiming to be the ghost of Hamlet’s father, the former king. The Ghost claims that the old king was murdered by Hamlet’s uncle, Claudius, who has since married Hamlet’s mother and assumed the throne.

Hamlet decides to uncover the truth for himself. He makes himself appear crazy, mistreating his girlfriend Ophelia to deflect Claudius’ suspicion. He later convinces a troupe of players to perform The Murder of Gonzago, a play that reenacts King Hamlet’s death by poisoning. Claudius’ response to the play is suspicious.
Hamlet spies on Claudius, listening to him pray. Enraged, Hamlet accidentally kills Polonius, Ophelia’s father. Claudius sends Hamlet to England on the pretense of a diplomatic mission, having secretly arranged for the prince to be executed on arrival. Hamlet cleverly escapes, returning in time to witness Ophelia’s funeral. She may have killed herself.
Claudius arranges a duel between Hamlet and Ophelia’s brother Laertes. During the duel, Gertrude drinks from a poisoned goblet intended for Hamlet. Laertes and Hamlet scuffle, wounding each other with a poisoned rapier. In his last moments, Hamlet kills Claudius, at last avenging his father.