Student's Workbook 1A - Shakespeare WA

Conventions of Shakespearean Romantic Comedy
1. The main action is about love, about separation and re-unification.
There is a struggle of traditional rivals to overcome a difficulty, which is
often presented by young people. The lovers must overcome obstacles
before being united. The ending frequently has several couples getting
married, and an actual celebration, in dance, song, or feast.
2. Frequently, the play contains the improbable, the supernatural, or the
miraculous, with unbelievable coincidences, scenes of mistaken identity,
disregard for the social order, instant conversions, enchanted or foreign
settings, and supernatural beings (witches, fairies, gods and goddesses).
The happy ending may be brought about through supernatural or divine
intervention, or may involve improbable plot twists.
3. Shakespeare uses stock characters extensively in his early plays, and
occasionally in his later work. A clever servant often helps to bring the
ending about.
4. The themes involve important issues, such as personal identity, the
importance of love, the power of language, poetry and art; the conflict
between appearance and reality.
5. There is frequent word play, with wit, jokes and punning.
What examples can you locate from the text?
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