Romeo and Juliet in Verse: A Historical Study and Composition Techniques

Abstract

This article aims to study Romeo and Juliet in Verse from a historical perspective, as well as its composition techniques. The author, Mr. Ploi Thahanmahatlek, who was member of the Vajirayan Library and an amateur poet, wrote the poem. The study found that The Tale of Romeo and Juliet originated from a prose translation of the story by Prince Worawanakorn (or Prince Narathip Praphanphong) was published in Vajirayan in 1897. Furthermore, Romeo and Juliet in Verse is considered the first Thai poem featuring a story inspired by Romeo and Juliet, demonstrating the poet's interest in introducing novel and intellectually stimulating stories to the readers who subscribed to the Vajirayan journal. Regarding the composition techniques, the author composed Romeo and Juliet in Verse, demonstrating artistry in terms of word choice, alliteration, and dialogue. He also shows his expertise in language and poetic composition.