* The names of the main characters: Romeo and Juliet are named after two characters from the Roman poet Ovid's Metamorphoses. In Ovid's poem, Pyramus and Thisbe are two young lovers who are separated by a wall. Pyramus believes Thisbe has been killed by a lion and kills himself. When Thisbe finds Pyramus's body, she kills herself as well. The names Romeo and Juliet may have been chosen by Shakespeare to suggest the tragic fate that awaits the two lovers.
* The story of Pyramus and Thisbe is also alluded to in the play's famous balcony scene. Romeo compares Juliet to the sun and says that she is more beautiful than the stars. This is similar to the way Pyramus compares Thisbe to the sun and the moon.
* The play's use of fate and destiny. The characters in Romeo and Juliet are often at the mercy of fate. This is a common theme in Greek and Roman tragedies. The characters' inability to control their own destinies leads to their downfall.
* The use of violence and gore. Violence is a common feature of Greek and Roman tragedies. In Romeo and Juliet, the violence is particularly gruesome and graphic. This may have been intended to shock and entertain the audience.
All of these allusions to classical literature help to create a sense of tragedy and doom in Romeo and Juliet. They suggest that the lovers are destined for a tragic end.