1. Select a Character from the Play

Act Four

Character Poem

Directions made simple:

1. Select a character from the play.

Focus your work on how this character relates to Juliet.

(Time for a vocabulary lesson: Most people when asked how one person relates to another think about relatives, family relations. But there’s another way to relate to someone: We relate to each other as teacher / student, classmates, schoolmates. We may have a joking, fun relationship. We may antagonize each other, care about each other, et cetera. So, think about how your chosen character relates to Juliet in this way.)

2. List five or more strong verbs or verb phrases that you think of when you think of your character: betraying, protecting, caring, talking, complaining.

3. Select one of those verbs and identify a moment in the play when the character really performs that action. Example: If you chose the Nurse and betraying, you might pick the moment the Nurse tells Juliet to marry Paris.

4. NOW, turn the event into a poem that says something powerful and/or insightful about the character from the isolated incident. This poem should be at least ten lines long and should contain at one quotation from the character that works well with the incident. Your quote should be no more than 40% of the poem. Following are several examples:

True Beauty

At first glance through the crowded hall

The fair maiden attending the ball

Hypnotizes Romeo.

Forgetting his sorrow when spotting this foe,

He knows she's the one and to her he goes.

Says Romeo,

"Did my heart love till now,

forswear it, sight!

For I ne'er saw true beauty

till this night.'

Leah Fillion '98

The Eager County

The eager County awaits his marriage;

He can not wait until tomorrow.

He's to wed the young Juliet

And relieve her of her sorrow.

He knows not what he does;

Herself, she can't defend.

She feels she's trapped in her distress

And wishes life to end.

Paris is at fault

For all of Juliet's sorrow.

He just can't wait another day

And says,

"I would that Thursday were tomorrow."

Lianne Nimmons

Helpful Friar

The friar looks upon Romeo and Juliet

Should I allow this

Marriage

Unlawful marriage

Yes, love is more powerful

Than the feud of this family

I say Romeo and Juliet should be together.

"Come, come with me, and we will make short work;

for, by your leaves, you shall not stay alone

till Holy Church incorporate two as in one.'

BJ Kelly

A Father's Unfairness

Capulet

Arranges the undesired marriage

Will Juliet be

Married to Romeo?

Married to Paris?

Or confess to her father

Of disobeying him?

Juliet informs her father

That she does not love Paris

Whom he chose for her to marry.

Capulet

Acting as though he wanted to shove…

Juliet

Being treated unfairly.

Angrily and coldly Lord Capulet says,

"Hang thee, young baggage!

Disobedient wretch!"

Adam Brown

The Threat

Her father does not understand her tears.

Day and night he searched

to find for Juliet

a suitable husband.

And as the daughter cries for pardon,

his anger begins to mount

for his pride will not let

a promise made be broken.

"But, an you will not wed, I'll pardon you.

Graze where you will,

you shall not house with me.'

Stephanie Landry

Bid Me Leap

Act IV, scene 1

1. According to Paris, what is Capulet’s reason for wanting Juliet to marry so

quickly?

2. In your words, explain lines 50-67. (Prentice-Hall, p 396)

3. In your words, what would Juliet rather do than marry Paris?

See lines 77-88. (Prentice-Hall, p 397)

4. Briefly, explain Friar Laurence’s plan to prevent Juliet’s wedding to Paris.

5. How does Friar Laurence plan to inform Romeo of what has transpired?

Forgive me, Father

Act IV, scene 2

1. What does Juliet do immediately upon returning from church?

2. In his joy, what does Lord Capulet decide to do?

3. Why does Lady Capulet disagree with this plan?

4. What does Lord Capulet volunteer to do in order to help?

5. The play is titled The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet.

Explain how lines 47(b) and 48 help add to the tragedy of the story.

I Drink to Thee

Act IV, scene 3

1. Why does Juliet wish to sleep alone on this night?

2. What excuse does she use to send the Nurse away with Lady Capulet?

3. What reason(s) does Juliet give for why the Friar might have given her poison?

4. What does Juliet fear in

lines 30-35

lines 45-48

lines 49-54

The Bridegroom has Arrived

Act IV, scene 4

1. At what time does this scene take place?

2. What is the mood of this scene?

3. What actions / words create this mood?

4. How does this mood add to the tragedy of the play?

5. How is this mood an example of dramatic irony? (See dramatic irony p394)

My Lady’s Dead

Act IV, scene 5

1. What “common” humor does the Nurse include in her opening speech?

2. Explain the personification in lines 37-41.

3. Regarding the subtext (motive behind the spoken words), why does Friar

Laurence try to comfort the family?

(Hint: What does he know that they don’t?)

4. List and number the four reasons the Friar gives for why the family should

not grieve so much.

5. What is the purpose of the interaction between Peter and the musicians at the

end of the scene?

Mood Swings

Act IV

In Act Four, each main character feels many different emotions,

especially Juliet and her father, Lord Capulet. Use the lines below to record

the causes of the characters emotions (effect).

EFFECT

Scene 1:

Juliet – desperate, then hopeful

Scene 2:

Capulet – relieved, happy

Scene 3:

Juliet – worried, terrified

Scene 4:

Capulet – happy-go-lucky, silly

Scene 5:

Capulet and his wife – grief-stricken

CAUSE

thinks she has to marry Paris, then