Romeo and Juliet
By William Shakespeare
Pre-reading
Answer the following statements with your first opinion and be prepared to discuss.
STATEMENT / YES / NO1. Love at first sight does exist.
2. Love at first sight is very common.
3. It is better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all.
4. Age, race, socio-economic status, family differences, and the like should not matter when it comes to true love.
5. Teenagers are impulsive and do not think through their decisions.
6. Young people can be in love despite age and life experience; this love can last a lifetime.
7. Parents have their children’s best interests in mind and, therefore, parents should be obeyed.
8. Older people are more prejudiced than younger people and give their prejudices to young people.
9. Killing is always wrong.
10. Revenge is justifiable—an eye for an eye.
11. Friends should support each other, but not fight each other’s fights.
12. Friends have common enemies and friends. For example, if one person in the group
13. Couples should know each other a long time before marriage.
14. Arranged marriages are better and have the potential to last longer than non-arranged marriages.
15. The end justifies the means. Meaning, it is “okay” to do something unethical as long as there were good intentions and the end result is positive.
16. Fate is the development of events beyond a person's control, usually by a stronger power. Fate does exist and is in control of our lives.
1. Define the word tragedy and provide an example of tragedy (taken from your life or news).
2. Imagine your first instance with real love. Describe your feelings and the person.
3. What would you do if your parents disagreed with your choice from above (number 3)?
4. Overall, do you feel parents understand their teenagers’ feelings and needs? Why is it assumed that teenagers and parents are not supposed to get along?
Gender Differences in the 1200-1400s
From Romeo and Juliet, part of the series Shakespeare: Latitudes. © Perfection Learning, Publisher.
Although Romeo and Juliet are fictional characters, their lives reflect the customs and norms of Italy in the 1200-1400s. The following is a comparison of how a female, we'll call her Juliet, and a male, we'll call him Romeo, differ in equality and treatment.
Juliet
/Romeo
A typical woman in Juliet's time would likely be married at age 15. / A typical man in Romeo's time would marry no sooner than age 21.Juliet would be escorted watched at social events. / Romeo would be allowed freedom to drink and carouse as he please.
It was expected that Juliet's family would provide a dowry (money and material items) to her groom. / Romeo would control his wife's possessions, money, property.
Juliet was expected to be chaste until her wedding night, and from then on to be completely faithful to her husband. / Romeo would have been allowed to visit prostitutes, even after he was married.
It was not acceptable for Juliet to handle weapons, play tennis, wrestle, or do other things that involved physical exercise. / Romeo was expected to learn how to fence fight, play athletic games, and do other physical activities.
Juliet may have had a tutor come to her home, but she would never be allowed into a university. Instead, she would spend her day spinning, weaving, embroidering, and learning social graces, such as dancing. / Romeo would have attended school with other young, men in a student's home. He could have gone to a university.
A servant would spend hours each day helping Juliet fix her hair, get dressed, and put on makeup. / Romeo dressed and groomed himself. Servants would do the laundry, put clothes away and make the bed.
The only option to marriage would have been the convent. Juliet was expected to marry and bear children, to run a household, and to graciously entertain guests. / Romeo could have been a politician, merchant, soldier, sea captain, artist, doctor, banker, scholar, or religious man.
It would not be typical for a woman like Juliet to participate in city or political affairs. / It would have been advantageous for Romeo to hold public office.
Juliet would be advised to obey and honor her husband. / It was acceptable, and almost recommended, for Romeo beat his wife if she were not submissive.
Juliet would have had very little say in decisions concerning her children. / Romeo would have had complete control over his children.
KEYSTONE LITERARY TERMS
These terms have been taken directly from the Keystone Assessment System, which provides information on what students need to know for their Keystone Literature Test. You will take this test in 10th grade and must pass it to graduate. Keep this list and refer to it while you read throughout the semester. Also, keep these terms in mind as you read your SSR choice books.
General Terms
1. Allusion An implied or indirect reference in literature to a familiar person, place, or event.
2. Author’s Purpose The author’s intent either to inform or teach someone about something, to entertain people or to persuade or convince his/her audience to do or not do something.
3. Drama The genre of literature represented by works intended for the stage; a work to be performed by actors on stage, radio, or television; play.
4. Irony – A key element in literature, irony can be broken down into three categories:
· Verbal Irony – When what is said is the opposite of what is meant. Similar to sarcasm.
· Situational Irony – When what happens is the opposite of what is expected.
· Dramatic Irony – When the audience knows something that a character doesn’t.
5. Symbolism A device in literature where an object represents an idea.
6. Theme A topic of discussion or work; a major idea broad enough to cover the entire scope of a literary work. A theme may be stated or implied. Clues to the theme may be found in the prominent and/or reoccurring ideas in a work.
Story Terms
7. Foil Any character who contrasts the distinctive characteristics of another character, particularly the protagonist.
8. Climax The turning point in a narrative; the moment when the conflict is at its most intense. Typically, the structure of stories, novels, and plays is one of rising action, in which tension builds to the climax.
9. Conflict/Problem A struggle or clash between opposing characters, forces, or emotions.
10. Foreshadowing An organizational device used in literature to create expectation or to set up an explanation of later developments.
11. Irony The use of a word or phrase to mean the exact opposite of its literal or usual meaning; incongruity between the actual result of a sequence of events and the expected result.
12. Motif A recurring subject, theme, or idea in a literary work.
Poetry Terms
13. Figurative Language Language that cannot be taken literally since it was written to create a special effect or feeling.
14. Hyperbole An exaggeration or overstatement (e.g., I had to wait forever.)
15. Imagery Descriptive or figurative language in a literary work; the use of language to create sensory impressions.
16. Metaphor The comparison of two unlike things in which no words of comparison (like or as) are used (e.g., The speech gave me food for thought.)
17. Personification An object or abstract idea given human qualities or human form (e.g., Flowers danced about the lawn.)
Drama/Play Terms
18. Aside A remark by a character in a play intended to be heard by the audience but not by the other characters.
19. Dialogue In its widest sense, dialogue is simply conversation between characters or speakers in a literary work; in its most restricted sense, it refers specifically to the speech of characters in a drama.
20. Dramatic Script The written text of a play, which includes the dialogue between characters, stage directions and often other expository information.
21. Monologue An extended speech spoken by one speaker, either to others or as if alone.
22. Soliloquy A dramatic speech, revealing inner thoughts and feelings, spoken aloud by one character while alone on the stage.
23. Stage Direction A playwright’s written instructions provided in the text of a play about the setting or how the actors are to move and behave in a play.
CHARACTER LIST
Romeo:
o The son and heir of Montague and Lady Montague.
o A young man of about sixteen.
o Romeo is handsome, intelligent, and sensitive.
Juliet:
o The daughter of Capulet and Lady Capulet.
o A beautiful thirteen-year-old girl.
o Juliet begins the play as a naïve child.
Friar Laurence:
o A Franciscan friar, friend to both Romeo and Juliet.
o Kind, civic-minded, believer in moderation, and always ready with a plan.
Mercutio:
o A kinsman to the Prince, and Romeo’s close friend.
o Mercutio overflows with imagination, wit.
The Nurse:
o Juliet’s nurse, the woman who breast-fed Juliet when she was a baby and has cared for Juliet her entire life.
Tybalt:
o A Capulet, Juliet’s cousin on her mother’s side.
o Vain, fashionable, aggressive
Capulet:
o The patriarch of the Capulet family, father of Juliet, husband of Lady Capulet, and enemy, for unexplained reasons, of Montague.
Lady Capulet:
o Juliet’s mother, Capulet’s wife. A woman who herself married young (by her own estimation she gave birth to Juliet at close to the age of fourteen).
Montague:
o Romeo’s father, the patriarch of the Montague clan and bitter enemy of Capulet.
Lady Montague:
o Romeo’s mother, Montague’s wife.
Paris:
o A kinsman of the Prince, and the suitor of Juliet most preferred by Capulet.
Benvolio:
o Montague’s nephew, Romeo’s cousin and thoughtful friend.
Prince Escalus:
o The Prince of Verona. A kinsman of Mercutio and Paris.
Friar John:
o A Franciscan friar.
Balthasar:
o Romeo’s dedicated servant.
Sampson & Gregory:
o Two servants of the house of Capulet, who, like their master, hate the Montagues
Abram:
o Montague’s servant.
Rosaline:
o The woman with whom Romeo is infatuated at the beginning of the play.
The Chorus:
o The Chorus is a single character, developed in Greek drama.
o Functions as a narrator offering commentary on the play’s plot and themes.
Act I Romeo and Juliet VocabularyColumn A contains words Shakespeare used in R + J
Column B contains synonyms for the words in column A.
Column A / Column B
adversaries / enemies
disposition / temperament
esteem / high rank
enmity / hatred
languish / long or pine for
nuptial / wedding
oppression / heavy weight on mind
pernicious / deadly
transgression / going beyond certain limits
trespass / enter without permission
valiant / brave
augment / to increase or intensify
chaste / virtuous, decent, pure in style or manner, virginal
prodigious / Miraculous, marvelous
trifling / Small, unimportant
warrant / to give adequate reasons for; to state with conviction
purge / cleanse, forgive, absolve
solemnity / being formal, dignified
Close Reading of The Prologue To Act One
DOK 1 DOK 2 DOK 3 DOK 4
1st Read – Details about the likeness of the two families / 2nd Read – What can you say about the lovers / 3rd Read – What is your interpretation of what happens to the children? / 4th Read – Write a thesis about what happens as a result of your answer from the 3rd read?Questions for the Prologue before Act I
Answer the following questions after reading the Prologue:
1. Why are the two families fighting?
2. Who is involved in the fight besides the two families?
3. What will this be a sad story of? A young couple’s…
4. How will the parents’ anger finally end?
5. How many hours will it take for this story to be acted on the stage?
Questions for Act I, Scene i:
1. Scene i opens in the streets of ______, which is a city in
______.
2. Two families in the play hate one another. These families are the
______and the ______.
3. Prince Escalus breaks up a fight caused by the feud between the two families. He says that if a fight happens again, those involved will ______.
4. Benvolio, Lord Montague, and Lady Montague discuss Romeo’s mood. List three things they say about Romeo that show he is depressed.
a.______
______
b. ______
______
c. ______
______
5. Why does Romeo confess that he is sad and depressed?
Response Log: This activity will help you think about what you have read
What might have caused the feud between the Capulets and Montagues? How long do you think it has been going on?
Think of a modern conflict or feud like the one in the play. It could be one from a book, TV show, movie, or current events. Or you could choose a conflict that involves people you know. Describe this conflict and explain how it has affected the people involved.
Questions for Act I, Scene ii:
1. What does Paris ask Capulet for permission to do?
2. What are two reasons that Capulet hesitates to give his permission to Paris?
3. Benvolio tells Romeo, “Take thou some new infection to thy eye, and the rank poison of the old will die.” The “infection” Benvolio refers to is love.
a. In this quotation, Benvolio is urging Romeo to …
b. How do you think Benvolio feels about love?
Response Log:
Juliet is only thirteen years old. Yet her father is already planning her marriage.
How do you feel about people marrying young today? What might be the positive and negative points of marrying in your early teens?
In the columns below, list the advantages and disadvantages of an early marriage. You will share and compare your list with a partner and possibly have a class discussion on this topic.
Advantages (+) / Disadvantages (-)Questions for Act I, Scenes iii-iv:
1. In scene iii, the Nurse talks about Juliet’s childhood. Write two phrases below that show the Nurse is fond of Juliet.
2. Why is the Nurse impressed with Paris?