RESEARCH TOPICS FOR SHAKESPEARE’S ROMEO AND JULIET

Choose one area from those listed below to develop a specific research question that you will answer in your project.

1. Rules of Marriage/Love during the Fourteenth Century: Research the idea of love and/or marriage in 14th century Europe. Discuss the similarities and differences between the “rules” of love and marriage then vs. now.

·  How was love portrayed in Romeo & Juliet? What were the “rules” of love back then? (HINT: check out “courtly love”)

·  How is love portrayed in popular culture nowadays? Think about commercials, movies, television, etc.

2. Arranged Marriage: Modern and Historic: Arranged marriage is another practice in Shakespeare’s time. What kind of considerations would parents have in mind when they were searching for suitable spouses for their children in Elizabethan England? How could this practice cause conflict between parents and children? For many modern young people around the world the concept of arranged marriage is a familiar one; in fact, the concept is part of many religions. How do arranged marriages today and the attitudes toward them compare with those in Shakespeare’s time?

·  Discuss the tradition of arranged marriage either in RJ’s time or Shakespeare’s time.

·  Research modern instances of arranged marriage. How do the people in this situation respond?

4. Montague sends Benvolio to find out the source of Romeo’s melancholy, or extreme sadness. Today we might call it depression. How is the concept of depression during the Renaissance different from the concept of depression nowadays?

·  During the Renaissance, what was the attitude toward melancholy and mental illness? How could it be treated and/or cured?

·  Research modern beliefs about depression. Compare melancholy/mental illness (Renaissance) to depression (21st century) in terms of societal attitudes, symptoms, causes, and treatment.

You will receive time in class to work on this assignment, but some portions WILL need to be done OUTSIDE of class sessions. I will be available every day after school from 1/14 – 1/24. Computers will be available for research and typing, and I will be available for assistance as needed.

SELECT TOPIC BY: 1/15

RESEARCH AND DRAFT: 1/15 – 1/22

WORKSHOP DAY: 1/23

FINAL COPY DUE: 1/25