What Makes Romeo and Juliet a Poem?

What makes Romeo and Juliet a poem?

Let’s review your work onGeeky and Romeo and Juliet to compare similarities and differences.

/ To complete this activity

Use the table below and a print out of What makes Geeky a poem?.doc
Compare the contents of each table.
Highlight similarities in one colour and differences in another.
Check your answers at the end of this activity sheet.

Remember! Save your responses in your portfolio.

Summary of table from‘Romeo and Juliet – A poem?’

1. Does the poetry ofRomeo and Juliet have lines? / Yes it does! Here are some examples from one of Juliet’s speeches:
Juliet:
O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?
Deny thy father and refuse thy name;
Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,
And I'll no longer be a Capulet
2.Are the lines arranged in verses (or stanzas)? / Yes. Some verses have one line and some have several. In this poem Romeo and Juliet take turns to speak each verse.
Here are some examples:
Juliet
How camest thou hither, tell me, and wherefore?
The orchard walls are high and hard to climb,
And the place death, considering who thou art,
If any of my kinsmen find thee here.
Romeo
With love’s light wings did I o’er-perch these walls;
For stony limits cannot hold love out,
And what love can do that dares love attempt;
Therefore thy kinsmen are no let to me
3.Is the poem rhyming or free verse? / It is free verse. The poem does not contain any rhyming sounds or words.
4. Can you hear the rhythm (or metre) of the poem? / No, this verse does not have regular rhythm as it is spoken as a conversation. Some words may seem to be emphasised, however, this comes from the emotion in the voice, rather than a rhythm pattern. There are no rhyming words and the punctuation breaks up the lines, which does not allow a regular rhythm to develop.
5.Does the poem create pictures (images) in your mind?
What are some of the words that paint the picture for you?
Hint! These phrases often contain adjectives and adverbs or describe actions. / These highlighted sections create interesting images.
Juliet
How camest thou hither, tell me, and wherefore?
The orchard walls are high and hard to climb,
And the place death, considering who thou art,
If any of my kinsmen find thee here.
Romeo
Withlove's light wings did I o'er-perch these walls;
Forstonylimits cannot hold love out,
6. Is this a serious poem or a humorous one? How do you know? / Romeo and Juliet is a serious poem as you can see from the highlighted phrases below.
Romeo
With love’s light wings did I o’er-perch these walls;
For stony limits cannot hold love out,
And what love can do that dares love attempt;
Therefore thy kinsmen are no let to me.
Juliet
If they do see thee, they will murder thee.
Romeo
Alack, there lies more peril in thine eye
Than twenty of their swords: look thou but sweet,
And I am proof against their enmity.
7. Is the poem telling a story (ie a narrative)?
Highlight the verses printed here to give evidence of the poem’s narrative. / The poem is a narrative. It tells you that Romeo and Juliet have met and want to be together but their families are enemies. All their meetings must be in secret or someone may be killed.
Juliet
My ears have not yet drunk a hundred words
Of that tongue's utterance, yet I know the sound:
Art thou not Romeo and a Montague?
Romeo
Neither, fair saint, if either thee dislike.
Juliet: How camest thou hither, tell me, and wherefore?
The orchard walls are high and hard to climb,
And the place death, considering who thou art,
If any of my kinsmen find thee here
Romeo
With love's light wings did I o'er-perch these walls;
For stony limits cannot hold love out,
And what love can do that dares love attempt;
Therefore thy kinsmen are no let to me
Juliet
If they do see thee, they will murder thee.
8. Is the poem expressing feelings and emotions?
/ Yes it does. Here are some examples:
Romeo
By a name
I know not how to tell thee who I am:
My name, dear saint, is hateful to myself,
Because it is an enemy to thee;
Had I it written, I would tear the word.
9.Does the poem contain any unusual or invented words? / There are many words in the poem that are not used when we speak today. Some examples are:
Romeo
I take thee at thy word:
Call me but love, and I'll be new baptized;
Henceforth I never will be Romeo.
Juliet
What man art thou that thus bescreen’d in night
So stumblest on my counsel?
10.This poem includes a special feature called a metaphor in the last verse. / The metaphor is:
Romeo
I have night’s cloak to hide me from their sight;