romeo and juliet by william shakespeare mrs. holt english i/english i honors 2014
TRANSCRIPT
ROMEO AND JULIET
Romeo and Juliet (1968)
Romeo Juliet (1996)
Summary Romeo and Juliet is a story about
two teenagers who fall in love but are forbidden to see each other by their parents. They meet one night at a party (Romeo is actually there to check out another girl, Rosaline) and quickly fall in love. Unfortunately, Juliet’s parents already have a husband picked out for her. So, the two decide to get married and enlist the help of Juliet’s nurse to act as a messenger between the two and Friar Laurence who agrees to marry them. However, plans go awry after Romeo is banished from Verona and doesn’t get filled in on the plans that Juliet has for them to live happily ever after…
Prologue
Two households, both alike in dignity,in fair Verona, where we lay our scene,
from ancient grudge break to new mutiny,where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.From forth the fatal loins of these two foesA pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life;Whose misadventured piteous overthrows
do with their death bury their parents' strife.The fearful passage of their death-mark'd
love,and the continuance of their parents' rage,
which, but their children's end, nought could remove,
is now the two hours' traffic of our stage.
Assignment
Get into small groups. Each group will be assigned 2 lines from the prologue. Try and paraphrase the lines in your own words.
Be prepared to share with the class.
Two households, both alike in dignity,
In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.
The Montagues & Capulets
Both very wealthy & powerful families.
Italian city
The old feud between the families. No one knows the reason why they fell out.
The feud continues with new generations of Montagues & Capulets
Suggesting that many civilians are guilty for killing others.
From forth the fatal loins of these two foes
A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life;
Whole misadventured piteous overthrows
Do with their death bury their parents' strife.
Loins are your privates! What they do with their loins results in their death.
enemies
Their meeting was destined to happen through fate.
suicide
It was an adventure that went wrong
But one good thing came from it in that it stopped all the hate & bloodshed
The fearful passage of their death-mark'd love,
And the continuance of their parents' rage,Which, but their children's end, nought
could remove,
The time they had together was very dangerous
Suggests they died at the hands of fate.
Rage at the other families. Their parents never knew of the romance until they were dead.
Only the death of their own children would make them stop hating the other family & make them call a truce.
Is now the two hours' traffic of our stage;
The which if you with patient ears attend,
What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.
The play lasts for two hours
You need to listen & be patient
If you don’t quite understand what I’ve just said in this prologue...
I’ll work hard to help you understand in the action that’s about to happen!
The Feud
Romeo’s family, the Montagues, have a long standing feud with Juliet’s family, the Capulets. While the audience never learns about the source of the ancient quarrel, we do learn that it has recently grown stronger.
A Pair of Star Crossed Lovers…
“My only love sprung from my only hate! Too early seen unknown , and known too late!”
~ Juliet; Act I, Scene V
Shakespeare’s Source
Play based on a poem published in 1562 written by Arthur Brooke 3,000 line poem About star-crossed lovers from feuding Italian
Family Highly moral tone
Disobedience, as well as fate, leads to the death of the two young lovers
Shakespeare was more sympathetic elevated the everyday characters by presenting the
story of a tragedy (usually story that involve kinds, emperors not regular people.)
Frequent Elizabethan Words
Against for; in preparation for
Alack alas (an exclamation of sorrow)
Anon soon Aye yes But only; except E’en even E’er ever Haply perhaps Happy fortunate
Hence away; from here Hie hurry Hither here Marry indeed Whence where Wherefore why Wilt will Withal in addition,
notwithstanding Would wish
Characters
Round Character – shows many different traits – faults as well as virtues
Flat Character – shows only one trait Dynamic Character – develops and
grows during the course of the story Static Character – stays the same
Characterization
Direct characterization – the author directly states a character’s traits
Indirect Characterization – an author provides clues about a character by describing what a character looks like, does, and says, as well as how other characters react to him or her. It is up to the reader to draw
conclusions about the character based on this indirect information.
The most effective indirect characterization usually results from showing characters acting or speaking.
Characters Chorus Escalus, Prince of Verona Paris, a young count, kinsman to the
Prince Montague Capulet An old man, of the Capulet family Romeo, son of Montague Mercutio, kinsman to the Prince and
friend to Romeo Benvolio, nephew to Montague and
friend to Romeo Tybalt, nephew to Lady Capulet Friar Lawrence, Franciscan priest Friar John, Franciscan Balthasar, servant to Romeo
Sampson, servant to Capulet
Gregory, servant to Capulet Peter, servant to Juliet’s nurse Abram, servant to Montague An Apothecary Three Musicians An Officer Lady Montague, wife to Montegue Lady Capulet, wife to Capulet Juliet, daughter to Capulet Nurse to Juliet Citizens of Verona, Gentleman and
Gentlewomen of both houses, maskers, Torchbearers, Pages, Guards, Watchmen, Servants and Attendants
Character MapEscalusPRINCE
OfVerona
Lady Montague & Montague
Romeo
FRIAR LAWRENCE
Lady Capulet & Capulet
Juliet
APOTHECARY of Mantua
Conflict
Internal Conflict versus External Conflict
Romeo and Juliet begins in conflict, a conflict we know nothing about except that it is real and it is bloody.
Some conflicts are internal....
Plot
Exposition – Act I Rising Action – Act II Crisis, or turning point – Act III Falling Action - IV Climax and Resolution - Act V
Oxymoron An oxymoron describes when two
juxtaposed (to place (different things) together in order to create an interesting effect) words have opposing or very diverse meanings.
Juliet – “Beautiful tyrant! fiend angelical!” (Act III Sc.2)
SettingThe story is set in the late 1500’s mostly in the town of Verona, Italy. However, there are a few acts set in Mantua, Italy a smaller town just a few miles away.
Between Milan and VeniceImportant for trade
Interesting…The Italian city of Verona, where Romeo and Juliet lived, receives about 1,000 letters addressed to Juliet every Valentine's Day. (Letters to Juliet)
“Star-crossed lovers” refers to two people who are in love but have conflicting astrological signs. In Shakespeare’s times, people believed the course of their lives was determined by the exact second they were born.
Verona TodayToday, Verona has an incredible amount of graffiti, which is legal, provided that you are writing about your love for someone.
Setting
Prince of Verona “chief magistrate” or podesta
Modern mayor, chief of police head of the local militia
Character based Bartolomeo della Scala
Timeline
Sunday – Act One
Monday – Act Two
Tuesday – Act Three
Wednesday – Act Four
Thursday – Act Five
Act I – Vocabulary
Pernicious – causing great injury or pain
Adversary – a person who opposes or fights against another
Augmenting – increasing; enlarging Grievance – injustice; complaint Oppression – feeling or being
weighed down with worries or problems
Transgression – a wrong-doing; sin
The Love SonnetAct I, Scene V, lines 93 - 106
Romeo
If I profane with my unworthiness handThis holy shrine, the gentile sin is this:My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready standTo smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss
95
Juliet Good Pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too muchWhich mannerly devotion shows in this;For saint have hands that pilgrims’ hands to touchAnd palm to palm is holy palmer’s kiss.
100
Romeo
Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too?
Juliet Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer.
Romeo
O, then, dear saint, let lips do what hands doThey pray, grant thou, lest faith turn to despair.
Juliet Saints do not move, though grant for prayers’ sake.
105
Romeo
Then move not, while my prayer effect I take.
What do these mean? What ideas do they have
in common? Profane to abuse something scared (also, as in
bad or “profane” language) Saint person who died and was officially
recognized by the Catholic church as holy; Catholics believe a person can ask the saint to speak for him/her to God to
grant a prayer Pilgrim person who travels to a holy place out of
devotion to a god or saint Shrine place where pilgrims visit for prayer and
to worship a saint; often a statue of the saint or a relic (bit of cloth, bone, or body part) belonging to the saint is there.
Palmer person wearing two crossed palm leaves as a sign of pilgrimage to the holy land (Israel)
Romeo: If I profane with my unworthiest hand 93This holy shrine, the gentle sin is this:
94My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand
95To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.
96 Summary: Romeo decided he wants
to kiss Juliet’s hand to show her how much he likes her. To do so, he taker her hand in his, and he explains that his hand is obviously not as worthy as hers. In fact, she is so worthy, she is like a what? (Look at line 94)
METAPHOR: Juliet is a ___________.
Romeo: If I profane with my unworthiest hand 93This holy shrine, the gentle sin is this:
94My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand
95To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.
96 Summary: Romeo says that is by
touching her hand has “profaned” her hand – if he has made it less holy – then he is willing to kiss her hand, to make up for his unworthy touch.
Romeo’s metaphor to describe his lips:
Lips = __________ __________ ____________
Romeo: If I profane with my unworthiest hand 93This holy shrine, the gentle sin is this:
94My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand
95To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.
96 In line 94, Romeo uses a metaphor
to describe the kiss he will give Juliet’s hand. What two words are the other half of this metaphor?
Romeo’s kiss on her hand = _________ ___________
Juliet: Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much 97Which mannerly devotion shows in this;
98For saints have hands that pilgrims’ hands do touch99And palm to palm is holy palmer’s kiss
100 Summary: Juliet accepts the
compliment and plays along with Romeo, calling him by a new name.
What words does she use to describe him in line 97?
____________ ____________
Juliet: Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much 97Which mannerly devotion shows in this;
98For saints have hands that pilgrims’ hands do touch99And palm to palm is holy palmer’s kiss
100 Summary: Juliet is not going to give in that easily to Romeo or his word play. Rather than saying, “No, you can’t kiss me,” she plays hard to get: “Oh, you’ve been too mean to your hand by saying it’s the ‘unworthiest.’” She says that even pilgrims can touch the hands of a saint (imagine a pilgrim rubbing the hand of a statue as he prays; that often happened at shrines and still does today). In other words, he could touch her hand, and their tow palms together would be like a holy palmer’s (a pilgrim’s) prayer because pilgrims put two hands together to pray.
Does she want to be kissed. Why or Why not?
Romeo: Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too? 101
Juliet: Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer.102
Summary: Romeo, not to be argued out of kissing Juliet, asks, “Don’t saints and pilgrims have lips, too?” She gets the metaphor he’s using.
Juliet = ______________________ And Romeo = __________________
________________
Romeo: Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too? 101
Juliet: Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer.102
Summary: If Juliet is what Romeo says she is above, then she can’t just start kissing him in public, after knowing him for only a minute. Plus, isn’t her mother probably watching her from across the room to see if she and Paris are flirting? So Juliet responds, “Yes, they have lips, but those lips are meant for PRAYER, rather than smooching.” But don’t thinks she’s too mad at Romeo…
Romeo: O, then. Dear saint, let lips do what hands do103They pray, grant thou, lest faith turn to despair.
104
Summary: Romeo isn’t discouraged. He just told us a few minutes ago, when he was talking to himself, that he’s never seen true beauty until he saw Juliet this night. If lips are meant for prayer, he argues, then let lips pray the same way that hands pray – in other words, let their two sets of lips come together in a kiss. To drive home his point, Romeo pretends to pray to Juliet, as if she were a saint, saying that if she doesn’t let lips pray, they lose their faith – their belief in God – and then they become depressed.
What word does Romeo use in line 104 for depression?
Juliet: Saints do not move, though grant for prayers’ sake.105
Summary: Juliet still hasn’t given into Romeo, not quite. She says, ‘Sorry, saints don’t move, even when they do grant prayers.” Shakespeare is punning: Move (verb) to start something. Saints don’t move
– it’s pilgrim who has to come to them. Move (verb) to physically move. Remember, the
saints are usually statues of dead people – saints don’t “move” because they’re made from wood or stone.
Juliet: Saints do not move, though grant for prayers’ sake.105
Summary: But look at the second half of her sentence. She gives Romeo an opening! She says they “grant for prayer’s sake.” In other words, saints give pilgrims what they are requesting in their prayers. So, if Romeo is praying at this holy saint’s shrine (Juliet), maybe this saint might just grant his prayer.
Romeo: Then move not, while my prayer’s effect I take.. 106
Summary: Romeo knows how to play on words; he uses definition 2 of “move.” He moves in for a kiss after he asks her to stand still. And then he kisses her!
Journal – Act I
Act I – In the play, we never learn why the Montague's and the Capulet’s are feuding. What are 3 possible reasons these two families would hate each other so much?
Activity
Today, we are going to act out Act I, Scene I, lines 1 – 100
Sampson, Gregory, Abram, Balthasar, Benvolio, Tybalt, Officer, Capulet, Lady Capulet, Montague, Lady Montague and Prince you all have lines.
The rest of you will be broken up into 2 groups: Capulet’s men, Montegue’s Men
Act II - Vocabulary
Procure: get, obtain Predominant: of or having strong
influence. Intercession: an act of pleading on
another’s behalf. Sallow: of a sickly, pale-yellowish
hue. Lamentable: distressing, sad. Unwieldy: awkward; clumsy.
Journals – Act II
Act II – At the end of Act II, Romeo and Juliet are in love and making arrangements to get married. Is this true love? Explain.
The Balcony Scene
Break into pairs analyze the balcony scene.
Look for figurative language. Plan to Act out a portion…comically
or tragically….your choice!
Act III - Vocabulary
Gallant: brave and noble Fray: noisy fight. Martial: military; war like. Exile: banish Eloquence: speech that is graceful
and persuasive. Fickle: changeable.
Journal – Act III
Act III – Romeo was challenged by Tybalt. Was Romeo wrong for not wanting to fight back? Is he to blame for Mercutio’s death?
Act IV - Vocabulary
Pensive: deep thought Vial: small bottle containing medicine or
other liquid Enjoined: ordered Wayward: headstrong Dismal: causing gloom or misery Loathsome: disgusting; detestable
Act V - Vocabulary
Remnants – what is left over; remainders
Penury – extreme poverty Disperse – to break up and scatter in all
directions Haughty – arrogant Ambiguities – statements or events who
meaning are unclear Scourge – instrument for inflicting
punishment
Act IV and Act V
Read Act IV and Act V Watch Act IV and Act V in 1968 Film Complete Act IV and Act V
Worksheet
Journals – Act IV
Act IV – Juliet takes an elixir that makes her seem dead out of desperation. Do you think Juliet made the right choice? Did she have other options?
Journal – Act V
Act V - Write a 5 paragraph essay that (1) summarizes the story of Romeo and Juliet (2) explains what you liked most about the story and (3) if you agree with the way the story ended. Explain in detail.
Theme One: Love Romeo and Juliet has
become forever associated with love.
The play has become an iconic story of love and passion, and the name “Romeo” is still used to describe young lovers.
Shakespeare’s treatment of love in the play is complex.
He uses love in its many guises to thread together the key relationships in the play.
Fickle Love
Some characters fall in and out of love very quickly in Romeo and Juliet.
For example, Romeo is in love with Rosaline at the start of the play, which is presented as an immature infatuation.
Today, we might use the term “puppy love” to describe this. Romeo’s love for Rosaline is shallow and nobody really believes that it will last, including Friar Laurence:
Fickle Love
Romeo. Thou chid'st me oft for loving Rosaline. Friar Laurence. For doting, not for loving, pupil mine.
Paris and Juliet Similarly, Paris’ love for
Juliet is borne out of tradition, not passion. He has identified her as a good candidate for a wife and approaches her father to arrange the marriage.
Although this was the tradition at the time, it also says something about Paris’ attitude towards love.
He even admits to Friar Laurence that in his haste to rush the wedding although he hasn’t discussed it with his bride-to-be:
Friar Laurence. On Thursday, sir? the time is very short. Paris. My father Capulet will have it so; And I am nothing slow to slack his haste. Friar Laurence. You say you do not know the lady's mind: Uneven is the course, I like it not. Paris. Immoderately she weeps for Tybalt's death, And therefore have I little talked of love;
Romantic Love
Our classic idea of romantic love is embodied in Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare presents this as a force of nature, so strong that it transcends societal conventions.
This idea is established in the play’s prologue with the line “a pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life.”
Romantic Love Perhaps Romeo and
Juliet's love is fate - there love is given cosmic significance which can therefore overturn the social boundaries of “fair Verona.”
Their love is disallowed by the Capulet and Montague households, and Juliet is to marry Paris – Yet, they inevitably find themselves drawn together.
Other Types of Love
Many of the friendships in the play are as sincere as Romeo and Juliet’s love for one another.
The close relationships between Juliet and her Nurse, and between Romeo, Mercutio and Benvolio are meaningful and heartfelt.
They care deeply for another and protect each others honor – this ultimately costs Mercutio his life.
Theme Two: Hate The Capulet’s hate the
Montagues and vice versa. We don’t know why though
the Prince says their grudge was the result of an “airy word” (an insult) The Younger
generation of both families continue this feud.
It is this hatred that leads to tension and conflict in the play
Tybalt’s Hate Tybalt is unreasonably
hateful. The mere sight of Romeo at
the Capulet party angers him to the point of murder
It is Ironic that the party which brings the two lovers together sows the seeds that destroy their lives.
Perhaps Shakespeare is showing the paradoxical relationship between the two emotions.
Just as Romeo chooses Juliet as the object of his romantic desire, Tybalt chooses Romeo as the object of his murderous desire.
Does Love or Hate triumph?
Does love or hate conquer in the play?
Romeo’s love for Juliet and hopes for happiness are destroyed by Tybalt’s hatred of Romeo, Mercutio’s hatred of Tybalt and Romeo’s failure to make amends through love (Act 3 Scene 1)
The families hatred forces the two to end their lives.
The love that prompted their rash actions however brings an end to the families hatred.
Once again Shakespeare shows us that Love and Hate are intertwined.
Theme Three: Fate In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare
explores the theme of fate by allowing the audience to be party to his characters’ destiny.
In the opening lines of the play the audience is told what is going to happen to the lovers: “a pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life.”
Throughout the story, the audience is put in an omnipotent, god-like position from the start encouraging them to think about fate and to what extent our actions are free.
Because we know Romeo and Juliet’s fate from the outset we are constantly hoping that they will take a different course – perhaps that Romeo will arrive just after Juliet has woken.
However, their fate is sealed and we are forced to question our own destiny and ability to make free choices.
Theme Three: Fate When Mercutio shouts “a plague on both
your houses” in Act 3, Scene 1, we are reminded of the protagonists’ fate.
This bloody scene in which characters are killed gives us a glimpse of what fate has in store, marking the beginning of Romeo and Juliet’s tragic downfall.
Is it fate that Friar Lawrence’s plan to inform Romeo of Juliet’s faked death is not realized due to unforeseen circumstances?
Is it fate that Romeo kills himself when he does?
Romeo and Juliet see omens throughout the play, continually reminding the audience of their fate.
Their death is a catalyst for change in Verona: the dueling families are united in their grief creating a political shift in the city.
Perhaps Romeo and Juliet were fated to love and die for the greater good of Verona.
Theme Four - Loyalty
Some characters have certain loyalties, like the Nurse to Juliet, the Friar to Romeo and The Montagues and Capulets to their own blood relatives. These loyalties become hard to maintain when certain decisions have to be made. Do you think you have to be loyal to someone just because it is expected of you?
Theme Five - HonestyMany of the characters lie and deceive to get what they want such as The Friar, Romeo and Juliet.
How far would you go to get what you wanted in life?
Do a few lies here and there matter?
Journal - Themes
Write a 5 paragraph essay discussing the THEMES (not the PLOT) of the story and how those these are still important to society today.
R + J
R+J is the story of Romeo and Juliet told in a very new way.
The language the characters use is the same as in the play.
The setting is Verona Beach, California. The swords are hand guns. Everything is presented with vivid imagery
and a musical score to enhance the emotional connection.
Take notes on the similarities and differences between the two films.
Journal – Film Comparison
Film Comparison – Write an essay comparing and contrasting the 1968 film to the 1996 film.
Journals1. Creative story using phrases (FROM INTRO PACKET)2. Act I – In the play, we never learn why the Montegue’s and the Capulet’s
are feuding. What are 3 possible reasons these two families would hate each other so much?
3. Act II – Ac the end of Act II, Romeo and Juliet are in love and making arrangements to get married. Is this true love? Explain.
4. Act III – Romeo was challenged by Tybalt. Was Romeo wrong for not wanting to fight back? Is he to blame for Mercutio’s death?
5. Act IV – Juliet takes an elixir that makes her seem dead out of despiration. Do you think Juliet made the right choice? Did she have other options?
6. Act V – Write a 5 paragraph essay that (1) summarizes the story of Romeo and Juliet (2) explains what you liked most about the story and (3) if you agree with the way the story ended. Explain in detail.
7. Themes - Write a 5 paragraph essay discussing the THEMES (not the PLOT) of the story and how those these are still important to society today.
8. Film Comparison – Write an essay comparing the 1968 film to the 1996 film.