Romeo and Juliet Figurative Language Analysis

100 points

Thesis Statement and Planning Sheet Due Thursday by the end of class Final Draft Due Wednesday by midnight

Essay will be submitted via GoogleDocs – title 9lastnameR&J

Computer work days – most of class tomorrow and Tuesday Optional Lunch Help/Work Sessions – Tomorrow or Thursday

Click on this to open the document. There are 12 slides with helpful

information

Assignment: What is the significance of

figurative language in the play Romeo and Juliet? Write an analysis that answers the question.

Purpose: The purpose of this assignment is to demonstrate your knowledge of a figurative language (similes, metaphors, personification) in the play. It is also a practice in responding to literature in a formal essay.

Please be aware that you are expected to complete this paper on your own.

Since this is NOT a research paper, you should NOT be online searching for examples of figurative language.

Papers that show this will not receive credit for this assignment. Plagiarism will result in no credit for the assignment and a referral to the administration.

Specific Details and Process:

• Find three examples of figurative language from the play. – one extended metaphor

– one simile

– one personification

• Think about the significance of the comparisons Shakespeare used. Why are they used? Why are they significant in the scene they appear in? What do they contribute to the play as a whole or to a character’s personality trait?

• Be sure to jot down page numbers and lines of the figurative language you find.

Format:

• GoogleDoc titled 9lastnameR&J

• 12 point font, double spaced, standard margins, Times New Roman or Calibri font

• Heading in the upper right hand corner that identifies your name, class period, assignment, date

• I will not grade papers that are not in this format. You will then need to fix it and resubmit it with a late pass (if you have one remaining).

Grading:

See the rubric for more specific details

• introduction – 15 points

• extended metaphor paragraph – 20 points

• simile paragraph – 20 points

• personification paragraph – 20 points

• conclusion – 5 points

• organization – 5 points

• conventions (including citations) – 15 points

Organization Tips:

Introduction Attention getting statement

background information

thesis statement

Body (three paragraphs in any order) One body paragraph on extended metaphor

What is the extended metaphor? Include a passage from the play (1-3 lines)

What is being compared?

What is occurring in the play at the time the extended metaphor is used? Why is the extended metaphor significant in terms of the plot events?

What does the extended metaphor contribute to the play as a whole and/or to a character’s personality trait?

Organization Tips: One body paragraph on a simile

What is the simile? Include a passage from the play (1-2 lines)

What is being compared?

What is occurring in the play at the time the simile is used? Why is the simile significant in terms of the plot events?

What does the simile contribute to the play as a whole and/or to a character’s personality trait?

One body paragraph on personification

(see above for the questions to answer in this paragraph)

Conclusion restatement of the thesis

summary of each body paragraph (a sentence for each)

statement of the overall significance of using comparisons

Citation of Shakespeare’s Lines

You are required to use passages from the play. To cite the passages correctly, follow this format:

Passage (in quotation marks)

In parenthesis, identify the act number, scene number, and line number(s) with a period separating them.

Example: “Parting is such sweet sorrow” (2.2.185)

Tips:

• Look for several examples of figurative language before you decide on what you will write about, but be sure to jot down page and line numbers so you don’t forget where they are.

• Pick examples from scenes you understand well

• Pick comparisons that you understand well

• Use the planner to help you gather your thoughts

• ASK QUESTIONS IF YOU NEED HELP!

• Start with your thesis and body paragraphs – sometime the intro can be the toughest to write

Acts and scenes to that contain figurative language. Please note that this is not an extensive list, so you may decide to not use these examples. Act1, scene 5, lines 44-53

Act 1, scene 5, lines 93-109

Act 2, scene 2 (there are many examples of simile and personification in the balcony scene)

Act 2, scene 3, the Friar’s soliloquy (this is a tougher one to read, but has many examples of personification)

Act 3, scene 2, lines 73-84

Act 3, scene 3, lines 29-51

Act 3, scene 5, lines 1-36

Act 3, scene 5, lines 127-139

Act 5, scene 3, lines 88-120