'Romeo and Juliet'

1. 'Romeo and Juliet' by William Shakespeare

2. 'Romeo and Juliet' Aims for Today: • Complete Romeo and Juliet Essay Plan • Begin ‘Romeo and Juliet’ Essay • Review of folio • Tomorrow…Close Reading

3. When I was eight, I watched ‘Marine Boy’ because on a wet Thursday afternoon, there was absolutely nothing else to do. Now, kids have got YouTube, Xbox, MSN, Facebook, text, email, PSP, DVD, and Sky+. All the world’s ones and noughts have been harnessed for their edification and you’re not going to drag them back to the box with a bunch of jolly-what-tally-ho Enid Blyton kids in big shorts getting into scrapes with smugglers. That was then, and it’s as gone as the ruff and tuberculosis. Show how the writer’s sentence structure helps to clarify the point that he is making.

4. When I was eight, I watched ‘Marine Boy’ because on a wet Thursday afternoon, there was absolutely nothing else to do. Now, kids have got YouTube, Xbox, MSN, Facebook, text, email, PSP, DVD, and Sky+. All the world’s ones and noughts have been harnessed for their edification and you’re not going to drag them back to the box with a bunch of jolly-what-tally-ho Enid Blyton kids in big shorts getting into scrapes with smugglers. That was then, and it’s as gone as the ruff and tuberculosis. Show how the writer’s sentence structure helps to clarify the point that he is making.

5. 'Romeo and Juliet' • Choose a play in which there is a scene which provides a clear turning point in the action. • Explain why this is a turning point and go on to discuss the importance of the scene to your appreciation of the text as a whole.

6. 'Romeo and Juliet' Introduction Shakespeare’s great tragedy ‘Romeo and Juliet’ is a play in which the central character of Romeo makes a crucial error when he kills Tybalt in retaliation following the murder of his dear friend Mercutio in Act 3 Scene 1. Widely considered to be the greatest love story of all time, the play describes how Romeo and Juliet struggle to maintain their relationship against the backdrop of the bitter feud between their families. In killing Tybalt, Romeo effectively destroys any chance of being able to sustain a relationship with his new wife Juliet.

7. 'Romeo and Juliet' Point 1 Point 1: Shakespeare opens the play with a description of the feud between the Capulets and the Montagues.This feud is what drives the play and ultimately leads to the violent confrontation between Romeo and Tybalt in Act 3 Scene 1. Remember! For a point… • Where in the play are you discussing? • What is happening? • Why is it important?

8. 'Romeo and Juliet' Point 1 Point 1: Shakespeare opens the play with a description of the feud between the Capulets and the Montagues.This feud is what drives the play and ultimately leads to the violent confrontation between Romeo and Tybalt in Act 3 Scene 1. Quote: From ancient grudge breaks to new mutiny A pair of star cross’d lovers

9. Evaluation The prologue to the play introduces the conflict between the Capulet family and the Montagues. This conflict is key to the tragedy of the play as it divides the characters along purely tribal lines. The description of the ‘ancient grudge’ emphasises just how long standing the feud between the families has lasted, and how difficult it will be for Romeo and Juliet to overcome it. There is also a suggestion that it has intensified in recent times through the use of the description ‘new mutiny’. This tense conflict leads Juliet to suggest that the Montague family are her ‘only hate’, all of which emphasises the intense conflict between the two families. This conflict fuels the violent confrontation between Romeo and Tybalt. 'Romeo and Juliet' Introduction

10. 'Romeo and Juliet' Point 2 Point 2: As the play develops, the audience become aware of Romeo’s tempestuous nature.It is clear that he is fickle and changeable and that he often acts rashly. These rash actions lead to his violent actions when confronted by Tybalt. Remember! For a point… • Where in the play are you discussing? • What is happening? • Why is it important?

11. 'Romeo and Juliet' Point 2 Point 2: As the play develops, the audience become aware of Romeo’s tempestuous nature.It is clear that he is fickle and changeable and that he often acts rashly. These rash actions lead to his violent actions when confronted by Tybalt. Quote: Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight! For my heart never knew true love till this night!

12. Evaluation In this paragraph, you are trying to prove that there is a weakness in Romeo’s character: he is too impulsive and rash. He follows his desires and does not pause to consider the consequences. In the quote he is discussing his reaction to Juliet. Was he not supposed to be in love with Rosaline? Likewise, Juliet herself sees his desire to marry her as ‘too rash, too sudden, too unadvised’. All of this builds an impression of Romeo as an impetuous and rash character…this is seen perfectly in our key scene where he kills Tybalt. 'Romeo and Juliet' Introduction

13. 'Romeo and Juliet' Point 3 Point 3: Our key scene occurs in Act 3 Scene 1. Following the marriage of Romeo and Juliet, the audience are once again reminded of the tension between the Capulets and the Montagues whenShakespeare depicts a fatal battle in which Mercutio loses his life at the hands of Tybalt. Remember! For a point… • Where in the play are you discussing? • What is happening? • Why is it important?

14. 'Romeo and Juliet' Point 3 Point 3: Shakespeare opens the play with a description of the feud between the Capulets and the Montagues.This feud is what drives the play and ultimately leads to the violent confrontation between Romeo and Tybalt in Act 3 Scene 1. Quote: The day is hot; the Capulets, abroad; And if we meet we shall not ’scape abrawl, Thou art a villain Villain am I none A plague on both your houses

15. Evaluation In this paragraph, you are trying to prove that there is a weakness in Romeo’s character: he is too impulsive and rash. He follows his desires and does not pause to consider the consequences. In the quote he is discussing his reaction to Juliet. Was he not supposed to be in love with Rosaline? Likewise, Juliet herself sees his desire to marry her as ‘too rash, too sudden, too unadvised’. All of this builds an impression of Romeo as an impetuous and rash character…this is seen perfectly in our key scene where he kills Tybalt. 'Romeo and Juliet' Introduction

16. 'Romeo and Juliet' Point 4 Point 4: As the key scene develops, Romeo makes a crucial error. In retaliation at the brutal murder of his dear friend Mercutio, Romeo kills Tybalt. In doing this he is punished by the Prince and is banished from Verona . Remember! For a point… • Where in the play are you discussing? • What is happening? • Why is it important?

17. 'Romeo and Juliet' Point 4 Point 4: As the key scene develops, Romeo makes a crucial error. In retaliation at the brutal murder of his dear friend Mercutio, Romeo kills Tybalt. In doing this he is punished by the Prince and is banished from Verona . Quote… ‘Oh I am fortune’s fool’ ‘Ha, banishment! Be merciful, say “death,”’

18. Evaluation In this paragraph, you are trying to prove that there is a weakness in Romeo’s character: he is too impulsive and rash. He follows his desires and does not pause to consider the consequences. In the quote he is discussing his reaction to Juliet. Was he not supposed to be in love with Rosaline? Likewise, Juliet herself sees his desire to marry her as ‘too rash, too sudden, too unadvised’. All of this builds an impression of Romeo as an impetuous and rash character…this is seen perfectly in our key scene where he kills Tybalt. 'Romeo and Juliet' Introduction