Star Crossed Lovers

1. Star Crossed Lovers Romeo and Juliet

2. Word Splash – collaborate with the person next to you and write sentences using all of the words below: astrology Forbidden Star-crossed fate Lovers Juliet death tragedy Romeo life families

3. Prologue “Two households, both alike in dignity, In fair Verona, where we lay our scene, From ancient grudge break new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.”

4. Prologue continued… From forth the fatal loins of these two foes A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life; Whose misadventured piteous overthrows Doth with their death bury their parent’s strife. The fearful passage of their death-marked love, And the continuance of their parent’s rage, Which, but their children’s end, naught could remove, 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.

5. What is Astrology? The study of the positions and aspects of celestial bodies in the belief that they have an influence on the course of natural earthly occurrences and human affairs.

6. In other words… At the moment when each of us was born, the stars and planets were all aligned in a unique way. According to astrology, that’s what makes each of us different.

7. Astrology continued… • The stars do change in regular ways with the seasons. • Astrologers divide the year into 12 periods which are associated with the appearance of certain constellations, or groups of stars, just like we have 12 months in the year. • There are 12 astrological signs

8. Astrology continued… • People born under a certain sign are believed to have some similar qualities. • Astrologers also believe that some signs are more compatible than others – and so, if two people are “star-crossed” then their signs are not compatible.

9. So, what do Astrology and Romeo and Juliet have in common?

10. Most people in Shakespeare’s time believed in astrology. They believed that the course of their lives was partly determined by the hour, day, month and year of the birth, hence “the stars” under which they were born.

11. People in Shakespearean times also believed in Fate/Destiny • Predetermined (preplanned) course of events • Predetermined future whether in general or of an individual • Concept that is based on the belief that there is a fixed natural order of the universe.

12. Some Quotes to Think About…

13. “Meeting you was fate, becoming your friend was a choice, but falling in love with you I had no control over.” Author unknown

14. Marcus Aurerlius – Roman Emperor once said… “Accept the things to which fate binds you and love the people with whom fate brings you together, but do so will all your heart.”

15. Henry Miller, American Author “We create our fate every day we live.”

16. “Fate is a misconception, its only a cover up for the fact you don’t have control over your own life.” Author Unknown

17. Astrology, Fate & Chance It was believed that the stars or planets influenced a person’s life. Romeo and Juliet are referred to as “star-crossed lovers”. It was destined that they would meet, fall in love, but that their love would not work out as they planned it.

18. Ticket Out The Door… On the paper provided, answer 1 the following 2 questions while you listen to the music… • How important do you think fate is in affecting what happens to us? • To what degree do you think we control our own destinies?