UNIT 7: Drama and Fate
William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet
William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet
UNIT OVERVIEW
This unit uses William Shakespeare's tragedy play Romeo and Juliet to address the literary form of the drama. Students review key principles of Aristotle's Poetics and his definition of tragedy to deepen their understanding of this ancient dramatic genre. They read William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet and explore the ways in which this work treats the related theme of fate versus free will. Students will also consider Shakespeare's use of rhythm, punctuation, and imagery and the ways in which they help convey the motives, thoughts, and feelings of the characters. Students will also view two modern cinematic adaptations of the play (Zeffirelli's 1968 Romeo and Juliet and Luhrmann's 1996 Romeo + Juliet) and analyze the ways in which each filmmaker draws on and transforms the original source material. This unit will confirm students' shared understanding of the elements of drama, preparing them for the study of other dramatic works throughout high school.
This unit uses William Shakespeare's tragedy play Romeo and Juliet to address the literary form of the drama. Students review key principles of Aristotle's Poetics and his definition of tragedy to deepen their understanding of this ancient dramatic genre. They read William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet and explore the ways in which this work treats the related theme of fate versus free will. Students will also consider Shakespeare's use of rhythm, punctuation, and imagery and the ways in which they help convey the motives, thoughts, and feelings of the characters. Students will also view two modern cinematic adaptations of the play (Zeffirelli's 1968 Romeo and Juliet and Luhrmann's 1996 Romeo + Juliet) and analyze the ways in which each filmmaker draws on and transforms the original source material. This unit will confirm students' shared understanding of the elements of drama, preparing them for the study of other dramatic works throughout high school.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
- Explain the structure of the plot(s) and describe the dramatic techniques the playwright and filmmakers use to advance their respective narratives.
- Trace the development of major and minor characters and explain how characterization advances the plot or theme.
- Analyze the playwright's use of irony.
- Identify the poetic devices used in Romeo and Juliet and explain their effect.
Shakespeare and Language:
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LITERARY TEXTS
Drama
Drama
- Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare (digital text provided by Folger Shakespeare Library)
Shakespearean Sonnets
- Introduction to Shakespeare's Sonnets
- Catalog of Shakespeare's 154 Sonnets (Folger Shakespeare Library)
MUSIC
- "What is a Youth" lyrics (theme song in Zeffirelli's Capulet ball scene)
- "Kissing You" lyrics (theme song in Luhrmann's Capulet ball scene)
INFORMATIONAL TEXTS
- Black, James. “The Visual Artistry of Romeo and Juliet.” Studies in Literature, 1500-1900 5.2 (1975): 245-256. JSTOR. Web. 13 April 2015.
- Colaco, Jill. “The Window Scenes in Romeo and Juliet and Folk Songs of the Night Visit.” Studies in Philology 83.2 (1986): 138-157. JSTOR. Web. 13 April 2015.
- Palmer, Chris. “‘What Tongue Shall Smooth Thy Name?’: Recent Films of Romeo and Juliet.” Cambridge Quarterly 32.1 (2003): 61-76. EBSCO. Web. 13 April 2015.
- Pursell, Michael. “Artifice and Authenticity in Zeffirelli’s Romeo and Juliet.” Literature/Film Quarterly 14.4 (1986): 173-178. Questia. Web. 13 April 2015.
- Radel, Nicholas F. “The Ethiop’s Ear: Race, Sexuality, and Baz Luhrmann’s William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet.” The Upstart Crow 28 (2009): 17-34. Questia. Web. 13 April 2015.
- Scott, Lindsey. “‘Closed in a Dead Man’s Tomb’: Juliet, Space, and the Body in Franco Zeffirelli’s and Baz Luhrmann’s Films of Romeo and Juliet.” Literature/Film Quarterly 36.2 (2008): 137-146. EBSCO. Web. 13 April 2015.
- Welsh, Jim. “Postmodern Shakespeare: Strictly Romeo.” Literature/Film Quarterly 25.2 (1997): 152-153. EBSCO. Web. 13 April 2015.
- Zubarev, Vera. “Nature vs. Civilization: A Review Article of Films by Luhrmann.” Comparative Literature and Culture 11.2 (2009): 1-6. EBSCO. Web. 13 April 2015.
FILMS
- Romeo and Juliet. Directed by Franco Zeffirelli, performances by Leonard Whiting, Olivia Hussey, Milo O'Shea, Pat Heywood, John McEnery, Robert Stephens, Michael York, and Bruce Robinson, Paramount Pictures, 1968.
- William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet. Directed by Baz Luhrmann, performances by Leonardo DiCaprio, Claire Danes, Brian Dennehy, John Leguizamo, Pete Postlethwaite, Paul Sorvino, and Diane Verona, 20th Century Fox, 1996.
THEATER
- Romeo and Juliet. Directed by Dominic Dromgoole, performances by Adetomiwa Edun and Ellie Kendrick, Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, 2009.
OTHER MEDIA
TERMINOLOGY
Act
Allusion Apostrophe Aside Aubade Blank verse Climax Courtly love Couplet Double entendre Foot |
Hamartia
Hyperbole Iamb Iambic pentameter Metaphor Meter Monologue Neologism Octave Petrarchan sonnet Pun |
Quatrain
Scene Sestet Shakespearean sonnet Simile Soliloquy Sonnet Volta |
IMAGE GALLERY
Click images to enlarge and read captions.
Click images to enlarge and read captions.
VIDEO GALLERY.
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William Shakespeare: Legendary Wordsmith. Take a look at the life of one of the most celebrated authors of all time, legendary wordsmith William Shakespeare, in this video from the History Channel.
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Shakespeare in the Classroom. A documentary narrated by performers from the Academy Award-winning film Shakespeare in Love (1998), a mostly fictional account of how a young Shakespeare, out of ideas and short on cash, meets his ideal woman and is inspired to write one of his most famous plays, Romeo and Juliet.
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What is Iambic Pentameter? A TED-Ed lesson on Shakespeare's preferred rhythm for his poetic verses and dialogue.
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Shakespeare's Sonnets. A brief introduction to the history, form, and content of Shakespeare's sonnets by Crash Course Literature.
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Shakespeare's Use of Language.
AUDIOBOOK GALLERY.
In the world's most celebrated and lyrical love story, the sublime devotion of two young lovers transcends their earthly fate. The noble Veronese houses of Montague and Capulet are locked in a bitter feud. When Romeo (a Montague) and Juliet (a Capulet) fall in love, they are swept up in a series of violent events and cruel twists of fortune. Despite the passion and innocence of their love, they fall victim to the enmity between their families, and their story ends in tragedy. In this Arkangel audiobook production, Romeo is played by Joseph Fiennes and Juliet by Maria Miles; Elizabeth Spriggs is the Nurse.
In the world's most celebrated and lyrical love story, the sublime devotion of two young lovers transcends their earthly fate. The noble Veronese houses of Montague and Capulet are locked in a bitter feud. When Romeo (a Montague) and Juliet (a Capulet) fall in love, they are swept up in a series of violent events and cruel twists of fortune. Despite the passion and innocence of their love, they fall victim to the enmity between their families, and their story ends in tragedy. In this Arkangel audiobook production, Romeo is played by Joseph Fiennes and Juliet by Maria Miles; Elizabeth Spriggs is the Nurse.
Romeo and Juliet Act 1 Audiobook (39m 33s)
Scene 1: 0:00 - 13:34 Scene 2: 13:35 - 18:51 Scene 3: 18:52 - 24:31 Scene 4: 24:32 - 30:45 Scene 5: 30:46 - 39:33 Romeo and Juliet Act 3 Audiobook (48m 19s)
Scene 1: 0:00 - 10:50 Scene 2: 10:51 - 19:58 Scene 3: 19:59 - 31:04 Scene 4: 31:05 - 33:07 Scene 5: 33:08 - 48:19 |
Romeo and Juliet Act 2 Audiobook (36m 47s)
Scene 1: 0:00 - 3:50 Scene 2: 3:51 - 15:07 Scene 3: 15:08 - 20:21 Scene 4: 20:22 - 30:09 Scene 5: 30:10 - 34:21 Scene 6: 34:22 - 36:47 Romeo and Juliet Act 4 Audiobook (24m 35s)
Scene 1: 0:00 - 6:47 Scene 2: 6:48 - 9:04 Scene 3: 9:05 - 12:45 Scene 4: 12:46 - 14:16 Scene 5: 14:17 - 24:35 |
Romeo and Juliet Act 5 Audiobook (29m 54s)
Scene 1: 0:00 - 5:28
Scene 2: 5:29 - 7:05
Scene 3: 7:06 - 29:54
Scene 1: 0:00 - 5:28
Scene 2: 5:29 - 7:05
Scene 3: 7:06 - 29:54