using the 4-step approach to poetry
1. Engage- Our initial reaction to the play. Because Romeo and Juliet is such a dark and tragic play, we agreed it made us feel solemn and sorrowful. The contrast between Romeo and Juliet's joy as newlyweds, compared to the conflict after Romeo killed Tybalt, surprised us, and we anticipated what would come next. Our group agreed that Romeo and Juliet is a dark and complex play, but a good one nonetheless.
2. Describe- What is this play about? The Capulet and the Montague families have been enemies (presumably) for a very long time. The play is set in Verona in the 1500's, a time where who your family was was very important, and using violence to defend your family was not uncommon. Act I begins with Sampson and Gregory of the Capulets provoking the Montagues into a fight. The Prince arrives, and warns that the next people who fight will be put to death. Shortly after, Romeo is introduced as a weepy and heartbroken boy of his teens. He claims to love a woman named Rosaline, but she does not love him back. Benvolio, a friend of Romeo, convinces him to attend a Capulet party and find himself a new love interest. The scene cuts to Juliet, a young girl of almost 14 and a Capulet. Juliet's mother Lady Capulet asks if Juliet is interested in Paris, a count and the Prince's cousin. Juliet says she will look for him at the party, if her mother wants her to. The scene focuses on Romeo once again, as he, Benvolio, Mercutio, and several other men are walking to the Capulet feast. Romeo claims to have had a dream about the party, and he says he feels it isn't a good idea. Romeo and his friends arrive at the party, and Tybalt insists that they leave. Capulet, however, tells Tybalt to leave Romeo alone because he isn't causing any trouble, and Capulet doesn't want to raise the Prince's suspicions. At the party, Romeo and Juliet meet for the first time, and instantly fall in love. However, they quickly realize their families are rivals. Act II Romeo sneaks to Juliet's orchard and stands underneath her balcony. The two declare their love to each other, and agree that both would defy their families to be together. They make plans to marry the following day, and Juliet says she will send the Nurse to Romeo at 9 o'clock. The next day, Romeo tells the Nurse that he will marry Juliet at Friar Lawrence's cell. Juliet meets Romeo and Friar Lawrence at the Friar's cell, where the two are married. Act III The scene begins with Mercutio, Benvolio, and several other Montagues in a public square. The Capulets soon arrive, and Mercutio tries provoking Tybalt into a fight. Romeo soon arrives and tries to play peacemaker, saying that he must now love Tybalt (because of his marriage to Juliet). Despite Romeo's objections, Mercutio and Tybalt begin to fight, and Tybalt kills Mercutio. In a rage, Romeo then kills Tybalt, and flees the scene. The Prince arrives and learns of the recent fight. However, because Tybalt killed Mercutio before Romeo killed Tybalt, the Prince banishes Romeo to Mantua rather than killing him. Distraught, Romeo visits Friar Lawrence, who tells Romeo he is lucky to have escaped death and should be grateful. The Friar then tells Romeo to visit Juliet one last time, and then while Romeo is in Mantua, he will tell the Prince of the secret marriage and beg him to pardon Romeo. Romeo and Juliet spend their last night together, and Romeo leaves the next morning. Lady Capulet tries to persuade Juliet to marry Paris, but when she refuses, Capulet threatens to disown Juliet. The scene ends with Juliet going to visit Friar Lawrence and ask for advice. Act IV begins with Paris speaking to Friar Lawrence about marrying Juliet. Juliet enters and requests to speak to the Friar privately. Once alone, Juliet asks him for help, and the Friar conducts a plan to fake Juliet's death. He gives her a vial that will make her seem dead for 42 hours, and he tells her she will awaken in the Capulet tomb with Romeo by her side. Juliet eagerly agrees to the plan and goes home to her father, telling him she will marry Paris. Lord Capulet is overjoyed and moves the wedding to the following day (Wednesday) rather than Thursday. Having no other choice, Juliet drinks from the vial that the Friar gave her, and the next morning the Nurse finds her and believes her to be dead. Soon Lady Capulet and Lord Capulet know of their daughter's death, and later Juliet is placed in the Capulet tomb. Act V Meanwhile, Romeo's servant Balthasar goes to Romeo and tells him of Juliet's death. Romeo buys a poison so he can kill himself and be with Juliet, and then leaves Mantua to go to the Capulet tomb. Upon arrival, Romeo discovers Paris outside the Capulet tomb. Paris, believing he is serving justice, fights with Romeo, but Romeo kills him. Romeo enters the tomb and sees Juliet, who he believes is dead. He drinks the poison so he will die and be with Juliet. The Friar arrives and discovers Romeo dead. Juliet awakens and sees Romeo dead, so she unsuccessfully attempts to kill herself by kissing him to consume any leftover poison. After this fails, she stabs herself with a dagger and dies. The Friar is discovered by Capulet, Montague, and the Prince, who believe he caused the deaths of Paris, Romeo, and Juliet. He explains the situation, and Capulet and Montague realize how far their feud has gone. Capulet says Romeo's body may lie beside Juliet's, and Montague says he will make a statue in Juliet's honor.
3. Interpret- What is this play really about? We deducted that Romeo and Juliet is about fate, the consequences of impulsive decisions, and sacrifice. To elaborate: Although Romeo and Juliet had barely known each other, they decided their love was eternal and got married anyway. Because of their impulsive decision, several people were killed in the long run (themselves included). Juliet could have saved herself when she woke up, but instead she killed herself so she could be with Romeo in the afterlife, because she believed they were meant to be. Romeo and Juliet also sacrificed their families, when they got married and planned to fool their families into thinking Juliet was dead. These themes could apply to modern times, because impulsive decisions can lead to negative or positive consequences, and some things are worth sacrificing. Family values are still a huge part of many peoples' lives, and for better or for worse, people today still believe that love is worth making sacrifices for.
4. Judge- What can we learn from this play? Romeo and Juliet teaches that although rash decisions can lead to disaster, if you believe in something stongly enough, it might be worth it. It also teaches that sometimes you have to sacrifice one important thing for another, and you have to cut your losses.
2. Describe- What is this play about? The Capulet and the Montague families have been enemies (presumably) for a very long time. The play is set in Verona in the 1500's, a time where who your family was was very important, and using violence to defend your family was not uncommon. Act I begins with Sampson and Gregory of the Capulets provoking the Montagues into a fight. The Prince arrives, and warns that the next people who fight will be put to death. Shortly after, Romeo is introduced as a weepy and heartbroken boy of his teens. He claims to love a woman named Rosaline, but she does not love him back. Benvolio, a friend of Romeo, convinces him to attend a Capulet party and find himself a new love interest. The scene cuts to Juliet, a young girl of almost 14 and a Capulet. Juliet's mother Lady Capulet asks if Juliet is interested in Paris, a count and the Prince's cousin. Juliet says she will look for him at the party, if her mother wants her to. The scene focuses on Romeo once again, as he, Benvolio, Mercutio, and several other men are walking to the Capulet feast. Romeo claims to have had a dream about the party, and he says he feels it isn't a good idea. Romeo and his friends arrive at the party, and Tybalt insists that they leave. Capulet, however, tells Tybalt to leave Romeo alone because he isn't causing any trouble, and Capulet doesn't want to raise the Prince's suspicions. At the party, Romeo and Juliet meet for the first time, and instantly fall in love. However, they quickly realize their families are rivals. Act II Romeo sneaks to Juliet's orchard and stands underneath her balcony. The two declare their love to each other, and agree that both would defy their families to be together. They make plans to marry the following day, and Juliet says she will send the Nurse to Romeo at 9 o'clock. The next day, Romeo tells the Nurse that he will marry Juliet at Friar Lawrence's cell. Juliet meets Romeo and Friar Lawrence at the Friar's cell, where the two are married. Act III The scene begins with Mercutio, Benvolio, and several other Montagues in a public square. The Capulets soon arrive, and Mercutio tries provoking Tybalt into a fight. Romeo soon arrives and tries to play peacemaker, saying that he must now love Tybalt (because of his marriage to Juliet). Despite Romeo's objections, Mercutio and Tybalt begin to fight, and Tybalt kills Mercutio. In a rage, Romeo then kills Tybalt, and flees the scene. The Prince arrives and learns of the recent fight. However, because Tybalt killed Mercutio before Romeo killed Tybalt, the Prince banishes Romeo to Mantua rather than killing him. Distraught, Romeo visits Friar Lawrence, who tells Romeo he is lucky to have escaped death and should be grateful. The Friar then tells Romeo to visit Juliet one last time, and then while Romeo is in Mantua, he will tell the Prince of the secret marriage and beg him to pardon Romeo. Romeo and Juliet spend their last night together, and Romeo leaves the next morning. Lady Capulet tries to persuade Juliet to marry Paris, but when she refuses, Capulet threatens to disown Juliet. The scene ends with Juliet going to visit Friar Lawrence and ask for advice. Act IV begins with Paris speaking to Friar Lawrence about marrying Juliet. Juliet enters and requests to speak to the Friar privately. Once alone, Juliet asks him for help, and the Friar conducts a plan to fake Juliet's death. He gives her a vial that will make her seem dead for 42 hours, and he tells her she will awaken in the Capulet tomb with Romeo by her side. Juliet eagerly agrees to the plan and goes home to her father, telling him she will marry Paris. Lord Capulet is overjoyed and moves the wedding to the following day (Wednesday) rather than Thursday. Having no other choice, Juliet drinks from the vial that the Friar gave her, and the next morning the Nurse finds her and believes her to be dead. Soon Lady Capulet and Lord Capulet know of their daughter's death, and later Juliet is placed in the Capulet tomb. Act V Meanwhile, Romeo's servant Balthasar goes to Romeo and tells him of Juliet's death. Romeo buys a poison so he can kill himself and be with Juliet, and then leaves Mantua to go to the Capulet tomb. Upon arrival, Romeo discovers Paris outside the Capulet tomb. Paris, believing he is serving justice, fights with Romeo, but Romeo kills him. Romeo enters the tomb and sees Juliet, who he believes is dead. He drinks the poison so he will die and be with Juliet. The Friar arrives and discovers Romeo dead. Juliet awakens and sees Romeo dead, so she unsuccessfully attempts to kill herself by kissing him to consume any leftover poison. After this fails, she stabs herself with a dagger and dies. The Friar is discovered by Capulet, Montague, and the Prince, who believe he caused the deaths of Paris, Romeo, and Juliet. He explains the situation, and Capulet and Montague realize how far their feud has gone. Capulet says Romeo's body may lie beside Juliet's, and Montague says he will make a statue in Juliet's honor.
3. Interpret- What is this play really about? We deducted that Romeo and Juliet is about fate, the consequences of impulsive decisions, and sacrifice. To elaborate: Although Romeo and Juliet had barely known each other, they decided their love was eternal and got married anyway. Because of their impulsive decision, several people were killed in the long run (themselves included). Juliet could have saved herself when she woke up, but instead she killed herself so she could be with Romeo in the afterlife, because she believed they were meant to be. Romeo and Juliet also sacrificed their families, when they got married and planned to fool their families into thinking Juliet was dead. These themes could apply to modern times, because impulsive decisions can lead to negative or positive consequences, and some things are worth sacrificing. Family values are still a huge part of many peoples' lives, and for better or for worse, people today still believe that love is worth making sacrifices for.
4. Judge- What can we learn from this play? Romeo and Juliet teaches that although rash decisions can lead to disaster, if you believe in something stongly enough, it might be worth it. It also teaches that sometimes you have to sacrifice one important thing for another, and you have to cut your losses.