Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

 

Choices, choices, choices!

Students must complete assignments from every level, as directed.  Students who choose not to complete these assignments in the given amount of time will receive a mark of zero.  Enjoy the choices and do your best!

Layer A Due Wednesday, September 30th

Throughout this unit we will be examining themes of love, parental relationships, marriage, deception and advice. As well as looking at Shakespeare’s ideas on these themes, you will have the chance to write about your own opinions in 150+ words.  Choose and complete any TWO of the opinion pieces below.  Each one will only be accepted with a rough copy with evidence of revision and a polished copy.  Consider diction, form and style. 

1.       A teenager your age is thinking of getting married.  She or he wants to know your opinion. Are teenagers capable of mature love? Give your honest advice.

2.      Brainstorm tragic love stories. Make a long list from novels, movies, plays and television. Explain why the tragic love story is so popular in art.

3.      Is it possible to experience love at first sight? Write an argument for or against it.

4.      Pretend it is possible to have a magic potion that makes anyone you desire fall madly in love with you. Would you use the potion on your favorite someone? Why or why not? Under which circumstances would you be most tempted?

5.      If your parents really hated the person you were dating, would it have any bearing on your decision to see your boy/girlfriend? Why or why not?

6.      In A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Shakespeare tells us, “The course of true love never did run smooth.” Agree or disagree with the statement and state why you hold your opinion.

7.      Make a list of the top ten things someone (boyfriend or girlfriend) would have to do to cause you to suddenly fall out of love with him/her. Rank your list in order so #1 is the most devastating and #10 is the least devastating. Explain why you ranked the items the way you did.

8.      How much influence does your peer group have over your choice of boy/girlfriend? Write an argument stating the impact of peer group on dating relationships for teens

9.      Write about little deceptions and big deceptions teenagers might engage in with their parents. List ten little ones and ten big ones. Try to explain why some teenagers deceive their parents. Is deception ever justified? Under what circumstances?

Layer B

Choose any combination of assignments below to total 30 points.  Unless details are given, you will need to go to the class binder, and choose the handouts for the assignments you will complete.  Here you will find more specific information and helpful hints.  Notify the teacher when the last handout is gone, so I can make more please!

1. Illustrate a literary device: 10 points. 
2. Create a program: 20 points.
3. Write a movie review: 20 points.
4. Create a script for and present a creative dramatic presentation:  30 points. 
5. Character box creation and presentation: 30 points.
6. Mythical allusions chart: 15 points.  Create a chart examining four mythical allusions from the play.  Headings are Quotation, Context, Mythic Figure’s Importance and Significance of the Allusion.
7. Skit: 15 points.  Choose a significant quotation and use it somewhere in your 2-4 minute skit, word-for-word.  Set the skit in modern setting with contemporary situations, and modern dialogue.  Costumes and props are fun!
8. Write an original sonnet: 10 points.   
9. Tableaux: 10 points.  Choose a significant quotation thematically, and create a tableaux (a frozen moment in time) to represent the quotation through body positioning and expression.
10. Mime: 10 points.  Choose a significant quotation thematically, and create a mime (a wordless series of actions) to represent the quotation through acting and body positioning.

Layer C

Students must complete all assignments, but will have choice within them. 

1. Masquerade Feast (60 marks): See individual assignment handout.

We will be masking on: Thursday, October 1^st

2. Charting patterns final essay preparation (small group task)

Preparation time:______________________________________

Presentation time:______________________________________

3. Romeo and Juliet formal in-class essay (100 marks): Assignment package coming soon!

Illustrate a Literary Device

Instructions

Using a regular piece white paper, illustrate the effect or meaning of a literary device employed in Romeo and Juliet thus far.  Do not simply illustrate the words, but rather their meaning and influence on the text, speaker etc.  First, find an example of:

v   Pun

v   Imagery

v   Simile

v   Allusion

v   Oxymoron

v   Metaphor

Requirements

v   Your chosen quotation must attractively appear on the page.

v   Use images and incorporate colour.  You may add or incorporate other words or text to enhance the meaning or effect of your piece of text and/or illustration.

v   On the back of your page, write one well-structured paragraph that explains your choice of images, colors, additional words or phrases etc.

Romeo and Juliet: The Movie

Instructions

As you are watching the movie, jot down point form notes on the following. Ask yourself: Would Shakespeare approve of this version? Does this modernized scene add to the meaning of the play? Does the scene or character damage the integrity of the play? Why is this version of Romeo and Juliet so popular? Why might people disapprove? Do you approve or disapprove?

1.        The Prologue – why is it done twice in two different forms? Why did the director choose those particular ways of presenting the Prologue?

2.       Comment on the Capulet/Montague brawl at the police station. Is it effective? Explain.

3.       The Pool Hall scene – is it effective? Explain. Why is it symbolic?

4.       Throughout the play many events are “on the news.” What is the purpose of this?

5.       There are many examples of religious imagery in the movie (crosses, statues of Mary). Why do you think these symbols are so prevalent in the movie? What is the purpose?

6.       The Queen Mab speech.  Is it effective? Why do you think that it is included?

7.       What is the purpose of sub-titles in the movie? Do you find it helpful?

8.       What is your opinion of the scene where Romeo and Juliet first meet (the fish tank)? What do you think of their behaviour at the party?

9.       What is the significance of the costumes the various characters wear at the masquerade?

10.    What is your opinion of the Balcony/Swimming Pool scene? Which did you prefer – the Zefferelli version or this one? Why?

11.     Comment on the deaths of Mercutio and Tybalt.

12.    Comment on Juliet’s behaviour at the Friar’s cell after Romeo’s banishment. What purpose does this scene serve?

13.    What is your opinion of the final scene? Why do you think the director added helicopters? How do you feel about the timing in this scene? It is in a Church not a tomb-is that significant?

14.    Choose three other main characters, besides Romeo and Juliet, and comment on their characterization. Did they fit their role?

Review

From these notes you will now write a movie review. You will give your opinion but you must base it on specific examples from the movie. Your review must include: the effectiveness of the characters, the setting, imagery, music and lighting etc. You may be informal and even humorous, but please keep in mind that your review must have depth and analysis and maintain a professional tone. Don’t sit on the fence; choose an opinion and support it.  You must hand in your notes with the movie review (otherwise it won’t be accepted).

Romeo and Juliet Program

Instructions

You have been hired to create a playbill for a production of Romeo and Juliet.  Your final product should be informative, entertaining, and visually appealing.  Be creative and conference with the teacher before beginning. 

Mandatory Elements

Your program must contain

v   Front and back cover

v   Brief synopsis of the play

v   Background/historical information of Shakespeare’s England

v   List of set changes and intermission

v   List of Cast and Actors

v   Pictures of principle actors/actresses with brief biographies

v   Two advertisements

Additional Elements

You may also want to include

v   Additional advertisements

v   Quotations (highlighted in a significant way)

v   Artwork

v   Notice of upcoming cultural events

v   Other?

Creating a Character Box

Introduction

Imagine that you are a servant in the Montague or Capulet household. Twenty years have passed since the deaths of Romeo and Juliet and you are cleaning out the attic. You find a box that contains personal items belonging to one of the characters in the play. What sort of things do you think you would find?  Consider…

Journal Entry

Choose a key character in the play and write a journal entry from his/her point of view. Remember that creativity counts! Feel free to use historic words and phrases to make your entry more interesting. In addition, make sure your entry demonstrates your understanding of

v   the events of the play

v   your character’s personality

v   your character’s motivations

v   your ability to “sound” like your character

Newspaper Article

Choose a key event from the play (for example the duel between Tybalt and Romeo) and write a newspaper article about it. Remember that creativity counts! Feel free to create a name for your newspaper and for your reporter. Your article must demonstrate you understanding of

v   The events of the play

v   The purpose of a newspaper article (5Ws)

v   The format of a newspaper article (title, byline, lead etc.)

v   The tone (vocabulary and style) of a newspaper article

Objects

Choose items that represent your chosen character. For at least one object, you must include one line from the play to justify the inclusion of the item. Make sure you hand the items and the paragraph in with the attached quotation.

Romeo and Juliet:  Dramatic Re-Creations

In small groups, choose one of the options below and creatively present your own version of Romeo and Juliet.  Scripts may be handed in at the end of the presentation, and all members of the group must participate equally.  You may not read your lines, although you don’t need to have them memorized either; have a good understanding of what you are going to say, and demonstrate it with your voice, body language, etc.  Props and costumes are important! J

Note: All presentations must contain important plot information, as well as remaining true to character.  Include key quotations wherever possible.  Presentations are to be approximately 5-8 minutes in length.  While the form, and text may change, the characters and content cannot.  Choose from the following options:

1.         Modernize Scenes/an Act/pivotal points from the play, and present it.

2.        Change the form of the Scenes/Act by altering its context.  Re-enact a portion of the play as though it were in the context of the 1950s, disco, hippy, gangster, 1980s, etc.

3.        Change the form of the Scenes/Act by altering its setting.  Re-enact a portion of the play as though it were in a soap opera, reality tv show, talk show, therapist’s office, etc.

4.        Romeo has some personal problems he would like to work through.  Recreate a portion of the play via a “Kids Help Phone” or “Dear Abbey”-type conversation where Romeo can explain his problems, and receive some advice and guidance.  Would this change the outcome? How?

5.        Romeo and Juliet in five minutes.

6.        Create an original soundtrack to accompany the key events of the play.  Orchestrate the drama, music and scripted lines to create a masterpiece!  Choose your music carefully: which types of music would illustrate which themes, conflicts, main events?

7.        Choose a key scene/point in the play and act it out according to the interpretations of 2 different characters.

8.        The Prince has decided to hold an inquiry into the deaths of Paris, Tybalt, Mercutio, Romeo and Juliet.  Who would be questioned at the hearing? Present the court hearings and come to a conclusion about who is the guilty party. What should be the punishment for the culprit, if any? Create a mock trial.

9.        Many popular talk show hosts today get the most interesting people to appear on their programmes. Imagine that you are one of these hosts (Dr.Phil, Larry King, Oprah), and you have managed to get the Capulets, Nurse, or Friar Lawrence on your show after the deaths of Romeo and Juliet.  Remember, this is a talk show in the fifteenth century.

10.     Imagine television has been invented in fifteenth century Verona and you are giving the first live news broadcast from the Capulet tomb. You arrive at the end of the play when everyone is standing around. Report the events and interview those you find there. Ask serious investigative questions.

11.    Original ideas are encouraged but must be approved by the teacher.

Part of the text chosen:________________

Presentation date:___________________    

Romeo and Juliet Feast, Mask & Monologue

You have been invited to the Capulet feast, and because it’s a masquerade you will need to create a mask to disguise your identity.  Try to be as creative and original as you can.  In order to make your mask as attractive as possible, consider using the following materials:

Cardboard	Felt	Fabric scraps
Aluminium foil	Beads	Crayons/Markers
Sequins	Glitter	Feathers
Ribbon	Paint	Magazine Pictures

When you design your mask, consider the following options:

Animals/Insects	Picture Collages	Flowers
Moon/Stars	Planets	Insects

“The Mask”

You will have some time in class to work on this project in your committees but the mask must be made on your own time.  You are also required to submit a brief introduction of your character and a monologue (written in the voice of your character of course) that could be integrated into Romeo and Juliet.  On ____________________, you will arrive to class and introduce yourself as your character’s persona (in your mask of course!).   Remember, you are an extra character in Romeo and Juliet. You will need to create a persona for yourself. You will need to explain the following (and this will be submitted in written format on ______________ with your monologue):

“The Introduction”

o     Who you are (name, age, social status, connection to the Capulets)

o     Why you were invited to the party

o     How you constructed your mask

o     Why you designed your mask the way you did

o     Where your monlogue fits in the play or party

o     Any other interesting information about yourself

“The Monologue”

o     Write a 14 line monologue (sonnet, if you wish to be particularly Elizabethan) that could be integrated into the play—your speech could be appropriate for the masquerade but can be appropriate for any scene in the play.  Don’t start sweating, you can use modern language and “Fakespeare”.

“The Committees—Many hands make light work”

***You will volunteer for one of the committees:  Food, Music, Entertainment, Set-Up of Room & Collection of $$$ (2 Toonies) EVERYONE IS ON THE CLEAN-UP COMMITTEE!!!

Evaluation:   60 marks (see rubric on back for Monologue Evaluation)

Ensure your mask and presentation are finished on time, so that you’re prepared to present. If you aren’t ready, you get zero.  The Evaluation Breakdown:  Mask-20/Intro & Monologue-25/Committee Work-15