What you learned....or didn't

Answer these questions:
1. Make one suggestion you would give to a teacher about to teach Romeo and Juliet.
2. Name one thing you learned while we read the play.
3. Name one thing you didn't like about the way we read Romeo and Juliet.
4. Name one thing you did like.


This is our last post on this play.

Who do you dislike?

The obvious question for today is who did you most dislike in the play. Explain why you feel that way.

Who do you like?

Now that you've heard the whole story I'd like you to reflect on all the people in the play: the Capulet family including Tybalt; the Montague family including Benvolio; Mercutio, Paris, Friar Laurence. Which one do you like the most? I assume you like someone because they think as you think or because they have some quality you admire. Explain your choice. What made you like this person? {You may, if you wish, say that you didn't like anyone in the play but you must tell me why.}

A letter from Romeo

After Romeo is dead they find a letter he wrote, that he apparently intended someone to find near his body. The Prince (chief of police and mayor of Verona all in one) read the letter. In lines 288-290 the Prince mentions it:
And here he writes that he did buy a poison
Of a poor pothecary, and therewithal
Came to this vault to die, and lie with Juliet.
That's all we know of the letter.
I would like you to pretend you are Romeo, in a hurry to go to Juliet's sepulchre and die, but wanting everyone to know what happened to you. Write a short letter to the people of Verona explaining whatever you think needs explaining.

Do you understand what he is saying?

Romeo is about to kill himself. Translate these passages into modern English for me:
1.How oft when men are at the point of death
Have they been merry, which their keepers call
A light'ning before death

2. Death, that hath sucked the honey of thy breath,
Hath no power yet upon thy beauty

3. Ah, dear Juliet
Why are thou yet so fair?

4. I still will stay with thee,
And never from this palace of dim night
Depart again.

5. Eyes look your last!
Arms, take your last embrace! and, lips, O you
The doors of breath, seal with a righteous kiss
A dateless bargain to engrossing Death!

If Juliet had awakened

Read lines 50-78. What happens?
Now imagine that Juliet wakes up at this point. She sees Romeo. She also sees Paris' dead body. What do you think she would have done at that point? Would she run off with Romeo? Would she be upset with him and want nothing to do with him? Explain why you think so. As always very short answers will not receive full credit.

Why does Romeo lie?

Read Act 5, scene 3, lines 1 to 44. Notice lines 28-32. Romeo lies to Balthazar, his servant.
Why I descend into this bed of death
Is partly to behold my lady's face,
But chiefly to take thence from her dead finger
A precious ring, a ring that I must use
In dear employment
You know a bit about Romeo and the situation he's in. Tell me why he isn't truthful with his servant. Minimum three sentences.