Romeo and Juliet- Post Reading Tasks

Now that we have finished reading the play, Romeo and Juliet, we will be delving into some of the ideas that are developed by Shakespeare in the text.

Romeo

Romeo is one of two main protagonists in the play. At times, he directly acknowledges a power greater than himself that is directing his life. During other moments in the play, Romeo demonstrates an inability to control his emotions and this means that he acts rashly. We can argue that because he is an impulsive character, Shakespeare is showing us that another power, like the Gods who the Elizabethans believed controlled their destiny, is prompting him to act in certain ways and make specific choices.

The students will complete the following tasks on their independent blogs:

• Define, in your own words, the terms written in bold in the blurb above.
• Locate three quotations from the text that show us that Romeo is acknowledging that another power is in control of his life. Write these onto your blog and explain how they show the reader that Romeo believes in his predetermined fate.
• Describe two moments in the play when Romeo acts impulsively. Explain the direct consequences for these impulsive actions. Write down a quotation from each moment that shows the reader Romeo is an impulsive character.

Juliet

Juliet’s fate can be explored in a couple of ways. One is via the same means as Romeo, through her direct references, predictions and the dream that she has.

Another is in her role as an Elizabethan woman. Take a look over the slides below that we have discussed in class. These snippets show us that women in 16th Century had very little control over their own lives and where ‘fate’ took them. Juliet exemplifies this and allows us to gain insight into the pre-determined life of an Elizabethan woman.

Elizabethan-Women-True-or-False-Quiz-1

Explain three moments in the text where Juliet has little control over her own fate. Use quotes to support your explainations of your chosen moments.

Sometimes, Juliet acknowledges the outcome of the play without actually knowing it. Write down three quotations from moments in the play when she does this and explain how your selected quotation indicates her fate.