Romeo and Juliet Act I -Hansen

A pun is a play upon words that makes us laugh because the word or phrase used references another word of identical pronunciation but with a much different meaning. Shakespeare loved puns, as is evident in Mercutio's dialogue throughout the play. However, some of the puns are confusing to modern readers because we are generally unfamiliar with the Warwickshire dialect and terms common in Shakespeare's day. Mercutio says, "Thy wit is a very bitter sweeting; it is a most sharp sauce" (2.4), but to appreciate the pun we have to know that a bitter sweeting was a variety of sour apple in Shakespeare's England. Shakespeare seems to have enjoyed shocking the audience with bawdy puns and there are many in Romeo and Juliet. For more please see 1.4.19-29; 2.1.29-31; 2.4.101-102, etc.

The purpose of this passage is to

• define the word pun

• Explain how Shakespeare used puns in his plays.

• Explain Shakespeare's sense of humor

• Describe Shakespeare's writing process

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

What is the most important event in Act I?

• The fight between the Capulets and the Montagues.

• The decree of Prince Escalus

• The courtship of Count Paris

• The meeting of Romeo and Juliet

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.8.7

CCSS.RL.9-10.10. RL.11-12.10

How does Romeo describe Juliet?

• She is like a snow-white dove among crows.

• She is a swan among crows.

• She is a rich jewel in Ethiopia's ear

• Verona's summer hath not such a flower

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.2.6

Why won't Rosaline marry Romeo?

• She has taken a vow of chastity.

• She has sworn off love.

• She is already married.

• Her family is at war with Romeo's family.

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.8.7

CCSS.RL.9-10.10. RL.11-12.10

The Prologue gives the setting and background of the play and prepares the audience for what is to come.

What is contained in the Prologue to Romeo and Juliet?

• The Prologue is a sonnet.

• The Prologue foreshadows the fate of Romeo and Juliet

• The Prologue predicts that the feud will never end.

• It tells the audience that the play will be three hours long.

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.8.7

CCSS.RL.9-10.10. RL.11-12.10

What are the characteristics of a sonnet?

(a)  

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

What is this line an example of?

"My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand

to smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss."

• alliteration-

  repitition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words.

• symbolism-

  something that stands for something else

• Cliche-

  trite, over-used, worn out phrases

• personification-

  giving human qualities to non-human things

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.2.6

Romeo and Juliet fall in love at first sight. What do you know about them? How does their language tell us that they are in love?

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.2.6

How does Mercutio try to cheer up Romeo?

• Mercutio plays the drums and sings.

• Mercutio tells Romeo about a happy dream

• He tells Romeo about Queen Mab, the fairy queen.

• He takes Romeo dancing.

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.8.7

CCSS.RL.9-10.10. RL.11-12.10

What is the setting-

the time, location, and environment-

of the play Romeo and Juliet?

• Verona, Italy during the Renaissance of the 1300s.

• London, England during the Elizabethan Era of the 1500s.

• Paris, France during the Capetian Dynasty of the 1000s.

• Jerusalem during the Crusades of the 1200s.

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.8.7

CCSS.RL.9-10.10. RL.11-12.10