Lesson Five - Romeo and Juliet
Introduction
Lesson Five - Romeo and Juliet
Duration - 12 blocks (12 x 80 min + homework)
"A glooming peace this morning with it brings.
The sun for sorrow will not show its head.
Go hence, to have more talk of these sad things.
Some shall be pardoned, and some punished,
For never was a story of more woe
Than this of Juliet and her Romeo."
- Prince Escalus, Romeo and Juliet
"Welcome to the world of William Shakespeare. If this is your first exposure to Shakespeare, then you are about to embark on an exciting adventure!
"Shakespeare's works, whether they be tragedy or comedy, fantasy or history, deal with characters who are larger than life and yet very real. So real in fact, that one cannot help but identify with their fortunes and failures, characteristics and conflicts.
"There is fire and life in Shakespeare which still burns brightly even after four hundred years.
"In 1623, Ben Jonson heralded Shakespeare as being 'not of an age but for all time' Several hundred years later, Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910) declared that 'Shakespeare is crude, immoral, vulgar, and senseless.' Who was right? Perhaps, like most things in life, it depends on your point of view and attitude. Shakespeare himself wrote that "Nothing is either good or bad but thinking makes it so." -Â Introducing Shakespeare, The Global Shakespeare Series
In this lengthy, multi-part lesson you will
- read about the history of drama
- review the elements of drama, dramatic conventions, and types of drama
- be introduced to the source, setting, characters and plot of Romeo and Juliet
- explore various websites that will aid your understanding and appreciation of Romeo and Juliet
- read Romeo and Juliet and respond to the play!