Romeo and Juliet

Reading a play Reading a play is a little different than reading other kinds of texts. There are more things to consider than just narration and dialogue. These things include: Dialogue Monologue Aside Soliloquy Stage Direction

Example EX 1: (Scene I, after chorus, before lines are spoken) Enter Sampson and Gregory, with swords and bucklers, of the house of Capulet. a. Stage Directions b. These stage directions give the actors and director directions about who should enter and with which props. Sampson and Gregory are carrying swords and shields as they walk on stage. We should assume they are armed and looking for a fight.

EX 2: (Scene I, Lines 44-48) ABRAM: Do you bite your thumb at us, sir? SAMPSON: I do bite my thumb, sir. SAMPSON: [aside] Is the law of our side if I say ay GREGORY: No a. Dialogue and an Aside b. Here, Abram and Sampson are about to get into a fight. The argument about biting thumbs eventually becomes a very big street brawl. In the aside, Sampson discreetly (hence the aside) asks Gregory if they be spared trouble if they caused the fight by biting his thumb. Gregory tells him that no, they will get into trouble if they fight. The other characters “don’t hear” Sampson ask the question. Only Gregory is meant to hear.

(Scene 1, Lines 163-168) PRINCE: Rebellious subjects, enemies to peace, Profaners of this neighbor-stained steel,-- Will they not hear? What, ho! You men, you beasts, That quench the fire of your pernicious rage With purple fountains issuing from your veins On pain of torture, from those bloody hands Throw your mistemper’d weapons to the ground, And hear the sentence of your moved prince. a. _________________________________________________________________ b. __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________

2. (Scene 1, Lines 163-168) BENVOLIO: What sadness lengthens Romeo’s hours? ROMEO: Not having that which, having, makes them short. BENVOLIO: In love? ROMEO: Out. BENVOLIO: Of love? ROMEO: Out of her favor where I am in love. a. ___________________________________________________________ b.___________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________

3. (Scene 5, Lines 163-168) TYBALT: This, by his voice, should be a Montague. Fetch me my rapier, boy. [Exits boy] What dares the slave Come hither, cover’d with an antic face, To fleer and scorn at our solemnity? Now, by the stock and honour of my kin, To strike him dead, I hold it not a sin. a. _________________________________________________________________ b. __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________

4. (Scene 5, Lines 108-110) ROMEO: Sin from my lips 4. (Scene 5, Lines 108-110) ROMEO: Sin from my lips? O trespass sweetly urg’d. Give me my sin again [He kisses here] JULIET: You kiss by th’ book a. _________________________________________________________ b. ________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________

Conflict Man vs. Man-struggle between two or more characters Man vs. Himself-struggle between a character and himself (conscious) Man vs. Nature-struggle between a character and a force of nature or the environment (lost at sea, bad weather, etc… Man vs. Society-struggle between a character and the rules, beliefs or pressures of society Man vs. Fate-struggle between a character and the “forces” of the universe (God, destiny, etc…

Characterization Direct Characterization Indirect Characterization

Direct Characterization direct characterization: the author or narrator makes direct statements about a character’s traits. The author tells us about the character’s personality to our face. TELLING Example: “The patient boy and quiet girl were both well mannered and did not disobey their mother.” Explanation: The author is directly telling the audience the personality of these two children. The boy is “patient” and the girl is “quiet.”

Indirect Characterization Indirect characterization: the author or narrator reveals a character’s traits through his or her actions and speech. SHOWING When Jane walked in the room, nobody could help but look at her stunning, gorgeous face. She commanded attention wherever she went due to her good looks. Jane is beautiful. Jim was very unlike any other businessman. He made sure that all his clients got what they had paid for. Jim is honest and hardworking.

Indirect Characterization SPEECH - What does the character say? How does the character speak? THOUGHTS - What is revealed through the character’s private thoughts and feelings? EFFECTS - What is revealed through the character’s effect on other people? How do other characters feel or behave in reaction to the character? ACTIONS - What does the character do? How does the character behave? LOOKS - What does the character look like? How does the character dress?

Foreshadowing Foreshadowing is an advance sign or warning of what is to come in the future. An author might use foreshadowing in early on to give readers an inkling of tragic or mysterious events. When you want to let people know about an event that is yet to occur, you can use foreshadowing. Foreshadowing is used as a literary device to put readers on edge about plot turns that will occur later in the story.