Romeo and Juliet Key scene 4 Date: Objectives Examine the final scene or ending of the play. Be able to write an essay on how a play ends. Examine the themes of love and hate. Be able to write an essay on the themes. Warm–up – I see, I think, I wonder. Write three sentences about these pictures.
Today’s scene: The ending; Act 5, Scene 3 Why is this scene important? It can be used to discuss what the entire point of the play was. The characters have developed after a long journey and we can compare the ‘before’ and ‘after’ versions. The lessons of the play are completed and the messages it tried to convey are looked at by both characters and audience alike.
Act 5, Scene 3 Theme: Love All three examples of love the play provides are seen in this scene. The love Paris had leads him to dutifully guard and die for Juliet. The love the parents have for their children leads to the end of the centuries long feud. The love Romeo and Juliet had leads to their tragic deaths. Answer the following questions (P.Q.E.) to show ‘Love’ in scene three. What is Paris doing at the start of the scene? What is his last wish? How does Romeo feel before he dies? Is he happy, sad, afraid, relieved or all of the above? Explain your answer. Juliet decides that she must die? Why does she believe this in your opinion? Is there hope that the Capulet-Montague feud is over? Why?
Quotes to help – Investigate who said these quotes “The obsequies that I for thee will keep (Obsequies – rituals of remembrance) Nightly shall be to strew thy grave and weep” “Open the tomb, lay me with Juliet” “For fear of that I still will stay with thee And never from this palace of dim night Depart again” “To help me after? I will kiss thy lips. Haply some poison yet doth hang on them” This is thy sheath; there rust, and let me die” “That whiles Verona by that name is known, There shall no figure at such rate be set As that of true and faithful Juliet.”
Act 5, Scene 3 Theme: hate Romeo and Juliet are dead because of the feud. Hatred made them hide their love. Hatred separated them. Hatred created the situation where they felt that they had no options left. The final page or so of the play calls out hatred, blames it for all that has happened and seeks a way to defeat it. Answer the following questions (P.Q.E.) to show ‘Hate’ in scene three. The Prince too feels responsible for what has happened? Why? In what way have the families been punished for their feud? Do you believe the two families learnt their lesson; that hatred leads to more pain? Why?
Quotes to help – Investigate who said these quotes “And I, for winking at your discords too, Have lost a brace of kinsmen. All are punished” “See what scourge is laid upon your hate That heaven finds means to kill your joys with love.” “Poor sacrifices of our enmity”
Homework - essay Complete following essay question. What is your favourite scene in the play? To answer this, you will have to talk about what the scene does for you. What do you think is the purpose of the scene: to introduce, develop or conclude the story? Do you like how they did this? Do you learn anything from the scene: characters, themes, ideas? Do you like the language, images or ideas? It is all about YOU. An answer should be well thought out and structured. An introduction paragraph should explain what your doing and why. There should be at least two to three reasons/points/paragraphs. Conclude your answer then.