Romeo and Juliet Day 2 Writing Prompt, Shakespeare’s Language, and Social Offenses

Writing Prompt ( How Shakespeare Saw the World) Now that you know certain differences between Shakespeare’s time period and today, write a short essay describing whether it would be better to live in Shakespeare’s time or to live now. Use evidence from the text to support your reasoning. Choose specific examples from the text to back up your own opinions

Social Offenses

1.Write down three of these sayings that you have heard before. 2.What do these sayings mean? 3.Write down three of these sayings that you don’t know. 4.Write down what you think these three sayings mean?

Blank Verse: Shakespeare uses Blank Verse to show us when someone of nobility is talking. It’s like “proper speech” verses “slang” Prose: Unrhymed speech that has no pattern at all. “Slang” Purpose of Prose: to show that people of a lower class were talking, to show a relationship among close friends, to show that someone of noble birth was angry/acting up, or to show a clear distinction between social classes.

Example of Blank Verse: Unrhymed Iambic Pentameter: ROMEO: (aside) She speaks. O, speak again, bright angel! For thou art As glorious to this night, being o'er my head, As is a wingèd messenger of heaven Unto the white, upturnèd, wondering eyes Of mortals that fall back to gaze on him When he bestrides the lazy-puffing clouds And sails upon the bosom of the air

Example of Prose: No rhythmical pattern NURSE I’ll lay fourteen of my teeth—and yet, to my teeth be it spoken, I have but four—she is not fourteen. How long is it now to Lammastide?

Do you remember what a Couplet is?

How do I understand Shakespeare’s language? Think of it like this:

Let’s Practice! 1. Ordering Shakespeare AroundOrdering Shakespeare Around 2. Everything Old is New AgainEverything Old is New Again 3. Shakespearean Insults 1Shakespearean Insults 1 4. Shakespearean Insults 2Shakespearean Insults 2 Your job is to write a letter to a person or company who/that has highly annoyed you due to their terrible customer service. Instead of fighting it out in an “uncivilized manner”, you choose to write them a sophisticated letter that displays your extreme frustration. Use at least 10 Shakespearean Insults, and remember to include the reason you are upset with this person/company. BE CREATIVE!!!

Ms. Deere’s Example: Dearest Ashley Furniture: Thou cans’t understand my frustration! Thou art a dull, unfeeling barren ball of ignorance! You are a mangled work of nature and scurvy knave! It has been four months since I placed my order with your company, and still, I have yet to receive my couch! Oh! the toads have more brain power than you, you elf-skinned, frothy, fly- bitten piece of maggot-pie! You saucy, spleeny, bootless, dizzy-eyed haggard! I demand a refund!