Shakespearean Themes Ms. Iozzo and Ms. Lancaster

Love. vs. Lust (Teenage Love) - it portrays only a very specific type of love: young, irrational, passionate, blind love. -Their youthful lust is one of many reasons why their relationship grows so intense so quickly. -Throughout the play, Shakespeare only describes Romeo and Juliet's love as a short-term burst of youthful passion. Shakespeare was more interested in exploring the sparks of infatuation and not love. -Other examples: Romeo's love for Rosaline is simply superficial, childish infatuation. Paris represents a contractual love. He does not actually know Juliet, just her family and what she represents. He is marrying a name, not a person. "Romeo and Juliet Theme Analysis." Novel Guide. Web. 1 Nov

Romeo and Juliet. Perf. Leonardo Dicaprio, Claire Danes. Google Images, Film.

Romeo and Juliet suggests that individuals are often trapped by the identities forced upon them from outside. Ex. 1 - The central obstacle of the play is that the two passionate lovers are separated by a feud based on their family names. Ex. 2 - The manner in which Lord Capulet insists upon Juliet's marriage to Paris suggests both the way he views his daughter as object and the way in which marriage can serve as a weapon against a rebellious young woman. "Romeo and Juliet Theme Analysis." Novel Guide. Web. 1 Nov Parents vs. Children (Age Gap)

Romeo and Juliet. Perf. Leonardo Dicaprio, Claire Danes. Google Images, Film.

- Does fate actually control the course of events or does everyone play a part? - R & J are referred to as star-cross’d lovers. - To what extent are our actions free? JULIET O fortune, fortune! all men call thee fickle: If thou art fickle, what dost thou with him. That is renown'd for faith? Be fickle, fortune; For then, I hope, thou wilt not keep him long, But send him back. ( ) "Romeo and Juliet Theme Analysis." Novel Guide. Web. 1 Nov Fate/Chance vs. Choice

ROMEO O, I am fortune's fool! ( ) Romeo states this after he kills Tybalt. Is fate or Romeo responsible for Tybalt’s death? FRIAR LAURENCE I hear some noise. Lady, come from that nest Of death, contagion, and unnatural sleep: A greater power than we can contradict Hath thwarted our intents. ( ) Fate continued

Romeo and Juliet. Perf. Leonardo Dicaprio, Claire Danes. Google Images, Film.

Romeo and Juliet love each other but their families have a long standing grudge against each other. The deaths of Romeo and Juliet themselves are a notable example of this duality. Their suffering and deaths are tragic however, without them, their families would not have stopped feuding. Verona was torn by the hatred between the two families. The sacrifice made by the lovers allows everyone to begin healing old wounds. "Romeo and Juliet Theme Analysis." Novel Guide. Web. 1 Nov Love vs. Hate

Romeo and Juliet. Perf. Leonardo Dicaprio, Claire Danes. Google Images, Film.

What are Memes? A meme is an idea, behavior, or style that spreads from person to person within a culture. A meme acts as a unit for carrying cultural ideas, symbols, or practices that can be transmitted from one mind to another through writing, speech, gestures, rituals, or other imitable phenomena with a mimicked theme. Memes then, look at particular themes and cultural issues or pressures that effect us today. Many of the themes we see in Romeo & Juliet are still relevant to us today.

Linguistic Relativism is the idea that the language a person speaks has an influence on this person's cognition. Linguistic Relativism. Web. 1 Nov redeweg /pdf/BSc/ /Beek.pdf.

Language Accessibility Social Status Shakespeare

Shakespeare, Language, Accessibility and Social Status - Shakespeare is often hated by students based on it’s language confines - Language, Social Status and Accessibility have always been interconnected - Memes are not accessible for different generations (think of explaining “I haz Cheeseburgers” to your grandparents. - By using memes we are using modern day digital tool to access language confines of Shakespeare. Linguistic Relativism- language is influenced by culture even if we are not aware of it. How do “references” to plays and language isolate others?

1.Students will select one theme 2.Select 3 photographs from /screencaps /screencaps 3.Choose different scenes/lines that illustrate this theme 4.Paraphrase the scenes in modern language – this can and should be creative and humorous 5.Write a 350 word explanation of how your memes fit the theme, and talk about the confines of social status, language and accessibility. How is Shakespearean language an example of Linguistic Relativism? 6.Post memes and explanation to the forum 7.Comment on two others! Assignment

Reference List Linguistic Relativism. Web. 1 Nov redeweg/pdf/BSc/ /Beek.pdf. "Romeo and Juliet Theme Analysis." Novel Guide. Web. 1 Nov Romeo and Juliet. Perf. Leonardo Dicaprio, Claire Danes. Google Images, Film.