1. Essay Test Romeo and Juliet

2. QUICK REVIEW THEME: A central idea explored by a literary work, usually dealing with a common human experience or problem; the idea the author would like us to learn something about. Ask yourself: What’s the moral of the story? SOME THEMES WE’VE DISCUSSED: Love Hate Fate Trust Passion Death Loyalty Marriage Family Parent/Child Relationships

3. Things to Consider: What themes do you think Shakespeare would have considered most important? What messages do you think Shakespeare might have most wanted people to hear? What scenes or lines most clearly convey these themes? Which characters most need to hear Shakespeare’s messages, or which characters relay them? How are the views on these themes presented by Shakespeare similar to or different from the views we may have on the same topics today?

4. PROMPT – You have ___ min. In his classic play, Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare deals with many aspects of the human experience. Of the themes we’ve discussed from the play, which THREE do you think are most prevalent? What are Shakespeare’s views on these themes? What message(s) is the author attempting to convey to his audience? How have your views changed, or what lessons have you learned through reading Romeo and Juliet? Please back up your answers with evidence and support from the text, which you have at your disposal. Remember to paraphrase or use quotation marks when using a direct quote, please. Indicating Act and Scene numbers is helpful as well!