1. Where’s Romeo? By William Hatherell
OPTIC Analysis
Where’s Romeo?
By William Hatherell

2. I Can…
Study a visual depiction of the emotional effects of Romeo’s actions.
9-10.RL.IKI.7 Evaluate the topic, subject, and/or theme in two diverse formats or media.

3. What are we being asked to discuss in this prompt?
We need to know who the “main subject of the visual” is.
Romeo
We need to describe what we see in the visual as it relates to Romeo—the main subject of the piece.
The main focus of the painting is Romeo. He is leaning on a bench crying. He is covered in a bright red cape.
Why do we not mention the other subjects in the piece?
The prompt does not ask about anyone other than the “main subject.” We do not want to get off-topic in our analysis.
O​ is for Overview​. Conduct a brief overview of the main subject of the visual.

4. What are we being asked to discuss in this prompt?
This section is looking at what is going on and what is present AROUND the main subject—Romeo.
How would you all respond to this prompt?
The nurse and Friar Laurence stand in the back of the painting and appear to be discussing Romeo’s current state. They look concerned. There is a play between shadow and the light from the stained glass window in the space between Romeo and the Nurse and the Friar. Also, there the Nurse and the Friar are portrayed in muted colors, which drastically contrast with Romeo’s crimson cape.
P ​is for Parts. ​Scruti-nize the parts of the visual. Note any elements or details that seem important.

5. What are we being asked to discuss in this prompt?
We are being asked to identify the title of the piece. Since we have no caption for this piece, that part of the prompt does not apply.
If we are super over-achievers, we may take a moment to analyze potential meaning behind the title.
Where’s Romeo? is the title. In the play excerpt, the nurse asks where Romeo is, as she has come to report about Juliet. Friar Laurence explains that Romeo is upset.
What else could you all add?
T ​is for Title. ​Read the title or caption of the visual (if present) for added information.

6. I ​is for Interrelation-ships
I ​is for Interrelation-ships. Use the words in the title or caption and the individual parts of the visual to determine connections and relationships within the graphic.
What are we being asked to discuss in this prompt?
This prompt is where many students got off-topic in their work.
The prompt is asking us to look at relationships WITHIN the visual— NOT within the text.
The title is ironic as Romeo is the part of the painting your eyes are immediately drawn to--the viewer knows exactly where he is. The bright red of his cape draws immediate attention, and he is hunched over his bench crying at the very front of the painting.

7. What are we being asked to discuss in this prompt?
This prompt asks us to think more deeply about what this piece MEANS.
We must now consider what we learned in the previous prompts and put it all together.
This painting emphasizes the differences between the young and the old, a pattern of contrast in the play itself by portraying Romeo as a larger, more colorful character in the foreground of the painting and making the Nurse and the Friar appear more muted in the background.
Are there any additional meanings that you all can derive from this piece?
C ​is for Conclusion. ​Draw a conclusion about the meaning of the visual as a whole. Summarize the message in one or two sentences.

8. Using your mood words handout (on page 137 of your purple guide books), list some words that appropriately depict the emotional atmosphere of the painting.
Depressed, desolate, dreary, fatalistic, foreboding, morose, somber, tense, worried
What is the overall connotation of the words listed above?
How does that connotation compare to the mood of Romeo & Juliet in Act 3 scene 3 when Romeo has just been banished from Verona?

9. Using the words that you used to describe the mood of the painting, complete the following statement.
Possible Answer:
While Romeo is _________________, the others in the painting are _____________________________________. The mood of the painting can be described as ____________________, which communicates the idea that ___________________________________.

10. Using the words that you used to describe the mood of the painting, complete the following statement.
Possible Answer:
While Romeo is sobbing uncontrollably, the others in the painting are discussing his current state of affairs. The mood of the painting can be described as fatalistic and foreboding, which communicates the idea that rash actions can bring drastic consequences.

11. What is the THEMATIC STATEMENT?
Look at the idea you wrote above and think about how the details that create the mood of the painting reveal Hatherell’s general statement about life or human nature. Write a thematic statement about the painting, Where’s Romeo? What does this painting have to say about human experience?
Just as Romeo regrets his hasty actions, many people have regretted acting in an uncontrolled fit of rage. Romeo has to face the natural and very fair consequences of his actions, His situation, however unfortunate, shows readers that their reactions to setbacks and conflicts indeed dictate their outcomes.
What is the THEMATIC STATEMENT?

12. Now Your Turn!
Complete the OPTIC Analysis Handout based on the painting to the left—Romeo and Juliet by James Northcote.