1. Common Core Standards:
RL , , L a
Wednesday, March 13th, 2019
Aim: How can we analyze the significance of the first scene of Romeo and Juliet?
Objective: Students will be able to decipher Shakespeare’s language to analyze developing plot lines as well as character motivations.
Do Now: Answer one of the following questions.
1.) If you were writing a play or novel, how would you start it in order to engage your audience?
2.) Based on the reading of the prologue, what do expect to see in the first scene of Romeo and Juliet ?

2. Common Core Standards:
RL , , L a
Wednesday, March 13th, 2019
Aim: How can we analyze the significance of the first scene of Romeo and Juliet?
Objective: Students will be able to decipher Shakespeare’s language to analyze developing plot lines as well as character motivations.
Agenda
1). Do Now: Answer one or both questions, turn and talk with your tablemates. Captains will prepare to share with the class.
2). Mini-Lesson: Together we will read aloud Act 1, Scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet stopping to analyze certain lines and discuss the language. As we did with the prologue, we will translate the text to modern english together, take notes of literary devices employed by Shakespeare, and their effect on the text. We may not get through all of it today, but we will pick up where we left off tomorrow.
3). Reflection: How does the initial action in Act 1, Scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet foreshadow what will happen in the rest of the play?

3. Analyzing the First Scene
The play opens up with two Capulet servants insulting each other through some interesting wordplay. What does the word “move” mean in the context of the first scene? (Lines 5-11)
Sampson says that he would attack if he were “moved”, the word here clearly means angered as that would force him to attack. Gregory says that “thou art moved thou runn’st away” implying that the only moving he’ll be doing is in running away.
How does this conversation affect the initial mood of the scene?
Their insults and dialogue between the two make the scene comical and humorous.
What does Sampson do when he first sees the Montagues? Why? (Think back to the prologue)
In line 30 he draws his sword anticipating a fight and bites his thumb, which is considered an insult. He then takes this gesture back. Why is that?
Sampson asks if the law is on his side if he admits to insulting the Montagues and starting a fight.
The attitude towards fighting changes when Tybalt approaches. Why is that?
When Tybalt approaches they wants to fight, they may think Tybalt will back them up or they want to look good in front of Tybalt for fighting the enemy. How many of you guys have acted differently because of someone else’s presence? This is a similar situation.

4. Analyzing the First Scene
Refer back to the character descriptions in your notebooks and think about how Tybalt’s actions contrast with Benvolio’s.
Benvolio tried to break up the fight (lines 61-62), but hot-headed Tybalt would much rather fight (lines 63-65)
Authors and playwrights often use contrast to illustrate personalities, motivations, and traits of characters more clearly. In this case, the two contrasting personalities/characters are Benvolio and Tybalt
When both Lord Capulet and Lord Montague enter the scene they both want to join in on the ensuing fight, who holds them back and what does it reveal about their personalities?
Lady Montague and Lady Capulet try to reason with their husbands (lines 69 and lines 72-73) suggesting that they are more sensible than their husbands. This interaction is also humorous.
Summarize in a couple of sentences the Prince’s speech to the two families. What does he call them? What is the warning he issues the two?
He calls the two families “enemies of the peace” and points out that people are getting hurt from their ongoing feud (Lines 76-78). He notes that the two have already fought three times which have disturbed the peace and that another brawl will result in Lord Montague and Lord Capulet paying with their lives.

5. Summary and Reflection
In a couple of sentences summarize all of the important events of the first scene, what did we learn about the plot and the characters we were introduced to.
How does the initial action in Act 1, Scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet foreshadow what will happen in the rest of the play?
The violent threats and actions issued by both sides in the opening scene foreshadows more violence to come before the end of the play. It hints that this conflict will take the life of several of the characters in the play. The servants such as Sampson embody the hatred between the feuding families. He boasts, "I will push Montague's men from the wall and/thrust his maids to the wall," He wants to kill the men and rape the women. He plays a part in the initial brawl and the fight leaves the audience with the expectation that more violence is close by.