1. What do these three quotes from Romeo and Juliet have in common? A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life, O, I am fortune’s fool!... Then I defy you, stars.

2. What do these three quotes from Romeo and Juliet have in common? from the prologue: A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life, Romeo says: O, I am fortune’s fool!... Then I defy you, stars.

3. A pair of star-crossed lovers... This is the very start of the play We know from the beginning that they are DESTINED to die – it is ‘in the stars’ or in the hands of the gods...

4. O, I am fortune’s fool!..

5. The Wheel of Fortune Although the Elizabethan era had a strict hierarchy, success was seen as a fragile thing. Fortune was viewed as a wheel – one minute you might be successful and at the top of the wheel. But it wouldn’t take much for you to fall from the top. Here, Romeo acknowledges that he is subject to the whims of fate WHY does Romeo fall? Why does Macbeth fall?

6. What do these phrases have in common? Deafening silence Alone together Living dead Pretty ugly

7. You can’t trick fate or fool destiny When he cries out “Then I defy you, stars,” after learning of Juliet’s death, he declares himself openly opposed to the destiny that so grieves him. Sadly, in “defying” fate he actually brings it about....

8. Oxymoron A figure of speech in which the writer combines two things that are opposites This frequently has a startling or unusual effect. When Juliet discovers Romeo has killed Tybalt: “Beautiful tyrant, fiend angelical.’

9. Romeo’s key speech Underline the oxymorons Alas, that love, whose view is muffled still, Should, without eyes, see pathways to his will! Where shall we dine?—O me! What fray was here? Yet tell me not, for I have heard it all. Here’s much to do with hate but more with love. Why then, O brawling love, O loving hate, O anything of nothing first created! O heavy lightness, serious vanity, Misshapen chaos of well-seeming forms! Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health, Still-waking sleep, that is not what it is! This love feel I, that feel no love in this. Dost thou not laugh? What might the opposites and contradictions symbolise in this speech?

10. AAnalysis

11. In pairs analyse your oxymoron. What does it tell reveal about Romeo’s state of mind? In the middle circle put your chosen oxymoron quote. In the next circle write the point that you would like to make. In the oval write analyse your quote Looking at different points of view. “Oh brawling Love, oh loving hate” Brawling is associated with violence and fighting where as love gentleness and protection. Romeo is confused about love Romeo is feeling frustrated

12. Point: I think Romeo is feeling…. Confused? Angry? Upset? Example and explain: Select a quote using an oxymoron to support this ZOOM IN : Discuss the meanings behind the oxymoron and how it related to Romeos feelings ZOOM OUT Writer’s Intentions: What might Shakespeare be trying to say to the audience? Make you feel a certain way about ROMEO Sets the scene for later events ZOOM OUT Context: How typical is behaviour of that time? Is Romeo’s behaviour normal for an Elizabethan male? How does this compare to now? Audience reaction: What might the audience think at this point? Thursday 12 th Feb - Use the reading ladder to write about: How do these oxymorons show Romeo’s doubts & uncertainties? EXPLORE – what DIFFERENT things might this mean? TRAGEDY

13. Is this a good example? Could it be improved? Romeo claims that he is madly in love and yet does not seem happy. Shakespeare portrays Romeo’s view of love as negative, for example when he says ‘ oh brawling love’. The word brawling suggests that Romeo feels that his love for Rosaline is a fight or struggle. A brawl suggest a lack of structure and dignity. The word brawl does not describe love which is an intense positive emotion.

14. Homework for Thursday Read Act 3 Scene 3 Make sure that you know what has happened between these scenes.