1. by William Shakespeare Before, During, and After Reading Skills
Romeo and Juliet
by William Shakespeare
Before, During, and After Reading Skills
Act III

2. Which character made the most serious mistakes in Act III?
Literary Response
Romeo and Juliet Act III
Read the play carefully and note the way the characters interact with each other and the reasons behind their actions.
Which character made the most serious mistakes in Act III?
Explain what they did, what happened to them, and how their mistakes impacted other characters in the play.
Explain your thoughts and ideas and use evidence from the text to support your response.

3. Preview and Predictions
Before Reading Skills
Preview and Predictions
Examine the text features located throughout Act III.
(pages )
Make a list of the things you “know” or “think you know” based only on the text features.
Make a list of at least 3 things you want to know, but you need to read in order to find out.
What major events do you predict will happen in Act III? What information supports your predictions?

4. Structure and Purpose of a Drama
During Reading Skills
Structure and Purpose of a Drama
The purpose of a drama is to entertain the audience and to present information/details about the characters.
The audience will learn about the characters in several ways. Pay attention to the characters and try to keep them organized as you read.
You will be asked to create a character chart to identify the characters and their character traits.

5. How do we learn about a character during a play?
What the characters say
What the characters do
What other characters say about them
How other characters treat them

6. Act III Scene 1
Page 873
A. Making Inferences – Romeo’s friends enter the stage. Again Shakespeare “sets the stage” by having the characters tell us what the weather is like. Why does this weather seem to breed trouble?
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7. Act III Scene 1
Page 877
B. Characterization – How do you think Romeo would read line 101? Why do you think it should be read that way?
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8. Act III Scene 1
Page 877
? Staging the Play – What curse has Mercutio pronounced four times? What is the reason for this action? How do you think Mercutio should act during this part of the scene?
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9. Act III Scene 1
Page 878
C. Turing Point – What is a “turning point”? In what way might the death of Tybalt be a turning point in the play?
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10. Act III Scene 1
Page 878
Tragedy – What do you think Romeo means by calling himself “fortune’s fool”? What does he realize will now happen to him and Juliet?
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11. Act III Scene 1
Page 882
E. Analyzing Cause and Effect – The prince has heard arguments from both families and has given judgment in the case. What is Romeo’s punishment? Why won’t the prince show greater mercy?
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12. Act III Scene 2
Page 883
A. Rising Action – In which lines does Juliet unconsciously foreshadow Romeo’s death?
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Dramatic Irony – What is dramatic irony? What dramatic irony is created in this scene?

13. Act III Scene 2
Page
C. Dramatic Irony – This is another example of dramatic irony in this scene, in which we cannot share a character’s feelings because we know something that the character does not know. What does Juliet think had happened? What has really happened?
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Making Inferences – Why do you think the nurse waits so long to give Juliet the correct news? Is she being self-centered here, or is she truly overwhelmed by the news she bears?

14. Act III Scene 2
Page 887
E. Analyzing Cause and Effect – Juliet addresses the rope ladder in this speech. What has she decided to do with the ropes?
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15. Bigger Questions
Summarizing - After abandoning Romeo and Juliet momentarily, the nurse asserts herself as their accomplice. What does she volunteer to do?
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2. Characterization – In Juliet’s dialogue, how does she illustrate her character traits of being logical and practical?
3. Symbolism – Why does Juliet ask the nurse to take Romeo a ring?

16. Your Favorite Lines
Select a total of four lines from Act I that you thought were important, interesting, funny, or odd.
Copy the lines, page(s), and character(s) involved.
Translate any words or phrases that need to be clarified.
Explain the meaning of the lines and what was happening in the play as the lines were being spoken.

17. Romeo and Juliet Act II Scene 3
Pages
Page 853
Elements of Drama – How does the Friar’s soliloquy on page 853 help “set the stage” for this scene?
Characterization – Make a list of the details we learn about the Friar during this scene. What conclusions can you draw about him based on the things you read?

18. Romeo and Juliet Act II Scene 3
Pages
Page 855
A. Plot: Rising Action – Romeo enters quietly, unseen by the friar. As the friar explains that his flower contains the power to heal as well as kill, why might the audience fear for Romeo and Juliet?
3. Making Inferences - What can you tell about the relationship between Romeo and the friar based on their dialogue?

19. Romeo and Juliet Act II Scene 3
Pages
Page
Elements of Drama – In the exposition of the play, Shakespeare keeps Romeo’s intense love in perspective by letting the audience see how others regard him. What can we learn about Romeo’s “love” from how the other characters react to Romeo?
B. Analyzing Cause and Effect – Romeo has gotten what he wants, and he dashes offstage. Why do the friar’s last words leave us with a sense that danger lies ahead?

20. Romeo and Juliet Act II Scene 4
Pages
Page 858
A. Analyzing Cause and Effect – Now that the play’s love story seems to be heading toward marriage, Shakespeare turns again to the feuding families. Why is Tybalt looking for Romeo? What do you think will happen when he finds him?
Page 860
B. Making Inferences – What does the loyal Mercutio think he has accomplished for Romeo by this game of wits?

21. Romeo and Juliet Act II Scene 4
Pages
Pages
Making Inferences – What warning does the nurse give Romeo, and why do you think she does this?
Plot: Rising Action – The nurse becomes confiding as she rattles on and on. What trouble for Romeo and Juliet does she talk about? What is Juliet’s feeling for Paris now?

22. The Language of Shakespeare
How is the language of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet different from the language we use?
Identify the differences.
Translate Shakespeare’s words into modern language.
Explain the meaning of important lines from Romeo and Juliet.

23. Storyboard
A storyboard is a series of small illustrations to tell a story.
You will be creating a 9-box storyboard to summarize the most important events from Act II.
Be sure to select the 9 scenes carefully and make your illustrations accurate and clear (use labels if necessary).
On the back of the storyboard write a 9 sentence summary of Act II.

24. Illustrate how you would create the scene on a stage.
Staging the Scene
An important part of reading drama is the ability to visualize the scenes.
As you read the scenes in Romeo and Juliet, try to imagine how the scene could be created on a stage to convey the setting to the audience.
Select a scene from Act II that you could “stage” for a production of Romeo and Juliet.
Illustrate how you would create the scene on a stage.
Be creative!!!

25. Characterization
Write the character trait and a simple but accurate definition.
Place a + for positive trait.
Place a – for a negative trait.
Identify which character(s) you think demonstrate the quality in Romeo and Juliet.
Briefly explain what the character did that made you think he or she had the trait.

26. Character Traits
Impulsive
Naïve
Witty
Vulgar
Prudent
Ineffectual
Presumptuous
Patient

27. Character Traits
Hotheaded
Passionate
Immature
Courageous
Comical
Adventurous
Tolerant
Sly

28. Character Traits
Dutiful
Ignorant
Coarse
Religious
Loyal
Affectionate
Rational
Rowdy

29. You may use ONE 3x5 index card during the quiz.
Quiz Tomorrow on Act II!!!
You may use ONE 3x5 index card during the quiz.
No other materials will be available to you during the quiz.
Everything on the card must be handwritten – no typed information.

30. Predictions and Purpose Setting
Which predictions were accurate?
Which ones need to be changed/revised?
Which questions did we find the answers to while reading?
Which questions do we still not know the answer to yet?
Do we need to any any new questions to look for as we read?