Topic outline

  • Course Overview

  • Introduction

    Week 1

    • Introduction to Drama: Romeo and Juliet

    • Introduction to Elizabethan English and Cultural Norms

    • Romeo & Juliet Part I: Crash Course English Literature URL

      A brief introduction to the play. Please watch this video and write down five questions you have about the play, about Shakespeare, or about how we have historically studied Shakespeare's works. Keep these questions handy for an upcoming course activity.

    • Seventeenth Century Advice to Parents Forum

      1) Read the advice articles published by the Office of Christian Parents in the 17th Century. Summarize the articles in your own words on a separate piece of paper, translating as much as you can into modern English.  We will be discussing the main ideas expressed in this document during the introduction to Shakespeare activities in this course.

      2) Share your opinions here with your peers regarding some of the issues the advice raises. Which issues are just as relevant for today? (The right to bear arms, justifiable force, self defense, bullying, and civilized conduct are just a few of the issues raised.) Which points do you agree or disagree with? Which points make little sense today?

      Post one discussion topic and one reply.  Minimum required length for responses is one paragraph.

    • Shakespeare and The Globe Theater

    • Shakespeare and The Globe: FAQs Glossary

      Directions: Use your questions from the introductory video or use the following question prompts to create a class FAQ glossary on the life and times of Shakespeare and the Globe Theater.

      Steps: 

      1. Choose a topic that interests you.  
      2. On a piece of paper, draft an intial FAQ.
      3. In another tab or browser window, do a quick internet search to find the answer your question.
      4. Cite at least two sources in your answer.  Note: Wikipedia is too easy to use as a resource for this exercise, so it is prohibited for use with this assignment.
      5. Add your FAQ and answer to this glossary.
      6. Click "save" before someone else takes your question, but take some care with spelling and mechanics as you will not be able to edit it once you save it.
      7. Then, find a peer's question that interests you and post a comment.
       


    • Act I Assignments


    • Transcribing and Analyzing the Prologue

    • Prologue Analysis Worksheet Grade Assignment

      Directions:

      1. Mark the rhyme scheme and meter for the prologue using the appropriate letter pattern and stressed/unstressed symbols.

      2. Transcribe the Prologue so that it is written in contemporary English. Do this line by line; don’t leave any information out, but you don’t have to make it rhyme. Look up words you don’t understand to be sure that you are capturing the correct meaning in your "translation."

  • Acts I-II

    Week 2

  • Acts III-IV

    Week 3

    • Act III-IV.i Assignments


    • Journals

    • R & J Journal for Act I-III Assignment
      Romeo and Juliet Journal Topics
      Act I-III


      Directions: First, watch this video: Romeo and Juliet Part II: Crash Course English Literature.  

      Then write one journal entry responding to one of the following topics. Journals should be a minimum of 500 words. 


      a) Throughout the play, Shakespeare uses imagery that foreshadows the death of Romeo and Juliet. Find at least five of these images, explain how they foreshadow the death of R & J, and explain what attitudes about death these images reflect. Pay particular attention to Friar Laurence's initial speech in Act II, scene 3. Include quotes to support your points.

      b) Parent/child relationships seem fraught with tension and conflict in this play. From Lord Montague's concern about Romeo in Act I to the collective Capulet tantrum in Act III, they just can't seem to understand each other. What's the deal? Use lines from the play to back up your points.

      c) Wise advice? Advice is plentiful in this play. Any number of supporting characters doles it out to the hapless heroes as they work their way toward the climax of the plot. Is any of it any good? Give examples of good and bad advice and explain why you think it is good or bad advice. In the end, in your opinion, whom do you think is most to blame for how things turned out? Why? USE QUOTES to support your points.

      Reminder: You only need to respond to ONE of these topics for this journal.


    • Major Projects

  • Acts IV-V

    Week 4


    • Journals

  • Dress Rehearsals

    Week 5

    • Creative Writing Assignments

    • Alternative Versions: Romeo and Juliet Revisited Assignment
       Romeo and Juliet
      Creative Writing Assignment


      Directions: Choose one of the following topics and write a detailed narrative or outline of a plan in  a minimum 1000 word response.

      a) With particular issues in mind from previous journal topics, construct an alternative ending to the act by having characters choose to react differently to some of the challenges they face in that act. In other words, create your own "Romeo and Juliet, Choose Your Own Adventure" chapter.

      b) The Ultimate Romeo and Juliet: Develop a plan for a film production of Romeo and Juliet detailing sets and costumes as well as props and scene set-up directions. Include possible casting wish lists and brief descriptions as to why you think that actor would be particularly suited for that role.

      Reminder: You only need to respond to ONE of the topics.

  • Performances

    Week 6