4-Step Approach to Poetry
(picture obtained from http://maps.pickatrail.com/europe/italy/verona.html)
The 4-step approach to poetry is a great way to analyze literature. The four steps are engage, describe, interpret, and judge. We will use this method to analyze Romeo and Juliet.
1. Engage- Our team's initial reactions to the play were confusion, boredom, and excitement. We were confused with the old English format of the story. Obviously the text can be very puzzling, and side notes and the internet were wonderful resources that helped us understand what we were reading. We were bored because the first few scenes are very drawn out and don't make much sense. However, our team was excited because of all the great things we had heard about the play outside of school, and from the prologue.
2. Describe- This play takes place in Verona, Italy in the 1300's. The characters are Romeo Montague and his family, and Juliet Capulet and her family.
In Verona, there are two families, the Montagues and the Capulets, who have an "ancient grudge break to new mutiny" (Prologue). Romeo is the youngest of the Montagues, only 17. Likewise, Juliet is the youngest of the Capulets, only 13. Romeo is grieving after being rejected by a woman named Rosaline (Act 1 Scene 1). A man named Count Paris has asked for Juliet's hand in marriage, but her father tells Paris he must woo her before he will consent (Act 1 Scene 2). Juliet is asked if she could love Paris by her mother, and she says she can't promise anything, but she will try (Act 1 Scene 3). Later that night, Romeo and Juliet meet at a party of the Capulets, that Romeo and his friends stole into (Act 1 Scene 5). The two fall in love, and then find out who each others families are at the end of the party (Act 1 Scene 5). Later sthat night, Romeo tries to elude his friends, and sneaks into the Capulet family's orchard (Act 2 Scene 1). He realizes where he is, and comes upon Juliet talking to herself from her balcony. Romeo tells her that he loves her, and she tells him if his purpose is to marry her, then he should send word to her the next day (Act 2 Scene 2). Romeo agrees, and goes to visit a Friar named Lawrence the next morning. Romeo tells him of his love for Juliet, and asks the Friar to marry them that day. Friar Lawrence agrees (Act 2 Scene 3). After that, Romeo goes to talk to two of his friends, Benvolio and Mercutio. During their conversation, Juliet's nurse comes to talk to Romeo. Romeo's friends make fun of the nurse, and Romeo makes them leave so he can talk to the nurse (Act 2 Scence 4). They agree that Juliet and Romeo will get married that day. The nurse goes back to her lady, and Juliet is elated (Act 2 Scene 5). Later that day, the two lovers are secretly married (Act 2 Scene 6). Just an hour after his union, Romeo is challenged by Juliet's cousin Tybalt to a duel. He refuses, and tells Tybalt he loves him (Act 3 Scene 1). Being the good friend that he is, Mercutio fights Tybalt instead. When Romeo tries to break them up, Tybalt stabs Mercutio, who later dies. Fueled by revenge, Romeo challenges and slays Tybalt. He realizes what he has done, and flees (Act 3 Scene 1). The townspeople of Verona and the Montagues and Capulets enter to find two of their kinsmen slain, and demand justice. The prince of Verona decides that Romeo is to be banished to the nearby town of Mantua, that is a day's journey away (Act 3 Scence 1). Romeo is hiding in Friar Lawrence's cell, and Juliet's nurse goes to see him because when Juliet found out what had happened she became extremely distraught (Act 3 Scene 2). Together, they hatch a plan. Romeo will go counsel Juliet for a few hours, and then go to Mantua. While he is there, the Friar will make their marriage public, and then the prince will hopefully let Romeo return to Verona. They all agree this is the best plan of action. Meanwhile, Capulet tells Paris that he may marry Juliet that Thursday, in 3 days time. Paris agrees to this proposal (Act 3 Scene 4). At the same time, Romeo and Juliet are saying their final goodbyes (Act 3 Scene 5). Just after Romeo leaves for Mantua, Lady Capulet tells her daughter that she has to marry Paris. Juliet refuses, and Capulet becomes extremely mad, and threatens to disown Juliet if she does not obey (Act 3 Scene 5). Then Juliet goes to see Friar Lawrence. He and Paris have just finished talking about the upcoming wedding. As soon as Paris leaves, Juliet begins weeping and tells the Friar she would rather kill herself than marry Paris. The Friar tells her that he has one source of hope left. He will give Juliet a sleeping medication that will make her appear dead for 42 hours (Act 4 Scene 1). She will take it Wednesday night before the wedding, and will be laid to rest in the Capulet family tomb. The Friar will write to Romeo in Mantua and tell him of the plan, so that when Juliet wakes up, she and Romeo can run away to Mantua. Juliet agrees, and goes home and tells her father that she will marry Paris. He is so happy he decides to make the wedding the next day. Juliet takes the sleeping medication, and her family discovers her "dead", and they are distraught (Act 4 Scene 5). She is laid in the Capulets' monument, just like the Friar said. In the meantime, Romeo hears from his servant that Juliet is dead decides to buy some poison, and leaves to go to her before the Friar's letter reaches him (Act 5 Scene 1). When Romeo arrives at the cemetery, he comes upon Count Paris going to see Juliet. Romeo slays Paris (Act 5 Scene 3), and lays him in the Capulets' tomb. He goes to see Juliet, kisses her one last time, tells her "corpse" he loves her, and then proceeds to commit suicide by drinking the poison (Act 5 Scene 3). The Friar goes to the tomb, and finds Romeo dead. Then Juliet wakes up, sees Romeo's body, and refuses to leave him. The Friar hears people coming, and tries to get Juliet to escape with him, but she will not listen. Friar Lawrence flees, and Juliet stabs herself with Romeo's dagger. The townspeople discover their bodies and the body of Paris. The Friar explains what happened to the town. The Capulets and Montagues reconcile, and have a joint funeral for their children. They promise to make golden statues of the lovers, to always remember them (Act 5 Scene 3).
3. Interpret- This play is really about how conflicts can destroy life and love. If the Capulets and Montagues had not been fighting, Romeo and Juliet would have most likely lived "happily ever after". If we let stupid, ancient conflicts get in the way of our lives, the only path is destruction. Juliet and Romeo payed the ultimate price in the end, death. This theme is still relevant even today. Even though we live in a much more advanced time than Shakespeare's day, nothing has really changed. We still face many of the same issues nowadays. Many people still choose to ruin relationships because of conflicts that aren't even worth it, just like how the Montagues and Capulets did. People need to come together, and move past conflicts that are not worth fighting over. Another theme from Romeo and Juliet is revealed when we examine the main characters' flaws. The fatal flaw of Romeo was that he was pretty foolish and rash. After knowing Juliet for only one day, he already became married to her. He didn't always use logic or common sense. One example, is if he would have gone to see Friar Lawrence before going to Juliet's tomb, he would have found out that Juliet was only sleeping. His life potentially could have been saved. However, the text says, "And hire post-horses; I will hence to-night". Romeo left extremely quickly to go to Verona, and didn't take much time to consider his actions. This was the last nail hammered into Romeo's coffin. His flaws of rash decision making and foolishness were what cut short his youth. Juliet, on the other hand, did not have a very clear flaw, except that she was also slightly foolish in getting married so quickly. Both Juliet and Romeo also shared a flaw in that they were both very young. They acted immaturely, and like I stated before, paid the ultimate price in the end. The theme we can take away from Romeo and Juliet's flaws is that we each have our own flaws, and we all fall short in our lives. We need to accept the fact that we are not perfect, and we won't ever come close to being perfect. Our flaws can ruin our lives if we allow them to. Romeo and Juliet is a play that gives an excellent example of the consequences we face because of our human, fatal flaws.
4. Judge- From this play, we learn how damaging conflicts and fatal flaws are. We can use this knowledge in our own lives. When facing conflicts, we need to consider what is at stake, whether its a relationship, or the lives of others. Is it ever really worth it to lose a friend or a life over an ancient conflict? As a result of the conflict in Romeo and Juliet, two children as well as many other people were slain. I think that Shakespeare wanted to remind everyone of some of the basic morals and principles that most of us learned as children. If people can love, respect, and cooperate with others there will be so many less conflicts in the world. We also don't have to let our flaws dictate our lives. If can be unselfish, and put others' needs before our own, the Earth will truly become a much more peaceful place. Even though Romeo and Juliet was written over 400 years ago, its lessons and morals are very much still applicable to us in the 21st century. This play has an enduring legacy that will continue for many generations to come.
The 4-step approach to poetry is a great way to analyze literature. The four steps are engage, describe, interpret, and judge. We will use this method to analyze Romeo and Juliet.
1. Engage- Our team's initial reactions to the play were confusion, boredom, and excitement. We were confused with the old English format of the story. Obviously the text can be very puzzling, and side notes and the internet were wonderful resources that helped us understand what we were reading. We were bored because the first few scenes are very drawn out and don't make much sense. However, our team was excited because of all the great things we had heard about the play outside of school, and from the prologue.
2. Describe- This play takes place in Verona, Italy in the 1300's. The characters are Romeo Montague and his family, and Juliet Capulet and her family.
In Verona, there are two families, the Montagues and the Capulets, who have an "ancient grudge break to new mutiny" (Prologue). Romeo is the youngest of the Montagues, only 17. Likewise, Juliet is the youngest of the Capulets, only 13. Romeo is grieving after being rejected by a woman named Rosaline (Act 1 Scene 1). A man named Count Paris has asked for Juliet's hand in marriage, but her father tells Paris he must woo her before he will consent (Act 1 Scene 2). Juliet is asked if she could love Paris by her mother, and she says she can't promise anything, but she will try (Act 1 Scene 3). Later that night, Romeo and Juliet meet at a party of the Capulets, that Romeo and his friends stole into (Act 1 Scene 5). The two fall in love, and then find out who each others families are at the end of the party (Act 1 Scene 5). Later sthat night, Romeo tries to elude his friends, and sneaks into the Capulet family's orchard (Act 2 Scene 1). He realizes where he is, and comes upon Juliet talking to herself from her balcony. Romeo tells her that he loves her, and she tells him if his purpose is to marry her, then he should send word to her the next day (Act 2 Scene 2). Romeo agrees, and goes to visit a Friar named Lawrence the next morning. Romeo tells him of his love for Juliet, and asks the Friar to marry them that day. Friar Lawrence agrees (Act 2 Scene 3). After that, Romeo goes to talk to two of his friends, Benvolio and Mercutio. During their conversation, Juliet's nurse comes to talk to Romeo. Romeo's friends make fun of the nurse, and Romeo makes them leave so he can talk to the nurse (Act 2 Scence 4). They agree that Juliet and Romeo will get married that day. The nurse goes back to her lady, and Juliet is elated (Act 2 Scene 5). Later that day, the two lovers are secretly married (Act 2 Scene 6). Just an hour after his union, Romeo is challenged by Juliet's cousin Tybalt to a duel. He refuses, and tells Tybalt he loves him (Act 3 Scene 1). Being the good friend that he is, Mercutio fights Tybalt instead. When Romeo tries to break them up, Tybalt stabs Mercutio, who later dies. Fueled by revenge, Romeo challenges and slays Tybalt. He realizes what he has done, and flees (Act 3 Scene 1). The townspeople of Verona and the Montagues and Capulets enter to find two of their kinsmen slain, and demand justice. The prince of Verona decides that Romeo is to be banished to the nearby town of Mantua, that is a day's journey away (Act 3 Scence 1). Romeo is hiding in Friar Lawrence's cell, and Juliet's nurse goes to see him because when Juliet found out what had happened she became extremely distraught (Act 3 Scene 2). Together, they hatch a plan. Romeo will go counsel Juliet for a few hours, and then go to Mantua. While he is there, the Friar will make their marriage public, and then the prince will hopefully let Romeo return to Verona. They all agree this is the best plan of action. Meanwhile, Capulet tells Paris that he may marry Juliet that Thursday, in 3 days time. Paris agrees to this proposal (Act 3 Scene 4). At the same time, Romeo and Juliet are saying their final goodbyes (Act 3 Scene 5). Just after Romeo leaves for Mantua, Lady Capulet tells her daughter that she has to marry Paris. Juliet refuses, and Capulet becomes extremely mad, and threatens to disown Juliet if she does not obey (Act 3 Scene 5). Then Juliet goes to see Friar Lawrence. He and Paris have just finished talking about the upcoming wedding. As soon as Paris leaves, Juliet begins weeping and tells the Friar she would rather kill herself than marry Paris. The Friar tells her that he has one source of hope left. He will give Juliet a sleeping medication that will make her appear dead for 42 hours (Act 4 Scene 1). She will take it Wednesday night before the wedding, and will be laid to rest in the Capulet family tomb. The Friar will write to Romeo in Mantua and tell him of the plan, so that when Juliet wakes up, she and Romeo can run away to Mantua. Juliet agrees, and goes home and tells her father that she will marry Paris. He is so happy he decides to make the wedding the next day. Juliet takes the sleeping medication, and her family discovers her "dead", and they are distraught (Act 4 Scene 5). She is laid in the Capulets' monument, just like the Friar said. In the meantime, Romeo hears from his servant that Juliet is dead decides to buy some poison, and leaves to go to her before the Friar's letter reaches him (Act 5 Scene 1). When Romeo arrives at the cemetery, he comes upon Count Paris going to see Juliet. Romeo slays Paris (Act 5 Scene 3), and lays him in the Capulets' tomb. He goes to see Juliet, kisses her one last time, tells her "corpse" he loves her, and then proceeds to commit suicide by drinking the poison (Act 5 Scene 3). The Friar goes to the tomb, and finds Romeo dead. Then Juliet wakes up, sees Romeo's body, and refuses to leave him. The Friar hears people coming, and tries to get Juliet to escape with him, but she will not listen. Friar Lawrence flees, and Juliet stabs herself with Romeo's dagger. The townspeople discover their bodies and the body of Paris. The Friar explains what happened to the town. The Capulets and Montagues reconcile, and have a joint funeral for their children. They promise to make golden statues of the lovers, to always remember them (Act 5 Scene 3).
3. Interpret- This play is really about how conflicts can destroy life and love. If the Capulets and Montagues had not been fighting, Romeo and Juliet would have most likely lived "happily ever after". If we let stupid, ancient conflicts get in the way of our lives, the only path is destruction. Juliet and Romeo payed the ultimate price in the end, death. This theme is still relevant even today. Even though we live in a much more advanced time than Shakespeare's day, nothing has really changed. We still face many of the same issues nowadays. Many people still choose to ruin relationships because of conflicts that aren't even worth it, just like how the Montagues and Capulets did. People need to come together, and move past conflicts that are not worth fighting over. Another theme from Romeo and Juliet is revealed when we examine the main characters' flaws. The fatal flaw of Romeo was that he was pretty foolish and rash. After knowing Juliet for only one day, he already became married to her. He didn't always use logic or common sense. One example, is if he would have gone to see Friar Lawrence before going to Juliet's tomb, he would have found out that Juliet was only sleeping. His life potentially could have been saved. However, the text says, "And hire post-horses; I will hence to-night". Romeo left extremely quickly to go to Verona, and didn't take much time to consider his actions. This was the last nail hammered into Romeo's coffin. His flaws of rash decision making and foolishness were what cut short his youth. Juliet, on the other hand, did not have a very clear flaw, except that she was also slightly foolish in getting married so quickly. Both Juliet and Romeo also shared a flaw in that they were both very young. They acted immaturely, and like I stated before, paid the ultimate price in the end. The theme we can take away from Romeo and Juliet's flaws is that we each have our own flaws, and we all fall short in our lives. We need to accept the fact that we are not perfect, and we won't ever come close to being perfect. Our flaws can ruin our lives if we allow them to. Romeo and Juliet is a play that gives an excellent example of the consequences we face because of our human, fatal flaws.
4. Judge- From this play, we learn how damaging conflicts and fatal flaws are. We can use this knowledge in our own lives. When facing conflicts, we need to consider what is at stake, whether its a relationship, or the lives of others. Is it ever really worth it to lose a friend or a life over an ancient conflict? As a result of the conflict in Romeo and Juliet, two children as well as many other people were slain. I think that Shakespeare wanted to remind everyone of some of the basic morals and principles that most of us learned as children. If people can love, respect, and cooperate with others there will be so many less conflicts in the world. We also don't have to let our flaws dictate our lives. If can be unselfish, and put others' needs before our own, the Earth will truly become a much more peaceful place. Even though Romeo and Juliet was written over 400 years ago, its lessons and morals are very much still applicable to us in the 21st century. This play has an enduring legacy that will continue for many generations to come.