8ne lesson 7

Romeo & JulietLO: To understand Romeo’s lovesickness and how it is

portrayed

Recap

• What happens at the start of Act One Scene One?• Who are the characters involved?• Who has just intervened?

Prince Escalus’s Speech

When listening to Prince Escalus’s speech, think about how he feels

about the feud between the Capulets and the Montagues

Rebellious subjects, enemies to peace,

Profaners of this neighbour-stained steel,--

Will they not hear? What, ho! you men, you

beasts

Anger at disobedience

Destructive and warlike

Worst kind of violence is against neighbours

Beneath humanity

,

That quench the fire of your pernicious

rage

With purple fountains issuing from your

veins!

On pain of torture, from those bloody

hands

Image of danger

Their anger is destructive and terrible

Suggests all are stained

Throw your mistemper'd weapons to the ground, And hear the sentence of your moved prince. Three civil brawls, bred of an airy word, By thee, old Capulet, and Montague, Have thrice disturb'd the quiet of our streets, And made Verona's ancient citizens Cast by their grave beseeming ornaments, To wield old partisans, in hands as old,

Imperative is demandingWants peace – sick of fighting

1.How many recent fights have there been?2.What has caused these fights?

If ever you disturb our streets again, Your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace. For this time, all the rest depart away: You Capulet; shall go along with me: And, Montague, come you this afternoon, To know our further pleasure in this case, To old Free-town, our common judgment-place. Once more, on pain of death, all men depart.

1. What does the Prince instruct Capulet and Montague to do?2. What is the punishment for further disturbance?3. What is the Prince’s view of this fighting?

Enter Romeo

• Who is Romeo in love at the start of the play?

Underline any significant descriptions of love or any comparisons between love and other things

Binary oppositesLove Hate

NothingHeavy

VanityChaosWell-seeming forms

FeatherBright

Challenge – there are four other binary opposites – can you

find them?!

Binary oppositesLove HateAnything NothingHeavy LightnessSerious VanityMisshapen ChaosChaos Well-seeming formsFeather LeadBright SmokeCold FireSick HealthStill waking SleepThe love he feels The love she does not feel

Romeo & his character

• What do these binary opposites suggest about Romeo’s state of mind?

Plenary

• What feelings do you have for Romeo at this stage of the play?