Focus One: Character Tracking
Track EACH of the following characters and define:
Their loyalty (Montague, Capulet, Neutral)
Their morals/ethics
Their concerns/goals
- Samson
- Benvolio
- Tybalt
- Capulet
- Montague
- Prince
- Romeo
- Paris
- Peter
- Lady Capulet
- The Nurse
- Juliet
- Mercutio
- Friar Lawrence
Focus Two: Character Study
Choose ONE of the following characters to track in DETAIL:
Romeo, Juliet, Mercutio, Benvolio, Tybalt
While tracking, use the following questions as a guide:
What are the basic indirect/direct characteristics of this character? Focus on analyzing the character's:
- Thoughts
- Actions
- Desires
- Obstacles
Does this character have a character foil?
Is this character a stereotype? Antagonist? Protagnist? Hero? Anti-Hero?
How does this character contribute to the conflict and theme of the novel?
You should track your character EACH ACT AND SCENE, and write in your journal how your character contributed to EACH ACT AND SCENE. Make sure you have both Analysis and Evidence!
Focus Three: Foreshadowing
In the very beginning of Romeo & Juliet, the Chorus predicts the ending. This is because Shakespeare wasn't worried with keeping the ending of his tragedy as a "surprise", because the story matters more than the end. Shakespeare employs subtle foreshadowing techniques throughout his play.
Your job is to seek them out, and find at least 8 examples. Then, in your dialectical journal, write down the foreshadowing example and a brief analysis explaining what it foreshadows.
Example:
Scene 1.2:
"Tkae thou some new infection to thy eye. And, the rank poison of the old will die"
Benvolio informs Romeo that his lovesickness will fade, only when he allows himself to take a new mate. Romeo's depression is caused by Rosaline, and that very evening, he meets Juliet at the Capulet ball. Benvolio's verse foreshadows this meeting, and solidifies that when Romeo sees Juliet, he immediately forgets Rosaline claiming that he "ne'r saw a true beauty until this night"
Focus Four: Motifs
Romeo & Juliet contains more motifs than symbols. A motif is a theme/ symbolic idea that recurs throughout a play or text. There are many motifs, such as
- Life as a Voyage
- Destiny and Stars
- The Significance of Names
- Light and Dark
Choose one of these motifs (or have me approve one of your own) and track them throughout the play. Find examples from each act and list the quote accompanied with a brief analysis.
Example:
Stars & Destiny:
"a pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life"
This quote begins the play with an emphasis on the importance of "stars" (perhaps representative of destiny) in the lives of people. Because these two were "star crossed", their lives ended tragically.