Common Core Standards: RL.9-10.1, 9-10.4, L. 9-10.4 9-10.5a Thursday, March 14th, 2019 Aim: How can we analyze the significance of the first scene of Romeo and Juliet? Objective: Students will be able to decipher Shakespeare’s language to analyze developing plot lines, character motivations and summaries of the events of scene I. Do Now: Answer one of the following questions. 1.) From yesterday’s reading, who was the most interesting character and why do you say that? 2.) Why do you think Shakespeare started the first scene with a brawl between the servants and not Romeo and Juliet?

Common Core Standards: RL.9-10.1, 9-10.4, L. 9-10.4 9-10.5a Wednesday, March 13th, 2019 Aim: How can we analyzethe significance of the first scene of Romeo and Juliet? Objective: Students will be able to decipher Shakespeare’s language to analyze developing plot lines, character motivations and summaries of the events of scene I. Agenda 1.) Do Now: Answer one or both questions, turn and talk with your tablemates. Captains will share with the class. 2.) Mini-Lesson: Together we will continue reading Act I, Scene I of Romeo and Juliet analyzing certain lines and discussing the language. Take notes on literary devices, important quotes, and characterization as it will help you with comprehending the reading. 3.) Review: We will review for tomorrow’s quiz on the prologue and first scene! 4.) Reflection: How does the initial action in Act 1, Scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet foreshadow what will happen in the rest of the play?

Act 1, Scene 1 Analysis Remember what we said about Shakespeare’s plays when they were performed during his time. We learned that there were very little special effects and little scenery. It was because of this that Shakespeare have to provide the audience with vivid and beautiful language to help the people picture the scenes and setting. Take a look at the metaphor Benvolio uses to convey image when speaking to Lady Montague. Benvolio says that the sun “peered for the golden window of the East.” The metaphor creates the image of a beautiful sunrise with the bright gold color flooding the sky. It informs Lady Montague that Romeo was out walking a walk on his own. Benvolio informs us about his reasons for taking his early morning walk. What does this information about Benvolio suggest about Romeo? Benvolio had a “troubled mind” and Romeo too must have shared this feeling for he too is out for an early morning walk alone.

Understanding Character Motivations We learn that Lord Montague is feeling concerned about his son. As a friend and relative of Romeo, Benvolio plays an important role in the story. Reread lines 149-150, what can you infer about why Benvolio makes his offer to Lord Montague? Looking back at our character descriptions and his actions from a little earlier we know that Benvolio is caring and sensitive, he would rather not fight; his offer to find out what is troubling Romeo is motivated by his love for his family, as well as Lord and Lady Montague’s concern for their son. Looking at the conversation between Benvolio and Romeo we see that Benvolio is attempting to find out what is wrong with Romeo. Does Romeo suspect anything about Benvolio’s intention? Why or why not? Romeo is oblivious to Benvolio’s intention because of the fact that he is too preoccupied with his own problems and it took him a while to notice the big fight that took place in the beginning. (166)

Romeo’s Words and Mood The kind of language a character uses can help us learn more about their mood or situation. Describe the language Romeo uses in his speech to express his feelings about love. Does he look happy in the picture to the right? Romeo in his speech uses a lot of contradictory terms such as “heavy lightness.” What do they reveal to us about his current feelings on love? Romeo is confused because love is meant to bring people happiness and joy, but instead he feels frustrated and saddened by it. “This love feel I, that feel no love in this.” What else do we learn about the plot that is forming from Romeo’s conversation with Benvolio? There is unrequited love on Romeo’s part. He says that the woman he loves will “not be hit with Cupid’s arrow.” What Romeo is saying is that she is immune to Romeo’s charm and advances.

Poor Romeo What reasons does Romeo give as an explanation as to why his crush does not return his love? Apart from rejecting his advances she has “sworn that she will still live chaste” meaning that she has sworn to forever be a virgin. How would you describe Romeo’s reaction to his current dilemma? Would you have a similar reaction to unrequited love? Romeo becomes quite melancholic and depressed as a result. It shows that he takes love very seriously, he’s intense and emotional. How does Benvolio say he will help Romeo resolve his issue? Benvolio says that he will find Romeo someone that will make forget all about this woman.

Summary and Reflection In a couple of sentences summarize all of the important events of the first scene, what did we learn about the plot and the characters we were introduced to. How does the initial action in Act 1, Scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet foreshadow what will happen in the rest of the play? The violent threats and actions issued by both sides in the opening scene foreshadows more violence to come before the end of the play. It hints that this conflict will take the life of several of the characters in the play. The servants such as Sampson embody the hatred between the feuding families. He boasts, "I will push Montague's men from the wall and/thrust his maids to the wall," He wants to kill the men and rape the women. He plays a part in the initial brawl and the fight leaves the audience with the expectation that more violence is close by.