Advanced Drama, Period 5, Ms.

Charrow Group Surface Scribe: _____________________ Group Members (& Roles): __________________________________________________________________________________________________________

ROMEO & JULIET Part 1: Prediction/Pre-Reading

Essential Questions: How does Shakespeares Romeo & Juliet express eternal truths about humanity? Using predictions and pre-reading, what do I already know about Romeo & Juliet?

Directions: In your groups, complete the following work. Your grade will be determined on completeness, creativity, and class group work.
PREDICTION: Book Covers Choose 3 book covers for Romeo & Juliet that are very different. Put them in your document. Answer these questions next to each picture of book cover: 1. Describe the cover what is unique about its subject, color, design, etc.? What do the colors or style choices represent about the story? Do you think the style helps to sell this edition? 2. What words or phrases are on the cover? Why do you think the publisher chose these? Do you think they help to sell this edition? 3. How do you think a books cover can influence a reader? Give one piece of evidence. 4. Which book cover would your group want? Why? PREDICTION: Character List In Shakespeares plays, the character list (or Dramatis Personae in Latin) is usually from the MOST POWERFUL to the LEAST influential. In this list, FEMALE characters are always listed last. 1. What do you think about this hierarchy? 2. Was status important to people in Shakespeares time? 3. Is status important today? 4. Choose 4 names and explain how the names make you feel what does it sound like, what are the connotations, can you connect it to anything important? 5. It is important to understand that different directors interpret characters in different ways. Choose one character. Research 3 different ways that this character has been represented (through pictures of actors from various films). Show the three different pictures, and explain why you think the director chose to cast those actors. Explain what about the actors may change the audiences ideas.

PRE-READING: In Fair Verona Is Verona a real place or a fictional one? Locate it on the map. Shakespeare probably never visited Verona. Yet, he set Romeo & Juliet there. Answer these questions: 1. Describe Verona where is it, what is the culture like, what are the buildings like. 2. Why is Verona important to the story? (For example, what connections can you make between the names & the country.) 3. Would Romeo & Juliet work if it had been in a different location? Why or why not? Give two pieces of evidence. 4. Choose a visual image, and explain why it best represents the Verona of Romeo & Juliet.

PRE-READING: The Plot Take turns reading the plot out loud. As a group, decide what you think are the six most important events in the story. Use the Comic Creator to make a 6-panel comic demonstrating those six events. http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/comic/ Label each panel as one of the five parts of the Plot: Freytags Pyramid 1. Exposition (intro of characters, setting, background) 2. Rising Action (story builds after an inciting incident or problem) 3. Climax (moment of most tension & excitement) 4. Falling Action (results of the climax, ending with a resolution) 5. Denouement (The ending, where most things are solved, and life goes back to a type of normal)

What grade do you deserve for this assignment? Why?