Romeo and Juliet Act 2 Prologue Scene 1

Romeo and Juliet Act 2 Prologue, Scene 1 and 2 Date: Objectives 1. 2. 3. Finish Act 2 Prologue, Scene 1 and Scene 2 Introduce the ‘Balcony Scene’ where Romeo and Juliet talk. By the end of the class, students should have a deeper understanding of how Romeo and Juliet feel about each other. Warm –up – write the quote, answer the questions “O Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name. ” Juliet argues in this scene that we should not judge a person based on their name. What does this mean? Why might a person judge you based on your surname?

Today’s Reading • Act 2 Prologue 41. 30 -42. 30 • The chorus tells us what just happened; Romeo and Juliet met and fell in love. We are warned both good and bad things are about to happen. • Scene 1 42. 30 – 45. 00 • The boys leave the feast but Romeo ditches his friends to seek out Juliet. Benvolio and Mercutio don’t know about Juliet however. • Scene 2 45. 00 – 55. 30 • The Balcony Scene: Juliet looks out at the stars, thinking about her new love. Romeo looks up at the balcony and sees her. They declare their love for each other and plan to get married. • Audiobook at https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=AYDFQL_Lfe. Y

Notes – Act 2 Prologue and Scene 1 • Now that Romeo has met Juliet, Rosaline is forgotten. This shows that he either never truly loved her or that is shallow and immature. • Unlike Rosaline, Juliet will respond to his feelings. This presents a host of new problems however. The families are enemies and do not mix well together. Trying to sneak around will be difficult as well, as girls (at that time) were not free to do as they please. • Romeo’s ‘Soliloquy’ (speech to himself) shows how much he is thinking about Juliet. She is the centre of his world and she has his heart. • Mercutio, who has a poor view of love, points out that Romeo’s love is more like lust. He is just interested in Rosaline’s body. Mercutio describes Romeo’s feelings as being under a spell or magic of some kind.

Notes – Act 2 Scene 2 • This is one of the most important scenes in the plot or story of the play. At the start, Romeo and Juliet hardly know each other but by the end they plan to marry. The characters also talk to themselves a lot (Soliloquies). • Juliet comes across more level headed, down-to-earth and practical. She recognises the dangers and that they are moving very fast. “It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden; Too like the lightning, which doth cease to be” • Romeo comes across in an opposite manner; as a naive, head-in–theclouds and impractical boy. He believes Juliet’s love will protect him should he be discovered. • Note that it is Juliet who suggests that they get married however.

Exercise - Walking Debate • After crashing the party and kissing the host’s daughter (secretly), Romeo decides now to jump their walls, sneak into their garden and seduce Juliet. • Stand to the right-side of the room if you disagree with what Romeo has done. If you were a Capulet, would you be angry for example. • Stand to the left-side of the room if you agree with what Romeo has done. Would you encourage or support him were you a Montague for example. • Be prepared to argue or explain why you are standing where you are.

Exercises • Role-play: Write and perform the following scenario. • In pairs, one person stands on the chair and one person kneels on the ground. • The person on the ground has to say nice things about the person on the chair. • The person on the chair has to point out how dangerous it is for the other person so say these things. • At the end both students must agree to be friends.

Questions – Point, “reference”, explain. 1. What does the prologue tells us about the situation Romeo and Juliet are in? 2. Which two of the following words would you use to describe Mercutio and why: witty, rude, clever, fun, imaginative, suspicious, nasty, smart, friendly, caring. 3. How does Romeo describe Juliet in the balcony scene? 4. What is Juliet concerned or worried about when she talks to Romeo? 5. Write a short diary entry as either Romeo or Juliet describing what you were thinking during the balcony scene.

Cooldown Question In the balcony scene, there is Romeo, Juliet and a high wall separating them. What else is there do you think however. If you were staging this for a movie, what other props or decorations might you put in front of the camera or around the actors.