Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Write a persuasive paragraph that responds to the following statement:

Juliet would not have been forced to take such drastic action if she simply communicated with her family. Ultimately, Juliet, her mother and her father needed to sit down and have a nice long talk.


I believe that if Juliet was always up front with her parents about dating Romeo, she would have been in a worse situation, and things would have turned out much uglier. If she did tell her parents about it they would have punished her very harshly. Juliet knew that dating Romeo was crazy, and if her parents did know she would have been punished. After seeing how her dad reacted when she confessed that she didn't want to marry Paris, you could understand why she was scared of telling him about Romeo. It was good of her to at least tell Nurse about what she was doing, so if she ever got into trouble, someone would know what was going on.

Monday, November 1, 2010

PRATICE ESSAY

William Shakespeare’s tragic love story, Romeo and Juliet, appeals to teenage audiences in 2010 because the themes that are explored are similar to the issues that young people are encountering in their daily lives. To what extent is this statement valid?

William Shakespeare’s play, Romeo and Juliet, is over 42 years old, yet still relates to a wide audience, in particular teenagers living in the year of 2010. Throughout the play, younger generations would have difficulties understanding some of the text and language as much of it is written in old English. This is one of the most significant things about the play which teenagers in today’s society will not be able to relate to. Nevertheless, many teenagers would have success in being able to relate substantially to the many relevant factors of the relationship between Romeo and Juliet. The movie expresses scenes clearer, which will allow teenagers to develop a clearer understanding.

Teenagers living in today’s society live and speak very differently to what the older generations are used to and know so well. Because teenagers have grown up in a world full of technology, which has managed to developed further as they grow up, they have picked up a different language. Facebook, MSN, Twitter, MySpace, and Texting, have all created a language of it’s own. Younger generations don’t know any different from this slang’ language which they currently use. However, when they are introduced to the olden day English language, they struggle to comprehend something’s, but use their imagination and knowledge to break these words down and understand what is occurring in the play. Such quotes from the play are very difficult to work out, such as "Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight! For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night" (act one scene 5). This is something that teenagers in today’s society would not say. If this was said in modern language, it would be something along the lines of “My heart didn’t love til now, I never saw beauty til this night.” Even though this is the translated language, it is still rare that a teenager would speak this way, as it is very poetic.

The fact that many themes and happenings in the play are still relevant to things that may be happening in today’s teenager’s lives lets them relate to the storyline of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. they understand what is happening. Even though many quotes are difficult to comprehend for teenagers, they still can relate to them. "O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name, or if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love And I'll no longer be a Capulet" (Act two scene two). This reflects on Juliet being scared about admitting her love for Romeo to her family, as she is scared to tell them that Romeo is a Montague, because she knows that their families are great rivals. Many teenagers will be able to relate to this, as their parents may struggle to accept whom they are dating. This includes them having to do things like Romeo and Juliet did, such as sneaking around behind peoples backs, keeping secrets from family and friends, and disobeying and disrespecting her parents wishes and commands.

The most recent version of the movie, the Bazloman version, makes it even easier for teenagers to be able to relate to the play. The play is much easier for younger generations to understand and comprehend. Because it is being acted out, audiences can get a greater understanding of what is happening. For many typical teenage boys living in the year of 2010, they will be able to relate themselves to the feud between the Capulet’s and Montague’s. The boys start trouble in the community by causing a ruckus. The boys fight both verbally ad physically, and get them selves into trouble. Even tho this was a long time ago, and some things may be different in the play, teenage boys in 2010 will still be able to relate to this and like the action packed scenes. Romeo and Juliet is a very romantic play which teenage girls love. Teenage years are around the time when girls will start falling for boys. It is very common that girls fall for troublemakers, who get themselves in trouble. This can also be related to the play, as Juliet knows that Romeo is trouble and shouldn’t fall for him, yet she cant help herself.

Although the play may be difficult for teenagers in 2010 to comprehend, there are many significant themes, which they can easily relate to. The fact that they are being mischievous and sneaky is very relevant to teenagers in 2010. Both teenage boys and girls can relate to many scenes in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet because many of the themes explored are similar and can be related to the struggles facing teenagers in 2010.

Essay Development Steps:




Step 1: Underline key words/phrases


Step 2: Determine whether you need to ask any questions about the task.


Step 3: In your own words, explain what you believe the question is asking.


Step 4: Brainstorm possible responses/key ideas/main points




Step 5: Devise a thesis statement (this answers the question).




Step 6: Devise topic sentences for each main body paragraph (need to link directly to thesis statement).




Step 7: Find evidence for each main point.




Step 8: In dot point format, explain how evidence links/proves main point.




Step 9: Is there a way your first main point links to second and so on




Step 10: Are there any conclusions/evaluations to be made after considering all main points?


*Completed at least up to step 10 before test*


Step 11: Attempt introduction. NB. This statement needs to be clear.


Step 12: Attempt main body paragraphs.


-Topic sentence




-Explain


-Evidence




-Expand/elucidate/evaluate




-Concluding/linking statement


Step 13: Attempt conclusion. Revisit your thesis and main points but don’t simply re-write. A conclusion implies that you have come to a final resolution of some sort.




Step 14: Look back at question and plan, then read over essay to ensure you have


a)Answered the question


b)Completed all steps of your plan




Step 15: Make any changes that that were needed after previous step.




Step 16: Proof-read and edit - focus on technical elements: spelling, grammar, tense, sentence structure, expression, capital letters, punctuation, word choice, paragraphs deal with 1 idea only, underlined text title.




Step 17: Final read through

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Throughout Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare makes effective use of imagery that is related to the sky. How does this imagery help the audience to gain a greater understanding of the characters and/or central themes.
The use of imagery related to the sky that is used in throughout Romeo and Juliet, has a significant understanding towards the Audience. The characters, central themes, and lyrics/poems that are used throughout the play develop this.
Romeo in particular often refers to Juliet as the sun, as she brings him light and joy. He also relates her to heaven, because she is so delicate and precious to him "As glorious to this night, As is a winge'd messenger of heaven... And sails apon the blossom of the air" (Act 2, Scene 2, lines 27-32). "It is east, and Juliet is the sun, Arise fair sun, and kill the envious moon" (Act 2, scene 2, lines 3-4). In this quote, Shakespear has described Juliet as the sun, who kills the envious moon, which in this case is Romeo. Therefore, she is refered to as the sun who brings light in the day, and he is the moon who sparkles at night. This is so significant and helps the audience to understand their romantic relationship. Such words, like these is very easy to understand, which helps identify the relationship between the two young lovers.
Although the sky is used through the caracters of Romeo and Juliet often, it is also used through other characters in the play, but often only when they are speaking of the two's love. The other common characters which use this effective imagery and theme is often the Nurse and Friar Lawrence. Because these characters are one of the few that know about their secret relationship they often share their oppinion and offer their advice to the young couple.
Throughout the play, Shakespear has been very affective in the way which he used these themes and techniques of refering to the sky. It gave me as a reader of the play, a much greater understanding of what was going on, and allowed me to relate more to the play. Many of the quotes that he used where simple but effective if you were able to comprehend what they ment, and which context they were used in.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Romeo is an impulsive character and his actions are influenced by his emotions.

This statememnt is very true. In the play "Romeo and Juliet" Romeo is expressed as an extremely emotional character. At 16 years of age, he is young and makes irresponcibal decisions. When Romeo is introduced to the film, he is represented as a very negative and depressed character. Because of his mood, and feelings, which at that stage was love for Rosaline, and experincing she didn't love him back. His friends and family noticed he was acting strange. He would be out late an night time, and appear home in early hours of the morning. "Tut, I have lost myself, I am not here, This is not Romeo, he's some other where" (Act 1, Scene 1, Line 189-190). This is Romeo telling Benvolio about his depression after not being loved back by Rosaline. After Romeo falls in love with Juliet, his emotion is influenced by his emotion, and he wishes to marry Juliet, despite the short amout of time which they have known eachother. He puts himself at risk by involving himself with Juliet. Their relationship is such a risk because they are such great enemies. Because Romeos love for Juliet so strong, it leads him to make bad decisions. In the end of the play, this results in him taking his life beacuse he doesn't want to live without Juliet. He believes that there is no point living without her love. If he hadn't made such a sudden decision based on his instant mood and emotion, he would have thought longer and harder about the concequences, and maybe decided that it was selfish to take his life, for Juliet. He didn't think of how it would affect his friends and loved ones. He made an instant decision based on his emotions. This is the type of carless and immature decisions which Romeo makes.

Respect your elders

In the Capulet family, it is evident that it is expected in the family for one to respect their elders. Throughout the play, Romeo and Juliet, tree have been many times where this has been represented. In the play, Lord Capulet tells Juliet of how he expects for her to marry Paris. He is confident that he is the one for her and will treat her right. Juliet, not wishing to upset her father, or disobey his wishes, she goes along with this command. Although she does go behind both her mother and fathers back, when she falls in love with Romeo and decides to marry him, in a way she is respecting her parents as she know they do not wish for her to be with her parents enemy. Juliet also shows a great sound of respect towards the nurse, who she has grown up with. This is shown Simply by the way in which she looks up to her and trusts her.

Because the Capulet family is of such high social status, they run of a very traditional lifestyle. This means Juliet is expected to treat the elders in her family in a high classed manner. Their family is relatively religious as well which gives her another reason to be respectful towards their parents and elder influences in their life.