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.

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.

It is 2010 and a girl in her late teens has started dating a guy that she believes is her true love. Unfortunately, her parents, family and friends don't approve of him and are trying to force her to dump him. Her parents have even gone so far as to say that they will disown her if she doesn't cut all contact with this guy. In her diary she writes down her feelings about the whole situation. What does she write?

I hate having to keep this a secret. I know Jack is my true love, there is no one else i would rather be with. I can't handle keeping this all in side tho, I am not on of those people. I need to tell people things, talk about it a lot, and get attention. If only I could erase one day, everything could be perfect... The day the war broke out. Ever since that one day, the worst day in my life, our family's have hated each other. My parents have turned everyone against them, My bestfriend will not even accept them, despite my love for Jack. I know if my parents ever found out about us, I would be kicked out. I have to lie to my bestfriend about it now because she got angry and threatend ending our friendship over it. As far as shes concearned, we are over. I'm so over sneaking around behind peoples back though. I just wish there was something I could to to allow my family and friends to accept me being with him. Each day which goes by I feel so guilty for having to lie to everyone.

CHARACTER PROFILES

ROMEO:

Romeo is a very open minded character. He expresses his feelings very openly. His relationship with his cousin Benvolio is very close. Romeo is a very well know character, after all the play is named after him and his love who comes into character later on in the play (Juliet). When Romeo meets Juliet, he shows no hesitations in expressing to her exactley what his feelings tell him. He is very demandful in his wishes. He knows Juliet is the love of his life, and wishes to marry her.

BENVOLIO:

He is very precautious. In act 1 scene 1, it is shown where he steps into a fight to break the disagreement up. "Part, fools! Put up your swords. You know not what you do." He has a very close relation ship with his younger cousin Romeo, who he often expresses his feelings too. In the play, he is shown to be a much loved character. His personality is what makes him so attached to by the audience, as he is such an easygoing young man. His main role in the play is represented as a peace maker whos company is enjoyed by most characters.

JULIET:
Juliet is a much loved character in the play. She experiences the feeling of love at first sight, when she first lays eyes on her Husband, Romeo. She is very open when she expresses her feelings towards him, and does not hold back in saying what she wishes. She isn't concerned by her family conflicts getting in the way of her realationship, but secretly she hates disobeying her parents wishes and comands. Her father see's Paris as her ideal future Husband, but Juliet leaves him thinking this will one day happen because she is scared to brake the news to him.

Discussion Questions:
1. Outline the subject matter of the poem?
This poem/song is about two young lovers. They were young and fell in love at first sight. They had little time to spend together, which is similar to the play "Romeo and Juliette"
2. Why is the poem entitled “Love Story”? Use evidence from the lyrics to support the titles significance and relevance.
It is a simple title with a great deal of meaning. The song is about a love story and what happens during their relationship. The obvious quote... "It's a love story, baby, just say yes" is the key give away about the love song.
3. Describe the relationship between the two characters. Who are they?
The characters are based around what was suggesting to be herself (Taylor Swift) and her lover who is being reffered to as 'Romeo'. They had fallen in love with eachother which was at first sight. They want to be together but because of some complecations it becomes difficult. This is also much like the story from the play "Romeo and Juliette"
4. What evidence is there to suggest that these lovers have to overcome obstacles in their relationship?
There are complecatins and obsticals in the relationship which the two lovers have to face and over come if they wish to stay together and be happy. She faces the harsh trouth of the fact that her father does not want her to be seeing him. And if she wishes to see him it will have to be behing his back...
5. What themes and issues are explored in the lyrics and through the video clip?
The fact that the parents of both lovers do not learn to accept them being together. Because of this, they face greater complecations.
6. How does the “Love story” end for Romeo and Juliet in the song? Is this how it ends for the Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet? Why does Taylor Swift end her song this way? What perspective is she writing from and why would they want the story to end this way?
In the video clip for love story, it ends where Romeo asks for Juliette to marry him. The father and parents learn to accrpt the fact that they are both deeply in love.