Romeo and Juliet - Mr. Robertson's Bunker

High School Discussion QuestionsCompare and Contrast1. Study the characters Benvolio and Mercutio, including the meaning behind their names.What are the differences in their functions, words, and fates in the play?2. Romeo and Juliet is Shakespeare’s first tragic love story, being written about 1594.Examine Antony and Cleopatra, written about 1607 and another passionate story thatends in a double suicide. How do they relate to each other? How has Shakespearechanged as a writer in thirteen years?3. Watch the movie West Side Story, 1961. How do changes in the character’s relationships(i.e. Maria and Bernardo being close siblings instead of cousins and Riff living withTony’s family) and the added problems (i.e. ethnic relations) affect the meaning and feelingof the story?Relational1. At what point in the story did things begin to go wrong? Whose fault was this? Discusshow the choices of the following characters affected the outcome of the play: Romeo,Juliet, Friar Lawrence, Mercutio, Lord Capulet, Tybalt.2. Were Romeo and Juliet really in love? Romeo only first caught sight of Juliet about anhour or two before they decided to get married; they had only spoken for at most tenminutes. Was their love as Juliet said, “too rash, too unadvised, to sudden”? Can love atfirst sight be true love?3. The cause of the “ancient grudge” between the Montagues and the Capulets is neverexplained. Why do you think Shakespeare chose not to tell us? What do you thinkmight have been the cause? What do you think would have happened had Romeo andJuliet gone to their parents and explained their love and asked their families to work outtheir differences?Textual1. Read the balcony scene of Act 2 Scene 2. Who is in control of this conversation, Romeoor Juliet? Look for other examples in the text to support your idea of who is the strongercharacter.2. In Act 3 Scene 1 who is really responsible for Mercutio’s death: Mercutio, who provokedthe fight, Tybalt who stabbed him, or Romeo who got between them? How would youstage this as a director?3. In the Prologue the audience is told how the story will end, “a pair of star-crossed loverstake their life.” Does knowing the ending change our reactions as we watch or read theplay?Shakespeare’s World1. In 1582 at the age of eighteen, Shakespeare married a woman who was several years olderthan him. She gave birth to a child seven months later. Assuming Shakespeare had personalexperience with young and passionate love, what does this play say about his laterattitude about twelve years later when he wrote the play?2. In one of the earliest manuscripts of Romeo and Juliet someone wrote enter Will Kempinstead of enter Peter in Act 4 Scene 5. William Kemp was a popular comedic actorin Shakespeare’s troupe, the Lord Chamberlain’s Men. What does this tell us aboutShakespeare’s writing process? How would writing for specific actors affect the types ofUtah Shakespearean Festival351 West Center Street • Cedar City, Utah 84720 • 435-586-788043