Writing Assignment for R&J
The story of young lovers who are kept apart because of misunderstandings or prejudice is an old one. Shakespeare used this ancient tale as the basis for Romeo and Juliet.
Find a modern story with a theme that is similar to Romeo and Juliet. The story could be from a movie, TV show, novel, short story, or song.
1. Include a thesis sentence (underline it).
2. Compare and/or contrast the theme, setting, and characters of this story to Romeo and Juliet.
3. Include at least two quotes (with notation) from Romeo and Juliet and specific examples from the story you are comparing Romeo and Juliet to.
4. This should be two or three paragraphs long.
Comparing Romeo and Juliet to Maria and the Captain in Sound of Music
In the movie, The Sound of Music, Maria is a nun assigned to be the nanny for a widower’s seven children. The widower, Captain Von Trapp, is a strict, emotionless man and Maria is an outgoing, fun woman. Despite their differences and the interference of outside forces, Von Trapp and Maria ultimately fall in love and get married. In the play, Romeo and Juliet, Romeo and Juliet also overcome many problems, fall in love and get married. Although Romeo and Juliet and The Sound of Music have a similar theme, the setting and the characters are completely different.
In Romeo and Juliet, the setting takes place in Verona, Italy, approximately 400 years ago. The Sound of Music takes place in Austria just prior to World War II. Also, the story of Romeo and Juliet focuses on the characters of two teenagers, who are just now finding love for the first time. In The Sound of Music, Maria and Von Trapp are both older (Von Trapp has seven kids!) and have already experienced a deep, strong love: Von Trapp for his first wife, and Maria for God and the convent. In addition, in Romeo and Juliet, all of the secondary characters, from Benvolio to the nurse, seem to be trying to end Romeo and Juliet’s affair. In The Sound of Music, Von Trapp’s children are the secondary characters and they spend a good part of the movie trying to get the two together.
Despite these many differences, Romeo and Juliet and The Sound of Music are clearly similar stories. Both rely heavily on the theme of a couple finding love despite great odds. In Romeo and Juliet, Romeo and Juliet fall in love with each other despite their parent’s hatred for each other, Tybalt’s meddling and Mercutio’s death. In The Sound of Music, Maria and Von Trapp fall in love with each other despite their own dislike for each other, the baroness’ meddling and the danger of the Nazi party.
Comparing two texts:
_____Romeo and Juliet_________ and _________________________
Similarities
|
Differences
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THEME
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SETTING
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CHARACTERS
|
Then do the following for homework:
Outline for writing your Romeo and Juliet Paper
Paragraph
one
An
interesting way to begin your paper and a thesis statement
(Look at my
example for help. If you’re struggling, you may use my thesis statement)
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Paragraph two
How is the
them, “mismatched lovers” similar in the two texts?
In Romeo
and Juliet…____________________________________________________________
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In the
second text…______________________________________________________________
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Paragraph three
How are the
settings different (or similar)?
In Romeo
and Juliet…____________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
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In the
second text…______________________________________________________________
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Paragraph four
How are the
characters different (or similar)?
In Romeo
and Juliet…____________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
In the
second text…______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
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______________________________________________________________________________
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