Shakespeare WebQuest

Picture taken from http://quotationsbook.com/assets/shared/img/6633/William_Shakespeare.jpg 9/9/09

Your task is to introduce Shakespeare to people who know nothing about him. Remember to include pictures, diagrams, sub-headings and bullet points to make your information easy to read and understand.

You are to use the following questions and the listed web-sites.

Shakespeare’s life:


Find out as much as you can about William Shakespeare. Begin with the points below:

Where he and when he was born?
His family?
When he died and where he died?
His wife?

Shakespeare’s works:
Find out about the plays and poems that William Shakespeare wrote. Begin with the points below:
· How many plays did he write?
· How were his plays received at the time?
· Name five of the plays Shakespeare wrote.
· How were the plays performed?
· Where were they performed?
· What else did he write?


Shakespeare’s times:
Find out about what life was like in England when Shakespeare was alive.
The Globe Theatre
Find a picture or diagram of The Globe Theatre and add this to your information.


WEB SITES TO VISIT ON YOUR QUEST
http://shakespeare.palomar.edu/
http://www.rdg.ac.uk/globe/
http://www.ulen.com/shakespeare/
http://www.shakespeare.org.uk/
http://www.shakespeare-etc.org/
http://www.stratford-upon-avon.co.uk/soawshst.htm

Questions to explore following a close reading of the play

The following questions should be considered following a complete reading of Romeo and Juliet.

You need to answer the questions in as much depth as possible, making direct
reference to the play. For those who wish to practise their essay writing, you could aim to answer the questions using essay format.

1. Love is one of the primary themes in the play. Consider the following:
What different types of love does Shakespeare represent in the play?
Which characters are associated with which types of love?
How does Mercutio’s notion of love compare with the Nurse’s?
How does it compare with Romeo’s or Juliet’s?
What differences can you find between Paris and Romeo in their descriptions of love?
What kind of love do you think Shakespeare is saying is best? Explain.

2. Compare and contrast the women of the play.
What do you think Shakespeare is saying through his representations of these
specific types of women?
For example, what differences do you see between Juliet and Rosaline?
How does Juliet differ from her mother and her nurse?
What negative views of women can you find in the play?
What positive views can you find?

Themes from the play/film

Step 1/ Brainstorm the various themes that you believe are explored in the play. Explain what makes you recognise these themes.
Step 2/ Examine these five scenes from Baz Luhrmann’s film version of Romeo and Juliet. What themes of the play are suggested by each picture? Write the themes next to the scenes that represent that theme. Write a one sentence explanation of how that theme is presented in the play. Then, write one quote from the play that demonstrates each theme. Explain how the quote demonstrates the theme.

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"Romeo and Juliet" Film Study

In our study of Romeo and Juliet several ideas have been emphasised in class. List them:

Why do you think we have foregrounded these ideas?

Link the above with your viewing of the opening scenes of Luhrman’s Romeo and Juliet. What do you think his intention is?

Bearing in mind we have only views the opening scenes, what is your assessment of Luhrman’s success in conveying his vision for the play? Jusitify your answer by providing close evidence from the film.

17th Century Rules of Marriage Activity

This site contains a brief overview of the rules of marriage for 17th Century England. Reading through this document will assist you with the activity posted directly following this link.

http://www.folger.edu/documents/marriagenew.pdf

This provides the basis for the Rules of Marriage Activity. I suggest you open it in a separate tab so that you can continually refer back to it as you progress through the questions/tasks.

http://www.folger.edu/documents/17thCenturyRulesnew1.pdf

The play Romeo and Juliet often raises questions amongst readers about marriage in Shakespeare's day. This activity allows you to examine a primary source from 1604 to help you gain a better understanding of the rules of marriage in the early seventeenth century, and to apply that knowledge to the play in several ways. This is a follow on from the information found on the Rules of Marriage document that is hyperlinked before this activity.

This activity will take one to two class periods.

What To Do:
1. Make sure you have completed a careful reading of the play.

2. Open the website that is hyperlinked here.

3. Look at the key below which shows you how to read the document (i.e. how to translate the various letters):

v = u

u = v

i = j

f = s

vv = w

Read it silently for a moment, then read it together in your small group/pair.

4. Have a brief brainstorming session for 10–15 minutes about what you think Lord Capulet and Friar Lawrence would think about the document, based upon their behavior in the play.

5. In your small groups/pair with you will be focusing on Lord Capulet and Friar Lawrence. You need to find the relevant details in the document that relate to their character's ideas about marriage. Then, prepare a statement that demonstrates your understanding of the document as well as the characters' feelings about it.

6. As a group/pair you will present your statement.

7. For homework, you need to choose one of the characters (not Lord Capulet or Friar Lawrence) and write a one page paper that expresses the character's more general opinions about marriage. Be sure that you refer to the text of the play to provide evidence for their beliefs. This paper could be written as a letter to the editor, a letter to a parent or child, or a more formal essay. Be creative: the one rule is that the written piece must refer to the play as well as to the document you have just examined.

Reflection Activity: How Did It Go?

1. Did you enjoy and understand the primary source document? Explain your answer.


2. Did the members of your group/pair have varied opinions about the text and its meanings? How did you work around these differing interpretations?


3. Do you think you were effective in expressing the different views the different characters would have about marriage? Explain why/why not?


4. Do you think your statements reflected an understanding of the text? Explain your answer.


5. Do you think your responses demonstrated your understanding of the character's motivations? Explain your answer.

Tabloid R&J

http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/shakespeare/60secondshakespeare/themes_romeojuliet.shtml

This is an interesting example of how it is possible to take something like Shakespeare's tragic love story Romeo and Juliet and place it into a context that is familiar to people in a 21st century context.
By reflecting on this article, and the Baz Lurhmann version of Romeo and Juliet, write a response that considers whether or not Shakespeare's work is still relevant to a 21st Century society. You should aim to make direct reference to the play (through direct quotations, comments on characters and analysis of the plot and it's themes).

Comparing the original to the film

Now that you have watched Baz Lurhmann's film interpretation of Romeo and Juliet you have the opportunity to compare it to the original script.
Write down any of the differences that you have noticed between the two versions. Once you have jotted down the noted differences indicate which version you prefer and why. Also, indicate why you think Lurhmann may have made the decision to make such a change.

Discussion Starters

If you go to the discussion board section of Blackboard you will find nine discussion forums have been set up relating to various themes of Romeo and Juliet, all of which have relevance in a contemporary society.

The topics, as listed below, may also be helpful for you in practising extended responses to the text. Whether you only post on the forums, or choose to also write extended responses for your blog, you should aim to make direct reference to the play.

• Love vs. Lust: Romeo and Juliet are obsessed, infatuated, out of control, and irrational. Sounds like lust to me.


• Prejudice: The feuding families create tension and conflict, not unlike feuding cultures in today's society.


• The Role of Fate: Shakespeare calls the two lovers "star-crossed." Does fate, however, play a greater role than the numerous stupid choices made by Romeo and Juliet.


• Book Smarts vs. Street Smarts: Friar Lawrence knew a lot. Most of it was useless. After all, he had no real world experience. He just walked around all day collecting herbs.


• Suicide: It's the gigantic green elephant in the room. You might as well talk about it.


• The Role of Women: Verona society did not hold much for women, which makes Juliet's strength stand out even more.


• The Role of a Husband: Romeo's weakness dooms the relationship from the start.


• Friendship: Romeo's friend, Mercutio, causes his banishment. His other friend, Friar Lawrence, causes his death. Juliet's friend, the Nurse, abandons her in her time of need.


• Communication: Juliet and her father need to sit down and have a nice long talk.

Useful Hyperlinks

What I have included here are a variety of websites that will assist in your study of William Shakespeare's tragic love story, Romeo and Juliet.

It would be beneficial to look through each of the study sites to see which ones suit your style of study most accurately.

Also included are sites that allow you to complete online quizzes that will test your understanding of the play.

No Fear Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet

http://nfs.sparknotes.com/romeojuliet/

This website contains the full script of the play, along with a modern day translation.
This would be useful to anyone who is feeling a little overwhelmed by the concept of reading a play written in Elizabethan English.
Be aware though that you will need to also be able to quote from the original and discuss the original :)

Spark Notes: Romeo and Juliet

http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/romeojuliet/

This site gives comprehensive overviews of individual scenes, acts and characters. It also provides simple questions to test your knowledge of the play and looks at important quotes from the entire play.

Not to be relied on completely for your study and exam preparation, but, it is a very good starting point.

Romeo and Juliet Overview

http://mshogue.com/ce9/R_J/study.htm

This is one of many study guides on the internet that give overviews, etc of the play. The good thing about this one is that it also provides a linear timeline of the entire plot. Well worth a look :)

Study Questions for Acts I through to V

http://drb.lifestreamcenter.net/Lessons/RomJul/index.htm

This site has a solid selection of study questions for Act I through to V that you should complete using as much detail as possible. When you open this page you will see that there are links at the bottom for each Act. By clicking on each, you will be directed to a series of questions for that particular Act.

Online Quote Quiz for Act I

http://www.argo217.k12.il.us/departs/english/blettiere/act1quote.htm

Test your memory on who says what in Act I.

Online Quote Quiz for Act II

http://www.argo217.k12.il.us/departs/english/blettiere/act2quote.htm

Test your memory on who says what in Act II.

Online Quote Quiz Act III

http://www.argo217.k12.il.us/departs/english/blettiere/act3quote.htm

Test your memory on who says what in Act III

Online Quote Quiz for Act IV

http://www.argo217.k12.il.us/departs/english/blettiere/act4quote.htm

Test your memory on who says what in Act IV

Online Quote Quiz for Act V

http://www.argo217.k12.il.us/departs/english/blettiere/act5quote.htm

Test your memory on who says what in Act V

Introduction

This site will work in conjunction with the school's Blackboard site to assist in the study of Romeo and Juliet.

The posts here will consist of homework and classwork activities, as well as hyperlinks, that will assist in your preparation for the upcoming essay test.

All of your work, where possible, should be posted on your English blog.