Romeo and Juliet

Year 10 Discussion topics

One: analysis of key scenes.

Our seven key scenes:

Act 1 Scene 1 The opening violence, which establishes the 'back-drop' to the play.

In what ways is Baz Luhrmann's film an appropriate adaptation of this scene?

Act 1 Scene 5 The dance where Romeo meets Juliet for the first time.

How does Shakespeare increase tension here, preparing us for the lovers' kiss?
What is Tybalt's role here?

Act 2 Scene 2 The 'balcony' scene.

Trace the changing emotions in the lovers of this scene.

Act 3 Scene 1 The death of Mercutio.

Prepare a tableau for the moment when Romeo says,

And so, good Capulet, which name I tender
As dearly as mine own, be satisfied.

Prepare a speech for each character in the tableau in which they articulate their feelings about what precisely is going on.

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Act 3 Scene 5 (part one) The morning where Romeo must leave, banished, for Mantua.

Choose two to read the parts of Romeo and Juliet. Direct them carefully, paying attention to pace and tone of voice, etc. Then perform the piece and follow this with a commentary.

Act 3 Scene 5 (part two) The Capulets tell Juliet that she must marry Paris.

Read or act out lines 204-242
(from O God! - O Nurse, how shall this be prevented
to Thou and my bosom henceforth be twain)

Afterwards, talk about:
• what you think of the Nurse's advice
• whether you think the Nurse recognises Juliet's irony or sarcasm when she says "Amen" and "Well, thous hast comforted me marvellous much"
• what the Nurse's advice adds to your knowledge of her character
• how your understanding of Juliet has grown in this scene
• what you think would be the most dramatically effective way of staging these lines.

Act 5 Scene 3 Juliet's suicide.

Divide Romeo's last speech thematically into sections and then discuss precisely how it would be performed.