shakespeare's Education
EARLY EDUCATION
In the Elizabethan era, most kids aged 5 to 7, were sent to "Petty Schools." At a Petty School, or Dame School, children were taught how to behave properly and also learned the catechism. William Shakespeare would have learned to respect his parents, the importance of good manners and prayer.
GRAMMAR SCHOOL
Shakespeare attended King Edward VI Grammar school when he was seven years old. He learned to translate Latin to English and vise versa. The works of other classical authors, such as Ovid and Horace, were studied as well. The content was typically influenced by Catholic beliefs, because the teachers were Catholic.
In 1577, William Shakespeare dropped out of school, because his father could no longer afford to pay for his education. However, that did not stop Shakespeare from writing poems and plays to display his talents and interests.
In the Elizabethan era, most kids aged 5 to 7, were sent to "Petty Schools." At a Petty School, or Dame School, children were taught how to behave properly and also learned the catechism. William Shakespeare would have learned to respect his parents, the importance of good manners and prayer.
GRAMMAR SCHOOL
Shakespeare attended King Edward VI Grammar school when he was seven years old. He learned to translate Latin to English and vise versa. The works of other classical authors, such as Ovid and Horace, were studied as well. The content was typically influenced by Catholic beliefs, because the teachers were Catholic.
In 1577, William Shakespeare dropped out of school, because his father could no longer afford to pay for his education. However, that did not stop Shakespeare from writing poems and plays to display his talents and interests.
Romeo & Juliet
Setting: Verona, Italy
theme: love
In the play, Romeo and Juliet, a very prominent theme is love. There are three relationships within the story that identify a different type of love. The nurse treats Juliet as if she was her own daughter and takes care of her. They have mother-daughter relationship and friendship. Paris is arranged to be married to Juliet in order to maintain the families' wealth. Paris is only physically attracted to Juliet. Romeo and Juliet are in a romantic relationship. They basically fell in love at first sight and secretly got married, because they knew their families would not let them be together. Both Romeo and Juliet were willing to elope.
meet mable capulet
Mabel Capulet is Juliet’s older cousin. She has long, curly brown hair and fierce brown eyes which are complemented by fluttery lashes. Her skin is fair, but she blushes naturally in the centre of her face. At the ripe age of 15, Mabel’s slim figure and good looks have her desired by many. But do not be fooled by a pretty face. Deep down, Mabel is sneaky, stubborn and persistent. Things must always go her way and she will find a way to make sure of it. Although she may appear sweet and feminine on the outside, she has the temper of a wild beast.
Before the Capulet party, Juliet and Mabel were getting ready together and chatting. Juliet told Mabel that her mother, Lady Capulet, insisted that she marry Paris. Little did she know, Mabel was already in love with him. Jealous Mabel planned to steal Paris from Juliet at the party. She was not going to allow her younger cousin to get married before herself! Mabel wears a mask with colourfully painted eyes. The rose gold details on her mask ensure that she shines when light hits her face. A white ribbon gives the impression of purity. Luckily, Mabel catches Paris’ eye while Juliet is busy with Romeo. Her striking beauty has Paris distracted for the rest of the evening.
However, Paris forgets Mable by the morning and he remains loyal to Juliet to make Capulet happy.
Before the Capulet party, Juliet and Mabel were getting ready together and chatting. Juliet told Mabel that her mother, Lady Capulet, insisted that she marry Paris. Little did she know, Mabel was already in love with him. Jealous Mabel planned to steal Paris from Juliet at the party. She was not going to allow her younger cousin to get married before herself! Mabel wears a mask with colourfully painted eyes. The rose gold details on her mask ensure that she shines when light hits her face. A white ribbon gives the impression of purity. Luckily, Mabel catches Paris’ eye while Juliet is busy with Romeo. Her striking beauty has Paris distracted for the rest of the evening.
However, Paris forgets Mable by the morning and he remains loyal to Juliet to make Capulet happy.
discussion: arranged marriage
I feel that everyone should have the right to marry whoever they would like. I would not be happy if someone else were to choose my spouse for me. In Romeo and Juliet, Capulet wants to make Juliet marry Paris. If I were Juliet, I would be angry.
First of all, Paris is much older than Juliet, so the age gap would make me uncomfortable. Sure, Paris has a lot of money, but money cannot buy happiness. Juliet fell in love with Romeo at first sight and although that sounds ridiculous, I would have at least been more interested in Romeo than Paris. Romeo and Juliet developed a romantic relationship, which I think is important to have when you are marrying someone. It is one way that shows that the two people love each other. The only reason I might marry Paris would be to please my father. However, when it comes down to choosing who I want to spend the rest of my life with, I would like to make that decision myself. This way I don't waste time and money on a wedding with someone I won't be content with in the future. Marriage is a big commitment.
First of all, Paris is much older than Juliet, so the age gap would make me uncomfortable. Sure, Paris has a lot of money, but money cannot buy happiness. Juliet fell in love with Romeo at first sight and although that sounds ridiculous, I would have at least been more interested in Romeo than Paris. Romeo and Juliet developed a romantic relationship, which I think is important to have when you are marrying someone. It is one way that shows that the two people love each other. The only reason I might marry Paris would be to please my father. However, when it comes down to choosing who I want to spend the rest of my life with, I would like to make that decision myself. This way I don't waste time and money on a wedding with someone I won't be content with in the future. Marriage is a big commitment.
discussion: The language and poetry of shakespeare
Shakepeare's language has always been confusing to me, probably because I do not spend a lot of time reading his work. I am more familiar with modern writing in fictional novels, such as the Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. To be honest, I don't like to read Shakespeare's work, because it requires a lot of interpreting, which is distracting. When reading Romeo and Juliet, I spent more time figuring out what the words meant, as opposed to paying attention to the plot. Although I personally prefer reading more modern writing, I understand why other people enjoy Shakespeare. His writing provokes deeper thinking.
Act 2 & 3 dISCUSSION
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In my opinion, love is when another person's happiness is more important than your own. It takes a long time to get to know somebody and their intentions with you. How can you tell if a person is worth spending time and emotions on, when you've only seen how they appear on the outside?
It is crucial to find someone with a beautiful personality as opposed to a beautiful face. For example, a shiny, bright, red apple may look appetizing, but as soon as you bite into it, you realize it is rotten. The apple that is a little green and not perfectly round, turns out to be the most sweet and crunchy apple you've ever tasted. Looks can be deceiving.
It is crucial to find someone with a beautiful personality as opposed to a beautiful face. For example, a shiny, bright, red apple may look appetizing, but as soon as you bite into it, you realize it is rotten. The apple that is a little green and not perfectly round, turns out to be the most sweet and crunchy apple you've ever tasted. Looks can be deceiving.
would you ever elope?
I strongly believe each person should have full control over the decisions they make in their life. Relating back to the discussion on arranged marriage, I would definitely refuse to marry Paris. I do not care if marrying Paris will maintain our family wealth, because I don't love him. Although my father wanted me to, I would not marry someone I wouldn't be happy with. A father should accept the choices his daughter makes for her own happiness, even if that means marrying the enemy. I would leave whatever conflict the Capulet and Montague family have in the past and move on.
jeopardy questions
easy1. Was Juliet a Montague or a Capulet?
a) Montague b) Capulet 2. Was Romeo a Montague or a Capulet? a) Montague b) Capulet 3. Who wanted to keep the peace? a) Mercutio b) Paris c) Escalus d) Benvolio |
medium1. Which city does Romeo go to when he is exiled?
a) He stays in Verona b) Mantua c) Milan d) Matera 2. Romeo compares Juliet to... a) The midnight stars b) The green grass c) The morning sun d) His mom's meatloaf 3. The correct order of the characters' deaths is... a) Romeo, Tybalt, Mercutio, Juliet b) Mercutio, Tybalt, Romeo, Juliet c) Romeo, Juliet, Mercutio, Tybalt d) Mercutio, Tybalt, Juliet, Romeo c |
hard1. How many lines are in they play, Romeo and Juliet?
a) 3089 b) 3058 c) 3068 d) 2967 2. Which bird is not mentioned in the play? a) Falcon b) Sparrow c) Crow d) Nightingale 3. Where was the play first performed? a) The Ball b) The Globe and Mail c) The Globe d) The Sphere |
ANSWERS: Easy: 1b, 2a, 3d / Medium: 1b, 2c, 3b / Hard: 1b, 2b, 3c
reading questions
Lady capulet vs the nurse
Lady Capulet is Juliet's biological mother, but they do not have a very close relationship with each other. She urges Juliet to marry Paris, reminding her that he is good looking and rich. However, when her daughter rejects the idea of the arranged marriage, Lady Capulet becomes angry. She sides with her husband Capulet and tells Juliet not to speak to her. Lady Capulet does not show affection towards Juliet, nor does she care for her.
The nurse once had her own daughter, but she sadly passed away. Instead, she took care of Juliet and even breast fed her as a baby. Juliet and the nurse shared a stronger connection and they were able to joke around with each other. They have a mother-daughter relationship as well as a friendship. When Capulet disparaged Juliet, the nurse stood up for her. She said to Capulet, "God in heaven bless her! You are to blame, my lord, to rate her so" (3.5.176-177) Even though the nurse supported Juliet's relationship with Romeo, she ended up trying to convince Juliet to marry Paris too. She does this to protect Juliet.
The nurse once had her own daughter, but she sadly passed away. Instead, she took care of Juliet and even breast fed her as a baby. Juliet and the nurse shared a stronger connection and they were able to joke around with each other. They have a mother-daughter relationship as well as a friendship. When Capulet disparaged Juliet, the nurse stood up for her. She said to Capulet, "God in heaven bless her! You are to blame, my lord, to rate her so" (3.5.176-177) Even though the nurse supported Juliet's relationship with Romeo, she ended up trying to convince Juliet to marry Paris too. She does this to protect Juliet.
why does capulet force marriage on juliet?
Juliet's family is very wealthy and so is Paris'. Capulet insisted that Juliet married Paris to maintain this wealth. It is obvious that Capulet cared more about money than his own daughter's happiness. He insulted and belittled Juliet when she disagreed with the arranged marriage. Capulet also loved to be in power. Being able to control his daughter's life gave him satisfaction. It is possible that Lady Capulet and Capulet were arranged to be married as well. This could explain why they feel the need to choose their daughter's spouse too.
When Capulet said, "O' Thursday let it be- O' Thursday tell her, she shall be married to this noble earl" (3.5.23-24), he was speaking to Paris. He is eager to have him married to Juliet. Capulet thinks very highly of Paris, because he refers to him as a "noble earl." All Capulet sees is money and does not take Juliet's comfort into consideration. I don't think Juliet was ready for such a big commitment at the age of 13, but regardless of age, Juliet still did not love Pairs the way she loved Romeo. If she did marry Paris, she would have cheated on him. Then, Capulet would have been ashamed and embarrassed of having an unfaithful daughter.
When Capulet said, "O' Thursday let it be- O' Thursday tell her, she shall be married to this noble earl" (3.5.23-24), he was speaking to Paris. He is eager to have him married to Juliet. Capulet thinks very highly of Paris, because he refers to him as a "noble earl." All Capulet sees is money and does not take Juliet's comfort into consideration. I don't think Juliet was ready for such a big commitment at the age of 13, but regardless of age, Juliet still did not love Pairs the way she loved Romeo. If she did marry Paris, she would have cheated on him. Then, Capulet would have been ashamed and embarrassed of having an unfaithful daughter.
"death lies on her like an untimely frost Upon the sweetest flower of all the field" (4.5.33-34)
Capulet says this when he finds Juliet, "dead" on her wedding day. His metaphor compares her unforeseen and inconvenient death to untimely frost. His daughter is the most beautiful flower in the flower field, meaning she was one of a kind, and the cold winter killed her, by arriving too soon. It is strange that Capulet suddenly has a change of heart, because the day before, he was calling his daughter "baggage" and "tallow face".
"death is in my son-in-law; Death is my heir. my daughter he hath wedded." (4.5.44-45)
This figure of speech, used by Capulet, expresses his discontent with Juliet's death. He says that Juliet has married "Death" as opposed to Paris. Now death is Juliet's husband and death is a member of his family. Again he was unhappy, because he had no other daughter to marry Paris.
When Romeo Entered juliet's grave
As Romeo enters the grave, he says it is full of light. Juliet's beauty is so striking, it is like a blinding beam of light. He notices that she does not appear to be dead, since she still looks youthful and pretty. Her skin has not become pale yet and her lips and cheeks are still red. Despite that, he still believes she is no longer alive and kills himself by drinking the poison. Unfortunately, Juliet woke up and found her lover dead. She ended up killing herself too.
When Romeo and Juliet were both found dead, their fathers wanted to erect golden statues of each other's child. I believe this is a turning point. because the two enemies feel sorry for their losses. Instead of continuing an ongoing feud, the two families come together to mourn. The deaths of Romeo and Juliet were necessary for the two families to see the bigger picture: love always wins. Even though the Montague and Capulet families despised one another, that could not stop Romeo and Juliet from being together. The two lovers took their own lives to prove this point.
When Romeo and Juliet were both found dead, their fathers wanted to erect golden statues of each other's child. I believe this is a turning point. because the two enemies feel sorry for their losses. Instead of continuing an ongoing feud, the two families come together to mourn. The deaths of Romeo and Juliet were necessary for the two families to see the bigger picture: love always wins. Even though the Montague and Capulet families despised one another, that could not stop Romeo and Juliet from being together. The two lovers took their own lives to prove this point.