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Lesson 5

We will revisit the prologue to predict possible themes that may emerge. We will view two film adaptations of the prologue and explore what themes are emphasized in each film adaptation.

Lesson Goals

  • Can I use the prologue of Romeo and Juliet to predict themes that will develop throughout the play?

  • Can I recognize points of connection among the play Romeo and Juliet and the film adaptations to make logical, objective comparisons?

Texts

Core

  • Tradebook
    • Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare, Folger Shakespeare Library, Simon and Schuster, 2004
  • Multimedia
    • Romeo + Juliet, Baz Luhrmann, Twentieth Century Fox, 1996
    • Romeo and Juliet, Franco Zeffirelli, Paramount Pictures, 1968

Materials

Tools

Editable Google Docs

Activity 1: Read – Write – Discuss

As a class, we will predict what thematic ideas will emerge in the play based on the information presented in the prologue.

Independently, reread the prologue and respond to the following questions in your Learning Log:

  1. Based on the prologue, what thematic ideas do you think will emerge in the play?

  2. What lines support those thematic ideas?

Share your responses in a whole-class discussion. Capture the discussion in your Text-Theme Note-Taking Tool. Be sure to cite specific lines or phrases in the textual evidence column.

Activity 2: View – Write – Discuss

We will view the Zeffirelli film adaptation of the prologue and examine what themes are emphasized in this film version.

View the prologue of Franco Zeffirelli’s adaptation of Romeo and Juliet.

As you view the prologue, pay attention to the director’s choices regarding the following elements. Write down your notes in your Learning Log.

  • location

  • time period

  • music

  • narration

Reference the thematic ideas captured on your Text-Theme Note-Taking Tool. As a class, discuss the following questions:

  1. What thematic ideas from the prologue are emphasized in the film? Which, if any, are not?

  2. How did the director’s choices emphasize the thematic ideas? What evidence from the film supports your claim? Be sure to cite specific details from the film.

Capture notes from the discussion in your Learning Log.

Activity 3: View – Write – Discuss

We will view the prologue of Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet and examine what themes are emphasized in this film version.

You will view the prologue of the Luhrmann film adaptation twice. During the first viewing, pay attention to the following director choices:

  • setting

  • pacing

Write down your notes in your Learning Log.

Rewatch the prologue of Luhrmann’s film. This time, pay close attention to the following director choices:

  • narration

  • soundtrack

  • imagery

Write down your notes in your Learning Log.

As a class, discuss the following questions:

  1. How has the director transformed the original source material?

  2. What has been kept intact?

  3. What thematic ideas from the prologue are emphasized in the film? Which, if any, are not?

  4. How did the director’s choices emphasize the thematic ideas? What evidence from the film supports your claim? Be sure to cite precise details from the film as your evidence.

Capture notes from the discussion in your Learning Log.

Activity 4: Read

For homework, we will familiarize ourselves with the Character List of Romeo and Juliet to prepare for reading Act 1, Scene 1 in the next lesson.

For homework, examine the character list. Pay attention to how these characters connect to the information found in the prologue.