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Lesson 3

We will view Act 1, Scenes 3–5 of the film adaptation of Romeo and Juliet by director Franco Zeffirelli, and we will use the Film-Theme Note-Taking Tool to capture how the thematic ideas of the scenes are developed by the director’s choices.

Lesson Goals

  • Can I recognize and interpret the film techniques and director’s choices to deepen my understanding of visual texts?

  • Can I use connections among details, elements, and effects to make logical deductions about the purpose and meaning in the Zeffirelli film adaptation of Romeo and Juliet?

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

Texts

Core

  • Multimedia
    • Romeo and Juliet, Franco Zeffirelli, Paramount Pictures, 1968

Materials

Tools

Question Sets

Editable Google Docs

Activity 1: Discuss – View – Write

We will view Act 1, Scene 3 of the Zeffirelli film adaptation of Romeo and Juliet and capture our analyses in the Film-Theme Note-Taking Tool.

Step 1

View Act 1, Scene 3 of Zeffirelli’s adaptation of Romeo and Juliet. Write down your notes in your Learning Log.

Reference the thematic ideas captured in your Text-Theme Note-Taking Tool.

Step 2

Respond to the following questions about the Zeffirelli film adaptation of Act 1, Scene 3 in your Learning Log:

  1. What thematic ideas from the text are emphasized in the film scene? 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 as evidence.

Discuss your answers with a partner, taking notes in the Film-Theme Note-Taking Tool.

Activity 2: Discuss – View – Write

We will view Act 1, Scene 4 of the Zeffirelli film adaptation of Romeo and Juliet and capture our analysis in the Film-Theme Note-Taking Tool.

Step 1

As you view Act 1, Scene 4, pay attention to the following director choices:

  • setting

  • music

  • camera shots

View Act 1, Scene 4 of Zeffirelli’s film adaptation of Romeo and Juliet. Write down your notes in your Learning Log.

Step 2

Reread Lines 113–120 from Act 1, Scene 4 in the play.

ROMEO: I fear, too early: for my mind misgives

Some consequence yet hanging in the stars

Shall bitterly begin his fearful date

With this night’s revels and expire the term

Of a despised life closed in my breast

By some vile forfeit of untimely death.

But he that hath the steerage of my course

Direct my sail.

Respond to the following questions about the Zeffirelli film adaptation of Act 1, Scene 4 in your Learning Log:

  1. How do the director’s choices emphasize the thematic idea found in these lines?

  2. What specific details from the film support this theme?

Discuss your answers as a class, taking notes in the Film-Theme Note-Taking Tool.

Activity 3: View – Write

We will view Act 1, Scene 5 of the Zeffirelli film adaptation of Romeo and Juliet and capture our analyses in the Film-Theme Note-Taking Tool.

Step 1

As you view Act 1, Scene 5 of Zeffirelli’s adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, pay close attention to the following director choices:

  • pacing

  • music

  • camera shots

Pay particular attention to the choices Zeffirelli made when portraying Lines 51–60.

Step 2

Respond to the following questions about the Zeffirelli film adaptation of Act 1, Scene 5 in your Learning Log:

  1. How does the director transform the source material in these lines?

Activity 4: View – Write

We will reread Act 1, Scene 5, lines 51–60 and capture our analysis in our Learning Log.

Step 1

Reread Lines 51–60 from Act 1, Scene 5.

ROMEO: O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!

It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night

As a rich jewel in an Ethiop’s ear—

Beauty too rich for use, for Earth too dear.

So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows

As yonder lady o’er her fellows shows.

The measure done, I’ll watch her place of stand

And, touching hers, make blessèd my rude hand.

Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight,

For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night.

View Act 1, Scene 5 of Zeffirelli’s film adaptation of Romeo and Juliet. Pay close attention to the director’s choices in adapting these lines into film.

Step 2

Respond to the following questions about Act 1, Scene 5 in your Learning Log:

  1. How do the director’s choices emphasize the thematic idea found in these lines?

  2. What specific details from the film support this?

Activity 5: Write

For homework, we will complete our Film-Theme Note-Taking ToolS. We will use the notes in this tool to prepare for the Section Diagnostic.

As you complete the Film-Theme Note-Taking Tool for the Zeffirelli film adaptation of Act 1, Scene 5, consider the following questions:

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

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