Religious imagery in Act 1 scene 5
Key word: IMAGERY –
Examples:
A technique writers use which help the reader
to imagine a situation more clearly, involving
or more
of your
fivelaughter.
senses.
1.Theone
sea
surges
with
Often this includes powerful words (including
2.Heorhad
a hyena’s
laugh.etc) to
similes
metaphors,
alliteration
create images in a person’s mind.
Learn the spellings and definitions for
Friday
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Oxymoron
Purged
Feud
Mutiny
Fickle
Pensive
Imagery
Hyperbolic
Nought
Couplet
Ext:
Quatrains
Chaotic
Melancholy
Why are these sentences boring?
1. He had a big heart
2. She had beautiful eyes
3. Her face was pretty
Connector – Fill in the missing words
to create powerful imagery 3 mins
1. He has a heart as big as .... the outdoors
2. Her eyes sparkle like... a clear cut crystal
3. Her face is ...
a blooming garden
Objective, Big Picture and Outcome
• To identify examples of religious imagery and
to understand why it is used.
• To do this you will:
Watch a video, read and analyse a short
extract, discuss ideas in groups, and draw key
images.
• By the end of the lesson you will have:
Answered comprehension questions, drawn
some images and explained why Shakespeare
uses imagery.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74RXlBuQC_
g
Here is Franco Zeffirelli’s 1968 version of Romeo
and Juliet’s first meeting.
Can you summarise what happens?
Can you identify 5 examples of religious
imagery in your copy of the Act 1, scene 5?
pilgrims
Palmers/ prayer
holy
Saints lips/ kiss
Romeo and Juliet’s first words
R If I profane with my unworthiest hand,
This holy shrine, the gentle fine is this:
My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand
To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.
J
Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much,
Which mannerly devotion shows in this;
For saints have hands that pilgrims' hands do touch,
And palm to palm is holy palmers' kiss.
R Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too?
J
Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer.
R
O, then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do;
They pray, grant thou, lest faith turn to despair.
J
Saints do not move, though grant for prayers' sake.
R Then move not, while my prayer's effect I take.
Profane (am disrespectful)
Unworthiest (undeserving)
Pilgrims/ palmers
(people come to pray)
Mannerly devotion (normal prayer)
What does Romeo want to do?
If I profane with my unworthiest hand,
This holy shrine, the gentle fine is this:
My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand
To smooth that rough touch with a tender
kiss.
How does Juliet respond?
Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too
much,
Which mannerly devotion shows in this;
For saints have hands that pilgrims' hands do
touch,
And palm to palm is holy palmers' kiss.
In what way is Romeo clever here?
R Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too?
J Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer.
R O, then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do;
They pray, grant thou, lest faith turn to despair.
J Saints do not move, though grant for prayers'
sake.
R Then move not, while my prayer's effect I take.
To summarise...
• Romeo thinks Juliet is the most beautiful creature he has
ever laid his eyes on and he wants to get close to her.
• He wants to kiss her so he uses the highest compliment to
get her attention: he says she is a saint and he is a devoted
Christian who has come to worship her.
• Juliet is shy and tries to delay Romeo because, after all, she
is a noble lady.
• But Romeo is very clever and tricks her into kissing him.
R If I profane with my unworthiest hand,
This holy shrine, the gentle fine is this:
My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand
To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.
J
Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much,
Which mannerly devotion shows in this;
For saints have hands that pilgrims' hands do touch,
And palm to palm is holy palmers' kiss.
R Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too?
J
R
J
Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer.
O, then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do;
They pray, grant thou, lest faith turn to despair.
Saints do not move, though grant for prayers' sake.
R Then move not, while my prayer's effect I take.
Comment on the structure (AF4)
1. What do you notice about the
rhyme scheme and lines? What
is the narrative form?
2. There are three sets of four lines.
What are these called?
3. What are the last two lines
called?
4. What is the rhyme scheme?
5. Where else have you come
across this rhyme pattern?
6. Why do the lovers speak in
poetry?
Individual task
• Pick out three of the most powerful lines in
this sonnet. Draw three images next to each to
show your understanding.
(5 mins)
Why does Shakespeare use religious
language here? (discuss in groups of 3)
Consider • Shakespeare’s audience (16th century) and
people’s religious views back then.
•
•
Romeo’s motivation. Would Romeo have been
able to woo (win over) Juliet just by going up to
her? (Think about modern day chat up lines!)
The purpose of imagery– why did we use
imagery in the connector?
5 minutes
before we
share
ideas.
Review
Turn to the person sitting next to you.
• Tell them your definition of imagery in your
own words include two examples from the
play.
• Now reflect on your discussion and complete
this sentence :
• Shakespeare uses religious imagery when
Romeo and Juliet first meet because...
Why use imagery?
Romeo’s motivation
Shakespeare’s Audience