Text Set: “Romeo and Juliet” by William Shakespeare
Annotated Bibliography
Melissa Potratz
Entry #1
Chatty. (2007, April 2). Funny Jokes--Romeo and Juliet Text Message Version.
Retrieved October 18, 2010, from Funny Jokes: http://www.mailarchive.com/funny-jokes@yahoogroups.com/msg01151.html
This text message interpretation of Romeo & Juliet is an excerpt
from the Funny Jokes website. I will use the Text Messaging Version of
Romeo and Juliet to introduce the text to the classroom. One of the first
thoughts when reading Shakespeare is the difficulty of understanding the Shakespearian language. I
will introduce this piece and explain to the students that learning to read Shakespearian language can
be compared to learning to read text language. It may look difficult at first but with practice and
patience, it can be understood. I really like this Text Message Version because it takes the pressure
off of the students and allows me to have a conversation with them, see what schema they already
know about Romeo and Juliet, and get the students excited to start the play.
Entry #2
Laden,N. (2005). Remeow and Drooliet. Vancouver: Raincoast Books.
This picture book is a great tool to introduce the plot of the play to lower
level readers that may feel intimidated by the play. Characters and plot are
illustrated to increase background knowledge before reading the actual
play.
Entry #3
Mannis, C. (2006). Who Was William Shakespeare? New York: Grosset and Dunlap.
This picture book gives a biographical sketch of who William Shakespeare is.
This book is great for lower level readers by using illustrations, examples, and
reader friendly language.
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Text Set: “Romeo and Juliet” by William Shakespeare
Annotated Bibliography
Melissa Potratz
Entry #4
Crystal, D., & Crystal, B. (2002). Shakespeare's Words : A Glossary and Language
Companion. New York: Penguin Group.
This glossary and reader companion is a tool for both the lower level readers
and the on target readers. Shakespeare’s language and vocabulary varies
from what we know today. In order to get a full understanding of
Shakespeare and his works, vocabulary must be used correctly.
Entry #5
Luhrmann, B. (Director). (1996). Romeo and Juliet [Motion Picture].
Visual learners can gain comprehension of the plot and characters of the play by
watching the film, Romeo and Juliet starring Leonardio DiCaprio and Claire Danes.
I am a visual learner and in my Shakespeare class, I would not have succeeded in
learning the plays if we had not watched the films before reading the play. It is
important to remember when teaching Shakespeare that his plays were meant to
be watched, not read.
Entry #6
Shakespeare, W. (1994, January 1). Romeo and Juliet. (K. Branagh, & S. Bond,
Performers) Resaissance Theatre Company, New York, New York.
The auditoria learners will benefit from the play on tape by being able to hear the
dictation of the language and the emotions in the words while following along
with the play. This will increase comprehension of the plot and play.
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Text Set: “Romeo and Juliet” by William Shakespeare
Annotated Bibliography
Melissa Potratz
Entry #7
Shakespeare, W. (2004). Romeo and Juliet. 2004: Washing Square Press New Folger
Trade Paperback.
This paperback edition of Romeo and Juliet is the one I would request all my
students to use. This edition is compatible for all learning levels with the inclusion
of explanatory notes of the left and the play text on the right, scene by scene plot
summaries, key famous lines and phrases glossary, and introduction to the
language. The language introduction is a teaching tool to help students diagnose
the Shakespearian language. Lower level readers can take advantage of the
summaries and notes while gifted readers are able to read the text on the write as it was originally
printed.
Entry #8
Bernstein, L., & Laurents, A. (1958). West Side Story. New York: Random House.
The play West Side Story by Leonard Bernstein is a great text to text connection for
students. It can be a useful tool to examine the theme of the Romeo and Juliet and
comparing it to the events in the more modern day play. This play is great tool for
lower level readers to use the modern language to develop the themes in Romeo and
Juliet as well as the higher level readers to expand their knowledge and reading
another play as independent reading.
Entry #9
Shakespeare, W. (2009). Romeo and Juliet: The Graphic Novel. Towcester: Classical
Comics Ltd.
The Romeo and Juliet graphic quick text novel is a great tool for lower-level visual
readers. The graphic story allows the reader to place a name with the face which
helps in keeping track of the characters. The quick text version uses modern English
to tell the story which makes it an easier read.
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Text Set: “Romeo and Juliet” by William Shakespeare
Annotated Bibliography
Melissa Potratz
Entry #10
Shakespeare, W., Adam, S., & Yali, L. (2008). Romeo and Juliet. Hoboken: Wiley.
This version of the graphic novel still gives support to the visual learner but
uses Shakespearian language. The visual learner that is an on-level or abovelevel reader would enjoy this version.
Entry #11
Burdett, L. (1998). Romeo and Juliet for Kids. Buffalo: Firefly Books.
The book is written in rhyming couplets and is set to be staged or read aloud in
class. The text is written for kids but can be used from elementary to high school
students. This book is a great teaching tool for readers’ theatre or a tool for
students completing Shakespeare projects that may want to act out the play.
Entry #12
Rota, N. (Performer). (1968). Romeo and Juliet.
This compact disc could be a fun classroom tool for assignments, review, and
expanding students’ experiences with the play. Students could listen to the
music and decide what scene it would belong to or which character or
relationship the song represents. This tool is great for the musical student.
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Text Set: “Romeo and Juliet” by William Shakespeare
Annotated Bibliography
Melissa Potratz
Entry #13
Gabel, C. (2010). Romeo and Juliet and Vampires. New York: Harper Teen.
It is important for students to be able to relate their interests with the class
lessons. Right now with the Twilight Series and TV shows, vampires are popular
with young teens. This young adult novel is a text to text connection that
students who like the play and like to read can do so for independent reading or
compare for class assignments.
Entry #14
Fun Trivia Romeo and Juliet. (2010, October 30). Retrieved November 1,
2010, from Fun Trivia:
http://www.funtrivia.com/quizzes/literature/shakespeare/rom
eo_and_juliet.html
This website is a great review tool of Romeo and Juliet. The quizzes review sonnets, characters,
themes, and aspects of Shakespeare’s life with fun and interactive web quizzes. These quizzes are
great review for assessments as well as to help with further understanding of the play.
Entry #15
Strain, K., Dolan, F., & Vanderwall, R. (2007, Winter). Romeo and juliet.
Shakespeare Magazine, 1(2),
“Shakespeare Magazine” is a great teaching tool with strategy ideas, outside
information, and references. This specific volume concentrates on Romeo
and Juliet and the new modern film with Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire
Danes. As we watch the film in class, the magazine is a reference tool for
lower level readers and well as above level readers with articles, pictures,
and references to the play.
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Text Set: “Romeo and Juliet” by William Shakespeare
Annotated Bibliography
Melissa Potratz
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Text Set: “Romeo and Juliet” by William Shakespeare
Annotated Bibliography
Melissa Potratz
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Text Set: “Romeo and Juliet” by William Shakespeare
Annotated Bibliography
Melissa Potratz
http://quizlet.com/scatter/76648/
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