Part 1: Romeo and Juliet Act II Scene ii
“Balcony Scene” Film Adaptation Analysis
Activate Your Thoughts!

Literary Adaptation is the act of adapting a
literary work (novel, story, play, etc.) to
another genre/medium (video game, film, play,
etc.).

Think of a book you’ve read that has been
adapted into a film.

Would you say the film was an effective/
successful adaptation of that book?
◦ Why or why not? Give specific details.
Top Box Office Adaptations
Jurassic Park
 Forrest Gump
 Shrek
 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
 How the Grinch Stole Christmas
 Jaws
 Batman
 Lord of the Rings
 Mrs. Doubtfire
 The Exorcist

2014 Film
Adaptations
Gone Girl
 A Most Wanted Man
 The Monuments Men
 The Giver
 Noah
 Divergent
 The Maze Runner
 The Fault in Our Stars
 Mockingjay
 Lone Survivor

Your Opinion
If you could write three rules
for the adaptation of a literary
source to film, what would they
be?
Be prepared to explain your
reasoning.
Literary Adaptation Types
◦ Literal: A film adaptation in which the dialogue
and the actions are preserved more or less
intact.
◦ Faithful: A film adaptation based on a literary or
other original source which captures the
essence of the original, often by using cinematic
equivalents for specific literary techniques.
◦ Loose: A film adaptation in which only a
superficial resemblance exists to the original
source.
Effective Adaptations:
Respect for source
 Know what to bring to film
 Consider pacing—how long to spend on
which scenes
 Strong actors/ characterization
 Flair—camera angles, cinematic effects, etc.


Consider: Films are their own works of art
as both adaptation AND creation.
Elements of Adaptations to Consider
in an Analysis

Characters
◦ Which shown?
◦ Desire/Motivation
◦ Obstacles
Dialogue
 Costumes/Props
 Actions
 Themes
 Setting
 Symbols

Film Adaptation Analysis Process
1.
Brief review of Act I and Act II scene i
2.
Read along with audio of Act II scene ii and
highlight key parts: Audio Link
Chat briefly about major points of scene
(consider characters, conflicts, theme)
3.
Watch Act II scene ii from Zeffirelli’s film/
take notes as needed
4.
Analyze and evaluate film adaptation
Review: Previous Scenes

ACT I
◦ Scene i: Capulets and Montagues fight
 Prince decrees death for more fighting
 Romeo in love with Rosaline (doesn’t love him)
◦ Scene ii: Capulet lets Paris court daughter (Juliet)
 Romeo invited to party at Capulet’s house (by accident)
◦ Scene iii: Juliet supposed to see if she likes Paris at party
◦ Scene iv: Romeo on way to party—tells friends had
nightmare that party would end in his death
◦ Scene v: Romeo and Juliet meet at party and kiss—soon
they discover identity of each other by Nurse (she didn’t
see them kiss)

ACT II
◦ Scene i: Romeo jumps into Capulet orchard to escape
mockery of friends
Film Adaptation Analysis Process
2.
Read along with audio of Act II scene ii
and highlight key parts: Audio Link
Chat briefly about major points of scene
(consider characters, conflicts, theme)
3.
Watch Act II scene ii from Zeffirelli’s film/
take notes as needed
4.
Analyze and evaluate film adaptation
Film Adaptation Analysis & Evaluation

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



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How are the characters costumed and made-up? What
does their clothing or makeup reveal about their social
standing, ethnicity, nationality, gender, or age? How do
costume and makeup convey character?
What is illuminated, what is in the shadow? How does
the lighting scheme shape our perception of character,
space, or mood?
How is dialogue and silence used in the film?
What did the film emphasize from the text?
Does the adaptation capture the novel’s formal
elements: the theme, characterization, style, tone, and
plot of the novel?
Is the adaptation literal, faithful, or loose?
Is this film version effective? Why or why not?
Part 2: Balcony Scene
Analysis
Romeo + Juliet, Gnomeo and Juliet,
Warm Bodies
Romeo + Juliet (1996)
Gnomeo
and Juliet
(2011)
Warm
Bodies
(2013)
Balcony Scene Comparison Part II
NAME:
Emphasized
from Original
Source
Director’s
Creation
(Changed or
Added
Components)
Type of
Adaptation
(Literal,
Faithful,
Loose)
Romeo + Juliet (Luhrmann,
1996)
Gnomeo and Juliet (Asbury,
2011)
Warm Bodies (Levine,
2013)