ALL OPTIONS:
• There are three parts to the project/ presentation.
parts A,B and C must all be completed.
• You may divide up the work as you see fit amongst
your group members.
• Make sure that each part clearly indicates who
contributed.
OPTION ONE
PART A: Shakespearean Language
Use each of the following 23 words to create your own
lines of dialogue as if you were Shakespeare himself.
You may use more than one word per sentence and even
re-use words if you wish.
Members of your group will present this in some fashion
(reading aloud, video, handing out scripts to others in the
class and having them read it or other approved options)
anon—right now, OR “I come right away”……. “Anon, good nurse! Speak!”
art—are, OR skill……“Thou art dead; no physician’s art can save you..”
dost or doth—does or do……“Dost thou know the time?”
ere—before……“We must leave ere daybreak.”
fain—gladly……“I fain would bake Mr. Love cookies if I could get an A.”
fie—an exclamation of dismay or disgust……“You cheated? Fie upon it!” OR “Fie!
Are you mad?”
hark—listen……. “Hark to the owl,” OR “Hark! The herald angels sing!”
hence—away…..“Get thee hence, beggar!” OR “We must hence before the army
arrives.”
hie—hurry……“Hie thee hence, or lose your life!”
hither—here…..“Come hither, young lad.”
thither—there……“Look to the east—thither doth the sun arise.”
hath—has……… “He hath killed many a man.” OR “He hath a
horse.”
ho—hey (roughly equivalent). “Lucius, ho!” [Brutus calling his
servant]
mark—pay attention to…….. “Mark my words.”
marry—indeed……“He says I should respond quickly; marry, I
want to.”
pray/prithee—a polite way of asking something……“I prithee
answer the question.”
saucy—cheeky; sassy……“Hence, thou saucy boy!”
sirrah—a term of address used for inferiors……“Sirrah, bring the letter over
here.”
thee—you……“When will I see thee next?”
thou—you……“Thou art a villain.”
thy—your……“Thy name is more hateful than thy face.”
whence—from where…….. “Whence came that news?” OR “Return to whence
you came.”
wherefore—why……“Wherefore dost thou leave?” OR “Romeo, Romeo,
wherefore art thou Romeo?” [As in, “why can’t you be someone else, whom
my family doesn’t hate?”]
PART B: Brief character study
This portion of the project will be handed in as
a large display, a book, or presented in a power
point or other media
1. Choose two characters from the play, Romeo and Juliet.
2. Write a brief physical description of him or her. (What
YOU think the character looks like!)
3. Describe the personality of the character.
4. If you were to cast this character in the play, who would
you choose to play the role and why?
5. Select a quote the character says in the play that you
particularly like and explain its meaning. Re-write the
quote in today’s language.
6. Do you think it has more meaning and impact in
Shakespearean language or in today’s language? Why?
PART C: Universal Themes in Romeo and Juliet
There are four of the major themes of Romeo and
Juliet.
Write a one page reflection about your own
personal thoughts on EACH topic.
This portion of the project will be handed in as a
large display, a book, or presented in a power
point or other media
Use examples and quotes from Romeo and Juliet
in your reflection.
Theme: LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT
Do you believe in love at first sight? Was the love
Romeo and Juliet had for each other true love or
was it merely infatuation?
Theme: PREDJUDICE AND HATRED
What part did prejudice and hatred have in
the story of Romeo and Juliet and what role
does it have in today’s society when it comes
to relationships?
Theme: ARRANGED MARRIAGES
How do you feel about arranged marriages and do you
think that had Juliet gone along with the arranged
marriage to Paris that she would have had a happier
life?
Theme: LONGEVITY OF YOUNG LOVE
If Romeo and Juliet’s plan worked and both had lived, how do
you think the families would have reacted to their secret
marriage? Do you think they would have lived together happily
for the rest of their lives?
OPTION TWO Project for Romeo and Juliet
PART A
Select a scene from Romeo and Juliet to present to the
class. You may choose any era or genre or style to
present, but the dialogue must remain true to the actual
script. The scene must be presented either live or filmed
(but no extensions are allowed)
PART B
Using the SAME scene from Romeo and Juliet to present to
the class, but modernize the dialogue to language and
expressions that would occur today. You must remain true to
the intent of the scene (you cannot change situations or
outcomes, only language and characterization). You should
add modern technology (as they did in the film version we
watched).The scene must be presented either live or may be
filmed (but no extensions are allowed)
PART C
Write and present an alternate ending to the play. You may
have one or both of them live, have them stay together or
fall apart…use your imagination. Write the dialogue in
modern language OR in Shakespearean language. The scene
must be presented either live or filmed(but no extensions
are allowed)
OPTION THREE
VERONA NEWS
Using the desktop publishing features of Microsoft Word, create a
newspaper which chronicles the events of the play OR you may
choose to perform a LIVE or VIDEO of a news broadcast.
The events, ads, news, etc…should be in keeping with the
Shakespearean version of Romeo and Juliet including language and
style.
PART A: Include advertisements and entertainment news of the day
PART B: Include editorials and sports of the day,
PART C: Include headline news stories and other news stories of the
day
Give your newspaper or news broadcast a catchy title.