Dramatic Irony

Dramatic irony exists when the reader knows something that one or more of the characters does not know. List and example of dramatic irony in Act 4, explain who it applies to.

 

Expressing Grief

Do you feel sympathy for Lord and Lady Capulet and the Nurse when they express grief over Juliet’s “death?” Why or why not? In your response, you might consider whether or not their actions have driven Juliet to such a drastic choice.

 

Making Good Choices

In your opinion, does Juliet make the right choice when she decides to follow the Friar’s plan? Explain your position. What else might she have done?

 

The Friar’s Plan

Describe Friar Lawrence’s plan for Juliet to avoid marrying Paris. What could go wrong with this plan?

 

Moving Up The Date

Lord Capulet issues an ultimatum to Juliet, get married Thursday or consider yourself disowned. When she returns from confession acting contrite, he moves the date up by a day because he’s so happy that she seems willing to marry Paris. This explains Lord Capulet’s actions. However, how does this decision also benefit Shakepeare (as a playwright)? In other words, what effect does Lord Capulet’s action have on the play?

 

What’s In A Name (Part 2)

Way back in Act 2 I asked the following question about names:

When Juliet says, “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose By any other word would smell as sweet,” what is she talking about? How important is a name? Do you think that your life would be different if you were known by another name?

Your responses generally indicated that while a name might make some difference in a person’s life, that person’s identity was more important than their name. This afternoon I stumbled across an interesting article in The New York Times about names and how humans react to certain letters in the alphabet. Read the article and then let me know what you think. Do you agree with Rosenbloom’s claim that people tend to be drawn towards people or things that resemble their name? Explain your answer.