Romeo and Juliet
Inhaltsverzeichnis |
Modern Translation
Romeo and Juliet in modern English
To do ....
Read Act 1!
Look at the "left pages", too. They contain useful information!
Look at pp. 15 – 17, p. 23 and pp. 41-45 l. 119 again
- Take notes about what Romeo says about love and the women he loves .... and how (language, images, rhyme, ... write out some quotes!) he says it. (Make a table with 2 columns.)
- How convincing/realistic is Romeo's being in love? (Notes/reasons)
- How does Benvolio react to Romeo's problem with being in love (p. 17 and 23)? (Notes)
- Characterize Romeo as lover from what you have read about him! (Complete sentences!)
ad 1) Romeo about Rosaline ... p. 41–45
What Romeo says about Rosaline/love | How he says it (language, images, rhyme,...) |
---|---|
Love
love makes him sad |
"griefs of mine own lie heavy in my breast"(15/177) |
love is confusing/complicated | "a choking gall, and a preserving sweet"(15/185) - Contradicition |
love makes sick | "...a sick man..."(15/193) |
Rosaline
is beautiful("fair") |
"...and she's fair I love."(15/197) |
doesn't return his feelings | "...she'll not be hit by cupid's arrow..." |
has sworn to live chaste
--> wastes her beauty (Romeo) |
"...she will still live chaste?"
"She hath, and in that sparing makes huge waste"(17/209) |
Romeo is totally obsessed with her, doesn't want to meet other "beauties" | "Farewell, thou canst not teach me to forget"(17/228) |
ad 1) Romeo about Juliet ...
What does he say? | Stylistic device | examples |
He describes her beauty (fairer than all others, stands for light, is not from this earth) | p.41 metaphor
exaggeration |
“Oh she doth teach the torches to burn bright“
“Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear.” |
Describes her beauty/says she is very eye-catching (perfect/valuable) | simile | “…As a rich jewel in a Ethiop’s ear.” |
Compares her to other women | metaphor/comparison | “So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows.” |
Compares her to something divine/holy | p. 43
metaphor |
“…This holy shrine…” |
asks if he may touch her, wants to kiss her, | metaphor | “If I profane …”
“My lips, two blushing Pilgrims, ready stand…” |
Calls her a saint (pure, perfect, innocent) | metaphor | “ dear saint …” |
Tells her not to move when he tries to kiss her | Then move not while … |
ad 2) How convincing/realistic is Romeo's being in love?
Thesis | Notes |
Romeo is very confused | p. 15 L.188
“ tut I have lost myself I am not here… “ |
Romeo is madly in love he thinks of Rosaline being the most beautiful woman in the world | p.23 L.92
“One fairer than my love! The all seeing sun never saw her match since first the world begun “ |
Romeo changes his mind from one moment to the other
Rosaline was the only one now Juliet is his “jewel” and he wonders if he has really loved before |
p.41 L.45
“ it seems she hangs upon the cheek of night as a rich jewel in an Ethiop’s ear” p.41 L.51 “ did my heart love till now |
Wants to touch and then kiss Juliet the first time he sees her – asks if he (sooo unworthy) may perhaps ….. | p.41 L.92
“ if I profane with my unworthiest hand…” |
Romeo says she is a saint to show his love he exaggerates | p. 43 L.102
“ oh then dear saint let lips do what hands do“ |
Romeo changes his mind from being madly/eternally in love with Rosaline – the only perfect woman in history much too quickly to being in love with Juliet, who he praises in the same exaggerated way as saint, jewel, a dove compared to all the other crows (women around her).
ad 3) Benvolio's advice to Romeo
He
- tells him to forget her: "forget to think of her."[p17 216]
- should look at other women: "Examine other beauties."[p17 218]
- should compare her with other women. "...the fair Rosaline whom thou so loves, With all the admired beauties of Verona..."[p23 82-84]
- should not only see her alone but with other people around: "none else beeing by"[p23 94]