Compare interpretations of character in a film version of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet with your own views after you have studied the text.
Shakespeare Language and Literature Unit Task: Compare interpretations of character in a film version of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet with your own views after you have studied the text. In my essay I will explore character interpretation of Baz Luhrmanns' modern adaption of the playwright "Romeo + Juliet" by William Shakespeare. Just from the title the modernisation of the play can be given away quite successfully, with the "+" sign in between the Romeo and Juliet; this indicates that the title is a "trendy" adoption of its definition, a slang recognition, which teenagers [the target audience] use a lot. To begin with the prologue in the film shows immediately that the story is modernised and everything has changed to today's way of life [for the benefit of younger audiences]. The prologue begins with a TV screen at a distance with a the TV screen beginning fuzzy without a signal and then picks up a news report taking place, the prologue is read out by a news reporter with the TV screen zooming in closer to the screen gradually, the prologue automatically gives you a sense of a tragedy in the making with words including "death", "death-marked", "rage", "fatal", "blood", "foes" and "grudge", from this point onwards the introduction begins. Parts of the opening scene on the video are extremely fast moving with flickers of the surroundings including the two houses -
What techniques does Baz Luhrman the director of the 1997 film "Romeo And Juliet" use to make the opening scene effective
What techniques does Baz Luhrman the director of the 1997 film "Romeo And Juliet" use to make the opening scene effective ? Baz Luhrman's 1997 version of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, was modernised and aimed at a young modern day audience. Luhrman has followed in the footsteps of Franco Zeffirelli, who made this movie in 1968. The 1968 version of Romeo and Juliet had won four Oscars. Luhrman used the original language of Shakespeare just like Zeffirelli but, made it modern he used a fictional city called, Verona Beach mirroring Los Angeles. He used infamous actors Claire Danes and Leonardo Dicaprio, therefore they weren't associated with other roles. Luhrman used modern music to make it more contempary, and to attract the audience. Luhrman used a black TV presenter to show it's modern day. Luhrman's use of fire is very effective especially, to support the raging families at war. At the beginning of the movie when the family tree is burnt, this shows both families losing Romeo and Juliet, as a result of this both families are falling apart . The fire also shows the hatred between the two families. When the petrol station is on fire there's a poster burning which says "The 2nd brawl breaks between...." this shows that there is a lot of vendetta between the families. Luhrman's use of religion is to support the ancient grudge between the two families. At the very
What events in Juliet's life shape this change in her personality, and how does her language reflect this change?
Hollie Calton What events in Juliet's life shape this change in her personality, and how does her language reflect this change? At the age of fourteen Juliet was a young and naïve innocent girl. However, during the play she matures emotionally and broadens her ideas and her way of thinking. This vast and rapid change was a consequence of her relationship with Romeo and there are many ideas in the play which illustrate these points but it is through her language that we can see these changes. The prologue gives an outline of what is yet to come and explores these ideas using metaphors and many linguistic devices. "From ancient grudge break new mutiny, where civil blood makes civil hands unclean." This shows the audience the basis of the story. Each line skips to a different event such as " And the continuance of their parent's rage, which but their children's end nought could remove." This suggests that each event happens quickly through-out the play, showing changing events happen in a short period of time. The use of the word "children" suggests that Romeo and Juliet are very young and irresponsible, thus requiring the events to be fast to emphasise some of the irrational decisions. The secrets of the play are revealed in the prologue yet it also gives many hidden depths. "The which if you with patient ears attend, what here shall miss, our toil shall strive to
Romeo and Juliet - An exploration into the language of love.
Romeo and Juliet An exploration into the language of love I am studying Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. For my coursework I will have to describe and look at three scenes within Shakespeare's masterpiece Romeo and Juliet. The three scenes are the party scene, balcony scene and the parting. While looking at these scenes I will be describing the language of love for example referring to religion and contrasts between light and dark as another example. In the party scene (act 1 scene 3) when Romeo first lays eyes upon Juliet he is instantly attracted to her and taken in by her breath taking beauty. The first words he speaks are "O she doth teach the torches to burn bright". If you look at this quotation the first word Romeo speaks is 'O' this is as though he is taken away by her immense beauty. Also when he says burn bright it means she stands out as a burning light would. What you must remember is that Romeo and Juliet are at a party which means there is a lot of people and he only notices her as she is so beautiful hence the 'burn bright'. This is what we call the language of love. Throughout this wonderful play thee are many more examples of this. "So shows a snowy white dove trooping with crows". This is similar to the first example as it uses a contrast between light and dark. Snowy dove being the beautiful, graceful Juliet and the crows being all the other less
Monologue of Juliet.
Monologue of Juliet I met him at the Capulet party; it was love at first sight. His kisses were by the book, totally perfect, I love him. When the nurse entered, calling me to my mother, I could not take my eyes of Romeo, he was the content of my mind, and there was nothing more important. As Romeo left, I tried to get the nurse's opinion, without directly telling her that I loved Romeo. I would never ask my mother such questions, because the nurse is like my mother, as I grew up knowing her, and having little contact with my mother. I began to return to reality, I had only just met this man, and I did not even know his name. When the nurse informed me that he was a Montague, my heart dropped, I knew how badly our families hated each other. I felt devastated; I did not know whether I would ever be able to see him again. On Sunday night, I met Romeo again in our (the Capulet's) orchard. I could tell he was in a flutter about love, the same way as I was. I was delighted when Romeo greeted me with the words, 'It is my lady, O it is my love'. His words were so sweet, and gentle, I was annoyed, angry and frustrated that he was a Montague, and that he being there that night was strictly forbidden. I thought I could change from being a Capulet, so that we could be together. I tried to define the meaning of 'Montague', it meant nothing, it was just a name, Romeo was who I loved,
How does Baz Luhrman attract a teenage audience right from the start of Romeo and Juliet?
Lauren Cook How does Baz Luhrman attract a teenage audience right from the start of Romeo and Juliet? Teenagers can relate to the issues of Romeo and Juliet but the way it is performed does not appeal to the younger audience. This is because of the Elizabethan language which is hard to understand, the dress which teenagers are not familiar with and the religious element which is not a large part of society any more. To attract a teenage audience Baz Luhrman changes some of these features; he uses modern dress instead of the typical Elizabethan style, a modern soundtrack and attractive and well known actors/actresses. This makes the production more familiar to teenagers because it uses some elements from their everyday life. The opening is a long shot of a television with a black background it is medium teenagers can relate to thus making it even more familiar. The credits are white on a black background and uses the genre of the news. The news uses certain codes and conventions such as the layout of the screen, the icon in the corner and the typical "BBC" language so we recognise it immediately. This news is an everyday occurrence so teenagers would find it very familiar. The news shot zooms in which draws the attention of the audience and a black, female news reader reading the prologue shows it is a product of a multi-cultural society. "Star cross'd lovers" was written
Looking closely at the characters and language in Romeo and Juliet, analyse the dramatic effectiveness in Act 3, Scene 5
Sarah~ Jane Beck 11W "Romeo and Juliet" Looking closely at the characters and language in Romeo and Juliet, analyse the dramatic effectiveness in Act 3, Scene 5 William Shakespeare wrote "Romeo and Juliet" in 1954, although the basic plot can be traced back as early as the third century. In the play, Shakespeare relies heavily on the poem "The Tragicall History of Romeus and Juliet" by Arthur Brooke. Most of the people in the Elizabethan era were perceptive enough to concentrate on how the play was being performed and engaged themselves in the language the characters were using. Shakespeare's audiences had different expectations towards his play, as many of them recognised the story already, they were settled enough to watch it providing the dramatist's interpretation proved to be unique and original. I have been looking closely at Act 3, Scene 5 where Romeo and Juliet have just been secretly married. The scene opens with the two lovers having to part quickly after the Nurse informs Juliet her mother is swiftly approaching. Already a dramatic atmosphere is created, the audience is almost waiting for Romeo and Juliet to be caught out, this they know can simply not happen. Juliet is understandably tearful; Romeo is sympathetic towards her, showing he really cares for her: "I will omit no opportunity That will convey my greetings, love, to thee" All this is in
Comment on how Romeo and Juliet use language to communicate their feelings about love until Act II, scene ii of the play
Comment on how Romeo and Juliet use language to communicate their feelings about love until Act II, scene ii of the play. 'Romeo and Juliet' is the tragic story of two lovers separated by their feuding families. The origins of 'Romeo and Juliet' originate before Shakespeare and so the story has been made familiar to audiences and readers of previous generations. Many historians believe he got his inspiration from literature dating back to the sixteenth century such as the poem by Arthur Brooke called 'The Tragicall Historye Of Romeus and Iuliet', written in 1562. Shakespeare adapted this story in order for it to appeal to the Elizabethan audience. The male protagonist of the play is Romeo Montague. He is approximately seventeen or eighteen years old. Romeo is a stereotypical adolescent boy, who emotions are fickle and based on lust. He constantly spends time thinking about love and his desire to be in love. He is spurned by the lady he adores Rosaline. Romeo follows the conventions of 'courtly love' with diligence. In contrast the female protagonist Juliet Capulet is of a younger age; barely into her teenage years. Juliet is the opposite to Romeo as she is not stereotypical. Juliet does not comprehend or desire marriage, which is unusual of a girl her age. However, it is surprising Juliet breaches the rules of 'courtly love' by accepting the proposal of marriage as soon
In the play Capulet wants Juliet to have a good life and thinks he's chosen the right type of man
Romeo and Juliet essay Romeo and Juliet is a tragic 16th century Shakespearean love story set in the Italian city of Verona. The life of a father and daughter in our lifetime at the moment would vary considerably from the one Capulet and Juliet lead in the play. In the 16th century women were expected to do many things for men. Men's expectations for women in the 16th century were that they cleaned the house looked after the children and were treated as second class citizens. Men expected women to obey them and do anything they say if the women disobeyed the men they would subject to punishment in the version of getting hit in those days because there wasn't strict law and order in those days. So if a women married a man they would become the sole property of their husband. In the 16th century the father was the man of the household who would finalise everything. When they're daughter was around 14 the father would chose who she would be married to, but as in the play some daughters didn't feel that their fathers choice was correct and if they turned down his offer they would also be subject to punishment. The rejection of their father's choice would also make their fathers feel hurt because his daughter had rejected his offer of happiness, the father also feels that his daughter is not proud of her parents and doesn't thank them. In the play Capulet wants Juliet to have a
In the first Act of Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare interests his audience by using a number of dramatic techniques and explores universal themes of love which is particularly relevant to the people of his day (Elizabethan) and the modern day today.
In the first Act of Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare interests his audience in the eponymous protagonists during the first Act of Romeo and Juliet In the first Act of Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare interests his audience by using a number of dramatic techniques and explores universal themes of love which is particularly relevant to the people of his day (Elizabethan) and the modern day today. Before the play gets started Shakespeare begins with a prologue that is basically in the form of a sonnet. A prologue is basically an introduction to a play or a book, in this case a play. The prologue would help the Elizabethan audience to understand and get a perspective of the background of Shakespeare's play how he explores the many themes especially the universal themes of love involved in this tragedy. The prologue basically explains how two families of the same nobility still bare a grudge over an old disagreement which took place many years ago. The two families are born two lovers whose relationship is destined to end in disaster. Their deaths cause the families to forget the feud. The last three lines of the prologue go on to say: "Is now the two hours traffic of our stage; The is you with patient ears attend, What here shall miss, out toil shall strive to mend." These lines tell us that the play will not be boring but dramatic and moving. This would be good for the
