Romeo and Juliet Reminders

Welcome to the experience of reading Shakespeare! Don't worry, it gets easier to understand as you read more of it.

Here are some tips:

1. Read the actual Shakespearean language, not a modernized version, or else you will never get used to it and you will never appreciate the details of the language.

2. Use the internet to help you with creating a family tree for the characters, for basic plot summary, discussion of themes, etc. or for understanding words you don't know. BUT do that in addition to reading the original text. It is good to use other sources as a supplement to the reading but not as a substitute for the original language.

3. Give yourself time to read and re-read if necessary so you can truly understand what is going on.

For reading notes, here is what I expect:

1. Create a detailed character chart that you can add to as you read. Note who the person is, status, relationships, role in play, personality, anything distinctive.

2. Note a brief plot summary of every scene and separate them in an organized way: Act 1, Scene 1, etc. Do not pull these summaries from the internet. Put them in your own words. Note the important events that occur in each scene.

3. Pull out any quotes that you think are important or will help you remember something about plot, character, or theme.

4. Add some of your own ideas about theme, any comments or questions you have, any reactions.  Ex: Act 1, Scene 1 -- Romeo is always moping around and whining in this scene. I am not sure I like his character. Maybe he is one of those people that feels things really deeply. Is that why Juliet falls for him?