I came across a few opinionated statements regarding Romeo and Juliet this afternoon, and it occurred to me that they could be great fodder for Socratic Circles or pod discussions. They are worded in a way that students would be apt to respond strongly one way or another. Plus, they would have to practice bringing evidence to the table. Without further ado, here are the (mostly) statements from Trent Lorcher at BrightHubEducation:
- Love vs. Lust: Romeo and Juliet are obsessed, infatuated, out of control, and irrational. Sounds like lust to me.
- Prejudice: The feuding families create tension and conflict, not unlike feuding cultures in today's society.
- The Role of Fate: Shakespeare calls the two lovers "star-crossed." Does fate, however, play a greater role than the numerous stupid choices made by Romeo and Juliet?
- Book Smarts vs. Street Smarts: Friar Lawrence knew a lot. Most of it was useless. After all, he had no real world experience. He just walked around all day collecting herbs.
- Suicide: It's the gigantic green elephant in the room. You might as well talk about it.
- The Role of Women: Verona society did not hold much for women, which makes Juliet's strength stand out even more.
- The Role of a Husband: Romeo's weakness dooms the relationship from the start.
- Friendship: Romeo's friend, Mercutio, causes his banishment. His other friend, Friar Lawrence, causes his death. Juliet's friend, the Nurse, abandons her in her time of need.
- Communication: Juliet and her father need to sit down and have a nice long talk.
Happy discussing!
No comments:
Post a Comment