William Shakespeare -- Romeo and Juliet WebQuest

2010-02-02T11:37:00.000-08:00

We will begin to read William Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet next week. In preparation, follow the web quest to help you understand the man himself as well as the time in which he wrote. Understanding these things will help you to understand what we read. Click on the following links to be able to answer the questions. You will be writing an essay using the information when we finish. You may need to “control + click” on the links to be able to go to the websites.
About William Shakespeare:
Short Bio FAQ Timeline A Shakespeare Timeline Globe Theater Owners of the Globe Theater The Elizabethan Theatre
1. What day do we consider to be Shakespeare’s day of birth and how do we know it?
2. Where was Shakespeare born and what was important about that place in the 16th century?
3. What school and what university did Shakespeare attend?
4. Whom did Shakespeare marry, and how many children did he have?
5. Click on the link for 1594 in A Shakespeare Timeline and find the acting companies Shakespeare was associated with in the early days. Name one.
6. Click on 1599 The Great Globe. What is the probably year that Romeo and Juliet was written?
7. What did Shakespeare’s great financial gain in 1605 allow him the time to do?
8. Who was the first Elizabethan to open a theater?
9. What was that first theater called?
10. Where did the timbers to build The Globe come from?
11. Who was the carpenter who built The Globe?
12. What was Shakespeare’s share as “householder?”
13. How many owners of the original Globe Theater were there? List their names.
14. Click here. What three categories of plays did Shakespeare write? List the title of one play from each category.
15. How many women actors did the company usually feature?
16. Was Shakespeare an actor? What was the term used to refer to actors?
17. How were the seats for the audience arranged? How did one get a good seat?
18. What would the audience do if they did not like a performance?

About Marriage and Love in Elizabethan Society:
Betrothal and Wedding More Wedding Customs Love and Marriage

19. At what age may a boy and girl marry, and at what age is marriage for non-noble families common?
20. What does betrothal mean?
21. Name three marriage and betrothal customs found in these pages.
22. What color should the brides dress be?
23. What is a dowry?
24. Explain how important a wedding ring is to the Elizabethans.
25. Describe the wedding process.
26. When a marriage is arranged for a younger couple what is the usual reason?
27. When is it considered “luckiest” to have the marriage?
28. How is a wedding engagement announced, and what is thought of an unannounced wedding?
29. Marrying for love is generally considered what?
30. Why were most noble marriages arranged, and even some for common people?

About Life in Elizabethan Society:
Services & Occupations Food and your lifestyle More of What We Eat

31. How many meals did people generally eat each day?
32. Click here. Why would people in Shakespeare’s day not know what a chocolate chip cookie is? 33. Lord Capulet throws a huge party, feast and all. Imagine you are in charge of that menu. Luckily for you, today, you only have to plan a menu for a small dinner party. Be sure to use only food available in Europe during this time. Choose at least two vegetables, two meats, and two fruits or nuts.
34. Where would Elizabethans purchase necessary drugs?
35. Where would Elizabethans purchase cloth for making clothing?
36. What is the title of the person who nurses the babies?

About Shakespearean Insults:
Insult Kit Random Insult

37. Create your own insult using the insult kit. Begin with the word “Thou” add a phrase from the first column, then the second column, and finally the third column. Make at least 4 different insults. [Thou + choice from column 1 + choice from column 2 + choice from column 3 = your custom made insult].

Click here to be randomly insulted.

About Language in Elizabethan Society:
More Language Proper Britannian Ms. Hogue's Chart

38. A famous line from Romeo and Juliet is when Juliet says, “Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?” What does “wherefore” mean?
39. What does “Stay” mean?
40. Click here to get the information you need to translate the conversation at the bottom of your handout. Put your translation in column two. Keep the phrases just about the same, but use Elizabethan words wherever you can. So, in other words, you rewrite the entire phrase but replace as many words as you can using Elizabethan English.

Adapted from 2 other webquests found online: http://mrslux.pbworks.com/Shakespeare-WebQuest? & http://www.mshogue.com/ce9/R_J/web_assign_rj.htm .

1st 9 Weeks Review

2009-10-05T12:42:00.001-07:00

English I Classes

William Shakespeare -- Romeo and Juliet WebQuest

1st 9 Weeks Review