Lesson Plans:

"Explore with your students the techniques that Shakespeare uses to capture the magic of the couple's first meeting and to make that meeting so memorable. This lesson plan complements the study of plot and characterization in Romeo and Juliet in its focus on lyrical form and convention that heighten the impact of the action on the stage."

"The study of any dramatic script is enhanced by the combined approach of close textual analysis and "hands-on" interpretation. Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet lends itself particularly well to this treatment for grades 9 through 12. With some teacher guidance from these two perspectives, the structural and linguistic energies of the play become accessible to this age group. Mining the richness of the structure and the intensity of the language provides inspiration for students to want to develop their own interpretations of the dramatic possibilities inherent in the script. Following are suggestions for classroom implementation of the twofold approach of analysis and performance."

"Students will examine a chapter from a mid-17th century handbook, The Mysteries of Love & Eloquence, Or the Arts of Wooing and Complementing, which offers to "young practioners [sic] of Love and Courtship set forms of expressions for imitation." Designed for prereading, this activity encourages students to become comfortable with 127th century language and to look as language as a tool of persuasion."

"One function of primary sources from the past is to help readers get closer to the time period studied. Like close-ups that help us to understand a larger picture, nonfiction documents help us understand the thinking of the time concerning a particular issue. When students read and interpret the documents, they may be surprised by what they find. Advice from 400 years ago may seem ludicrous or uncannily appropriate for our age."

"After doing Internet research about life in Elizabethan England, students write a diary entry from the perspective of a chosen character for September 13, 1597, illustrating their knowledge of life in the Renaissance."

Background and History of Shakespeare and Romeo and Juliet:

Shakespeare's world was a fascinating, complex place in which people lived very differently from the way they do today. To us, the land lays and sonnets are still extremely popular today. Why? Perhaps because although people dressed, talked, and lived differently, their thoughts, feelings, and interests were much the same as ours. Most modern scripts contain the same elements or themes as Shakespeare's works, such as love, joy, jealousy, and hate. To learn more about the world in which Shakespeare lived and the people for whom he wrote, click on one of the following boxes and follow a path back to the sixteenth century."

"Our detailed biography of Shakespeare covering his ancestry, parents, childhood in Stratford, siblings, marriage, children, career as an actor, contemporaries, and much more!"

A look at the "Real Romeo and Juliet" explores the various versions of Romeo and Juliet, such as the Spanish and Italian version.

"This is a website that explores Romeo & Juliet. We have approached the play in four different ways, looking at its language, the characters and their motivations, discussing the themes and issues in the play and finally by staging the play we look at text in performance.

You can't forget that at the end of the day Shakespeare's plays were written to be performed and that's where the magic really happens. We hope you will have a good look around and enjoy the site."

12) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romeo_%2B_Juliet -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMel13nY0PE

This 1996 modern film adaptation of Romeo and Juliet is exciting and fresh and unforgettable! See the Wikipedia information about the film with the first link, and watch the trailer for the movie by clicking on the second link.

Read the script for the hilarious adaption of classic Romeo and Juliet into a modern highschool. This play is for young actors written by American playwright James Venhaus.

An interesting BBC site that includes TV Dramas, an interactive way of exploring Shakespeare, a fun game called, 7NK Murder Mystery, A contest called 60 Second Shakespeare, other competitions, quizzes, and even screen savers

With the thriving popularity of graphic novels, why shouldn't we try it out on the classics? Look inside this graphic novel adaptation of the classic Romeo and Juliet!

First link leads to a description of the book Romiette and Julio by Sharon M. Draper; a Young Adult version of Romeo and Juliet set in Ohio. The second link leads to a lesson plan that uses Romiette and Julio.

"How do we know when our students are aware of the thoughts and motivations of the characters they read about? In this lesson, students will use their knowledge and analysis of the characters to produce a "cross-fire" show where characters interview one another in a discussion format."

A cliffnotes version of Romeo and Juliet along with links to character analysis, critical essays, and helpful study and homework links.

"Every year 4000 letters are sent to Juliet in Verona where there is a team of volunteers to answer them. On Valentine's Day a prize is awarded by the club to the best letter. The club also runs a "Writing for Love" literary prize for book written on the theme of love."

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