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Language Arts 9 assignment
Due Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Mrs. Marston
Choose one. Writing assignments must be handwritten and may be illustrated.
Play - “Romeo and Juliet” by William Shakespeare
H-1. WRITE: In decorative handwriting, copy the Prologue to “Romeo and Juliet” and illustrate. Then write a paragraph in your own words, explaining the meaning of the prologue.
1 Two households, both alike in dignity,
2 In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,
3 From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,
4 Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.
5 From forth the fatal loins of these two foes
6 A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life;
7 Whose misadventured piteous overthrows
8 Do with their death bury their parents' strife.
9 The fearful passage of their death-mark'd love,
10 And the continuance of their parents' rage,
11 Which, but their children's end, nought could remove,
12 Is now the two hours' traffic of our stage;
13 The which if you with patient ears attend,
14 What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.
2. WRITE: Shakespeare's play, “Romeo and Juliet”, begins in the market place of old Verona. Imagine you are in the market place. Write a vivid description of this setting. Include descriptions of things ( and people) you would see, hear, smell, feel, taste. Add your “CAST” and write a story of what happens there one day. Illustrate your writing.
Characters: men as bright as wasps Capulets Montagues
good people of Verona two lazy no-good servants of the Capulets
strolling men of the Montagues passers’ by sensible young Montague
young Capulet, full of fury old Capulet old Montague Prince of Verona
Actions: cursing shouting brawling smashing up stalls overturning baskets wrecking shops wounding
Settings: Verona hot,narrow streets high walls peaceful market bloody riot
Themes: family rivalry fear anger
3. WRITE : Romeo is a gloomy fellow! Describe his mood and his dress. Discuss how he contrasts with his cheerful friends and with the dazzling setting of the party. Describe his mask and costume.
If you were in his company on the street or at the party, how would you feel in his presence?
Writing tips:
Make the paragraph the unit of composition Use the active voice.
Put the statements in positive form. Use definite, specific, concrete language.
Omit needless words. Avoid a succession of loose sentences.
Express coordinate ideas in similar form. Keep related words together.
In summaries, keep to one tense. Place the emphatic words of a sentence at the end.