Welcome to our Romeo and Juliet Webquest page. This activity is designed to familiarize you with the life and times of Shakespeare in particular, and Elizabethan England in general. The information you discover will provide you with useful background context, which will enhance your understanding and enjoyment of the play.
You will have only two class periods to complete this webquest. Anything unfinished after that will have to be completed on your own time. This will count as a test grade, and there is absolutely no reason why everyone can't get a 100--the information and links are right here for you.
Directions:. Copy and paste each section into a new Google Doc, which you should keep open on your desktop along with the links you are using to answer the quesitons.
Answer the questions using the links provided. Please make your answers a different font color than the questions. Also, click the return/enter button three(3) times and tab twice before entering answers (otherwise, you'll mess up the numbering).
Happy hunting!
Romeo and Juliet Webquest:
Please explore the following websites and answer the questions that follow. Use the questions to guide your exploration of the websites, but also explore beyond! There are 6 websites and 18 questions so pace yourself and use your time wisely.
- Click on the link to Birth 1564 & Early Years. William Shakespeare was born in what year?
- What date do we recognize as his birthday?
- What was important about Stratford-upon-Avon in the 16th century?
- What types of plays did Shakespeare write?
- How did the Globe theatre influence his career?
- What day and year did Shakespeare die? Why is this an interesting date? How old was Shakespeare when he died?
7. Romeo & Juliet marry secretly, but because she is trying to escape the arranged marriage to Paris. Read this site about marriage in Elizabethan England and answer these questions.
- What does betrothal mean?
- Name three marriage and betrothal customs found on this page.
- Click on the link for "more wedding customs."
- What color should the bride's dress be?
- How is the intention to marry announced? What happens if it is not announced previous to the event?
- Describe the wedding procession.
- What is a dowry?
- Explain how important is a wedding ring to the Elizabethans?
10. A famous line from Romeo and Juliet is when Juliet says, "Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?" What does "wherefore" mean?
- What does "stay" mean?
- Click here to get the information you need to translate this conversation. Put your translation in column two. Keep the phrases just about the same, but use Elizabethan words where you can. (Not ALL words will be changed)
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Person A
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Hello. (A sneezes) Excuse me.
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Person B
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Gesundheit!
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A
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Thank you.
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B
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Say, do you know where the closest bathroom is?
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A
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Certainly. It's down the street in the Kings Tavern.
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B
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Thanks. Goodbye.
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About Theatre in Shakespeare's Time
"Actors, Acting, & Audience" is the link for the next questions (16-19).
"Actors, Acting, & Audience" is the link for the next questions (16-19).
13. How many women actors did the company usually feature?
- Was Shakespeare an actor? What was the term used to refer to actors?
- How were the seating arrangements for the audience? How did one get a good seat?
- What would the audience do if they did not like a performance?
Shakespearean Insults
17. Go to the Shakespearean Insult Kit and create your own insult. How you do it is to start with the word "Thou." Next, take a phrase/word from the first column to begin your insult, continue by adding something from the second column, and finish it up royally with something from the third column. Type your own personal Shakespearean insult in the table below. [Thou + choice from column 1 + choice from column 2 + choice from column 3 = your custom made insult].
Romeo and Juliet Family Tree
18. On your note taking sheet, draw a family tree using images and symbols to represent families, relationships, or occupations. For example, next to Juliet’s nurse you may want to draw a nurse’s hat, or between Romeo and Juliet you may want to draw hearts connecting them. There should be no words except character names.
