Reasons for selection and synopsis
Romeo and Juliet is one of Shakespeare’s most famous tragedies.
It follows the path of two star-crossed youngsters who, ignoring the feud which divides their warring families, fall in love and marry.
However, murder and many unhappy coincidences results in violence and tragedy for the young lovers. The story offers a rich
mix of love, comedy, intimacy and violence and this version cleverly adapts the play for a younger audience.
Before reading…
Ask the children to look at the front cover. What do you think the
book will be about? What things can you see on the front cover?
What sort of story will it be? Who might enjoy it?
Now read the blurb – where any of your predictions correct? How do the reviews on the back persuade you to read the book?
Before reading…
Look carefully at the cast list. Draw lines to match the name of the character to their role in the story.
Romeo Son of Lord Montague
Juliet Juliet’s nurse
Mercutio Daughter of Lord Capulet
Benvolio Friend to Romeo
Tybalt Juliet’s father
Lord Capulet Friend and cousin to Romeo
Nurse Cousin to Juliet
This is an extract from the end of the play…
A glooming peace this morning with it brings;
The sun, for sorrow, will not show his head:
Go hence, to have more talk of these sad things;
Some shall be pardon’d, and some punished:
For never was a story of more woe
Than this of Juliet and her Romeo.
What might have happened over the course of the story? Do you
think this is a comedy or a tragedy?
Pages 7 – 15
Vocabulary
Find and copy any words or phrases on pages 8 and 9 that highlight Juliet’s
beauty.
In the play, when Romeo sees Juliet he says, “For I ne’er saw true beauty till
this night.” Can you re-write this in modern, standard English?
When Tybalt sees Romeo, he says, “This, by his voice, should be a
Montague. Fetch me my rapier, boy.” What is a rapier?
Which adjective on page 12 describes Tybalt?
Find and copy a word on page that is similar in meaning to ‘promised’.
Infer
Read to the end of page 7. What do you think is going on? Why?
Why does Romeo think he must be mistaken on page 10?
Read page 11. What might Juliet be thinking when she sees Romeo?
Why do you think Romeo was at the ball in the first place?
Predict
Read to the end of page 9. Who do you think is watching Juliet?
Read to the end of page 15. Do you think Tybalt will get his revenge on Romeo?
Explain
At the beginning of the play, the narrator says:
Two households, both alike in dignity,
In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.
Where is the play set? What is a grudge? Who is fighting?
Retrieve
Can you use the information on page 7 to draw a picture of the setting?
Who has forbidden any more fighting between the families?
Complete the missing words: The story is set in _____________ and begins at a
masked __________. __________ sees ___________ and instantly falls in love
with her. _____________ is furious that ___________ is at the ball as the two
families have been ______________ for a very long time.
Summarise
Summarise this part of the story in five sentences.
Can you re-write this part of the story from Tybalt’s point of view?
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