Pure Dead Brilliant English

Thursday, November 24

"Don't you, forget about me....lalalala..."

The Breakfast Club

On Monday the 28th of November, we will be having a Breakfast Morning, to coincide with our last Personal Study day, so:

a) Bring your personal study stuff

and

b) Bring various breakfasty acoutrements that *don't* have to be cooked.

Thanks,

Ms B

P.S. - Does anyone get the joke in the title, or am I showing my age?


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Sunday, November 20

Week to come...

Here's the plan for week beginning 21/11/05 -

Monday - Revising some techniques
Timed Essay (1 hour, Romeo and Juliet, unseen question, open book)

Tuesday - Continue making questions for 'Concorde' Passage

Wednesday - Swap and try 'Concorde' questions

Thursday - Personal Study Day *reminder - PS homework is due 31st November - Wednesday*

See y'all tomorrow


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Notes - Loooooooong post!

Hey Guys,

Here are the notes you created in your groups - a printed version to follow a.s.a.p.

The printed notes will be clearer with bold/italic to show divisions between topics (too time consuming to do it here...sorry!)

Ms B


Quote Bank for Romeo and Juliet – Compiled by Ms B’s Higher Class
(edited a bit by Ms B!)

Romeo before he meets Juliet-as seen by the reader and by other characters

Benvolio-"so early walking did I see your son ; towards him I made, but he was ware of me, and stole the covert of the wood"
This quote shows that Romeo was wallowing in his sorrows, and he did not want to be disturbed.

Benvolio- "See where he comes. So please you step aside, I’ll know his grievance or be much denied."
This quote shows that Romeo's misery is worrying other characters i.e. Benvolio and his parents.

(all Act 1 Sc 1)Benvolio - "it was. What sadness lengthens Romeo's hours."
This quote shows that Benvolio was worried about Romeo. It is closely linked with the previous quote.

Benvolio- "alas that love, so gentle in his view, should be so tyrannous and rough in proof!"
This quote shows that Romeo has been unlucky in love.

Benvolio - "Tell me in sadness, who is that you love?"
This quote shows that Romeo’s love before he met Juliet was sad and unsatisfying.

Benvolio - "But in that crystal scales let there be weigh'd our lady's love against some other maid that I will show you shining at this feast, and she shall scant show well that now seems best."
This quote shows that Benvolio is trying to get Romeo out of his rut; he is trying to take Romeo’s mind off of Rosaline and onto someone else.
Benvolio - At this same ancient feast of Capulet'sSups the fair Rosaline whom thou so lovest,With all the admired beauties of Verona:Go thither; and, with untainted eye,Compare her face with some that I shall show,And I will make thee think thy swan a crow. As above – Benvolio trying to take Romeo’s mind off Rosaline. – Act 1 Sc 2
Romeo after he meets Juliet- as seen by the reader and by other characters

Romeo is an extremely romantic character and his emotions are the most important thing to him! When he sees Juliet for he first time it is `love at first sight' and his simple and sincere language reflects this.

Act1 Sc5
Romeo: "What lady's that which doth enrich the hand of yonder knight?"…
continued…..
“Did my heart love till now? forswear it, sight!For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night.”
Romeo’s reaction when he first sees Juliet

Romeo: "If I profane with my unworthiest hand
This holy shrine, the gentle sin is this,
My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand
to smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss."
This shows Romeo’s purity of his love for Juliet as the language is no longer flowery like it was with Rosaline.He is sure of his feelings.

Act 2 Sc 2
All Romeo….

But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks?It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, - Idolising Juliet. She is better than Rosaline (the chaste moon)

O, that I were a glove upon that hand,That I might touch that cheek! – Shows his longing, his true feelings for Juliet.

I have night's cloak to hide me from their sight;And but thou love me, let them find me here:My life were better ended by their hate,Than death prorogued, wanting of thy love. – He would rather die than live without her love.

Act2 Sc3
Friar Lawrence: "Holy Saint Frances, what a change is here!
Is Rosaline, that thou didst love so dear,
So soon forsaken? Young men's love then lies
Not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes."
Even Friar Lawrence notices the change of heart Romeo has when he meets Juliet.

Act3 Sc1
Before Romeo met Juliet Tybalt was his enemy and he would’ve hurt him at any chance he had! After he marries Juliet he refuses to even fight him:
Romeo: "Tybalt, the reason I have to love thee
Doth much excuse the appertaining rage
To such a greeting. Villain am I none;
Therefore farewell, I see thou knowest me not."

Romeo is so deeply in love with Juliet that he would do anything to be with her. When he hears that she is dead a part of him dies too therefore he feels he has nothing left to live for and decides to take his own life:
Romeo: "Here’s to my love! O true apothecary!
Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die."
This shows just how fatal love can be.
From when Romeo first sees Juliet his love has changed from being 'love at first sight' to 'mad, all consuming love' as he is willing to kill himself for her.

Juliet – as seen by the reader and other characters.

Scene 3 Act 1
Lady Capulet - "Nurse, where's my daughter? Call her forth to me."
Nurse - "Now by my maidenhead at twelve year gives strength
I bade her come. What, lamb! What, ladybird!
God forbid, where's this girl? What, Juliet?"
Lady C - ""This is the matter. Nurse, give leave a while,
We must talk in secret. Nurse come back again"
Nurse - "Were not I thine only nurse,
I would say thou hadst suck'd wisdom from thy teat."
These quotes suggest the nurse has been more of a mother than Lady Capulet. The nurse breast fed Juliet, can communicate better, which both show a sense of bonding. The fact that Lady C. asks the nurse to leave and then immediately calls her back shows that she is insecure about talking to her daughter and that the nurse is more confident in talking to Juliet showing that she is more of a mother.

Juliet - "I'll look to like, if looking liking move;
But no more deep will I endart mine eye
Than your consent gives strength to make it fly"
This shows that Juliet is obedient and is only looking at Paris to keep her mother' happy. She has no strong feelings either way.

Romeo - "did my heart love til now? forswear it, sight!
For I ne'er saw true beauty til his night."
Here Romeo doubts his love for Rosaline. His love for her doesn't even compare to his love for Juliet. – Act 1 Sc 5
Romeo - "Alas that love, whose view is muffled still"
This quote just shows he said he loved Rosaline. The love is fake as a crush brought them together rather than fate.

Romeo - "A right good mark-man! and she's fair I love."
"Well, in that hit you miss: she'll not be hit with cupids arrow."
Romeo’s love for Rosaline is physical, and one way. Rosaline doesn’t respond to his love, whereas Juliet does. Hence Romeo’s love for her is but a mere crush. – Act 1 Sc 1
Juliet - O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?Deny thy father and refuse thy name;Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,And I'll no longer be a Capulet……O, be some other name!What's in a name? that which we call a roseBy any other name would smell as sweet; Shows that she has fallen in love. She has matured. She is willing to give up one of her most important possessions, her name, in order to have her true love. – Act 2 Sc 2
Juliet - If, in thy wisdom, thou canst give no help,Do thou but call my resolution wise,And with this knife I'll help it presently Strength of will – she would rather kill herself than live without her love. – Ac4 4, Sc 3
Juliet: O churl! drunk all, and left no friendly dropTo help me after? I will kiss thy lips;Haply some poison yet doth hang on them, ] ….. Yea, noise? then I'll be brief. O happy dagger! Snatching ROMEO's dagger This is thy sheath; Stabs herself there rust, and let me die. These quotes prove the depth of her love for Romeo, that she is happy to kill herself rather than live without him. – Act 5, Sc 3
Quotes showing different types of conflict!

"From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean."
- This is from the prologue, it is the first sign of conflict. The "ancient grudge" is the one between the Capulet's and the Montagues, we are never told what the grudge is actually over.

"I will bite my thumb at them ,which is disgrace to them if they bear it."
- This quote is from act 1 scene 1. Sampson seems to be trying to provoke conflict between he and the men of the Montague family. Biting your thumb at someone in these days was an insult.

TYBALT - This, by his voice, should be a Montague.Fetch me my rapier, boy. What dares the slaveCome hither, cover'd with an antic face,To fleer and scorn at our solemnity?Now, by the stock and honour of my kin,To strike him dead, I hold it not a sin.
CAPULET - Why, how now, kinsman! wherefore storm you so?
TYBALT - Uncle, this is a Montague, our foe,A villain that is hither come in spite,To scorn at our solemnity this night. - From act 1 sc 5, shows that the younger generation (i.e. Tybalt) are continuing the feud with no loss of intensity from the older generation.
"What, drawn and talk of peace? I hate the word, as I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee. Have at thee, coward."
- This is also from act 1 scene 1. This is Tybalt and Benvolio preparing to fight. This is also an example of the hate that the Capulet's and the Montagues have for each other.

"Romeo, the love I bear thee can afford no better term than this: thou art a villain"
-This shows how deep-seated Tybalt’s hatred for Romeo is, he cannot think of a nice word to call him than ‘villain’. Romeo goes on to try to persuade Tybalt not to fight, but the conflict is so old and entrenched that nothing can prevent the fray. – Act 3 Sc 1

Hang thee, young baggage! disobedient wretch!I tell thee what: get thee to church o' Thursday,Or never after look me in the face:Speak not, reply not, do not answer me;My fingers itch. Wife, we scarce thought us blestThat God had lent us but this only child;But now I see this one is one too much,And that we have a curse in having her:Out on her, hilding!
- From Act 3, Sc 5, this shows conflict within the Capulet family. Capulet is incensed by Juliet’s disobedience in refusing to marry Paris.

Quotes Showing Different Types of Love

Romeo's Love For Rosaline...

"Out of her favour where I am in love"(page 10,act 1 scene 1)
Romeo is moping, depressed because his love is not returned.

"Tut ,I have lost myself,I am not here
This is not Romeo he's some other where" (pg 11,act 1 scene 1)
He is not feeling like himself.

“Here's much to do with hate, but more with love.Why, then, O brawling love! O loving hate!O any thing, of nothing first create!O heavy lightness! serious vanity!Mis-shapen chaos of well-seeming forms!Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire,sick health!Still-waking sleep, that is not what it is!This love feel I, that feel no love in this.” (Act 1 Sc1)
Romeo’s love for Rosaline is confusing him, hence the use of oxymoron. He also uses over-poetic language, because his love is ‘idealistic’, not heartfelt.

Capulet’s Love For Juliet...

"she's the hopeful lady of my earth.
But woo her, gentle Paris, get her heart" (act 1 scene 2, pg 13)
Here Capulet seems a loving father, protecting the welfare of his only surviving child.

Romeo's Love For Juliet...

"O she doth teach the torches to burn bright! It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night as a jewel in an Ethiops ear." (act 1,scene 5, pg 27)
Light imagery – he sees Juliet as heavenly, is dazzled by her beauty.

Did my heart love till now? forswear it, sight!For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night. – (act 1 Sc 5)
Immediately on seeing Juliet, thoughts of Rosaline are banished, and he knows that this is ‘true’ love.

But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks?It is the east, and Juliet is the sun….
Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven,Having some business, do entreat her eyesTo twinkle in their spheres till they return….
The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars,As daylight doth a lamp; - (all Act 2 Sc 2)
Light imagery continues the idea of Juliet being something heavenly.

I have night's cloak to hide me from their sight;And but thou love me, let them find me here:My life were better ended by their hate,Than death prorogued, wanting of thy love. – (act 2 sc 3)
Romeo would rather die than live without his love.

Come, bitter conduct, come, unsavoury guide!Thou desperate pilot, now at once run onThe dashing rocks thy sea-sick weary bark!Here's to my love!
Drinks
O true apothecary! – (act 5, Sc 3)
Romeo’s final sacrifice for his love.

Juliet's Love For Romeo...

"My only love sprung from my only hate!
Too early seen unknown, and known too late" (act 1 scene 5 ,pg 31)
First realisation of the fact that Romeo is a Montague – she has already given her heart to Romeo, and is helpless to do anything about it.

O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?Deny thy father and refuse thy name;Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,And I'll no longer be a Capulet. (act 2 sc 2)
Wishing that Romeo could rescind his name, the only thing keeping them together, and vowing to do the same if necessary.

But to be frank, and give it thee again.And yet I wish but for the thing I have:My bounty is as boundless as the sea,My love as deep; the more I give to thee,The more I have, for both are infinite. (act 2 Sc 2)
The depth and strength of Juliet’s love

Romeo's Love For Mercutio And Juliet...

"This gentleman, the prince's near ally,
My very friend, hath got his mortal hurt
In my behalf; my reputation stain'd
With Tybalt’s slander-Tybalt, that hour
Hath been my cousin. O sweet Juliet,
Thy beauty hath made me effeminate,
And my temper soften'd valour's steel! (act 3 scene 1, pg 63)
Torn between two loves – friendship and his wife. He feels that one type of love has made his betray the other.

Bawdy/ Superficial Love
True; and therefore women, being the weaker vessels,are ever thrust to the wall: therefore I will pushMontague's men from the wall, and thrust his maidsto the wall. – (act 1 sc 1)
Sampson shows his contempt for the Montagues by threatening sexual violence on the Montague women.

A man, young lady! lady, such a manAs all the world–why, he's a man of wax…….
No less! nay, bigger; women grow by men…….
Go, girl, seek happy nights to happy days. (all act 1 Sc 3)
The nurse shows she is impressed by a handsome face, and makes references to pregnancy and sex.

This cannot anger him: 'twould anger himTo raise a spirit in his mistress' circleOf some strange nature, letting it there standTill she had laid it and conjured it down;That were some spite: my invocationIs fair and honest, and in his mistress' nameI conjure only but to raise up him. (act 2 Sc 1)
Mercutio using double-entendre, speaking if magic but also of sex

Quotes showing how fate affects people, or how people tempt fate.

Prologue (line 6):

"A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life;"
The first instance of fate in the play. Its informing the audience that the theme of fate is very predominant.

Act 1 Scene 5 (line 118):
(Romeo): "My life is my foe's debt."
Clear foreshadowing of what is to come.

Act 1 Scene 5 (line 134):
"My grave is lke to be my wedding bed."
Again clear foreshadowing, she does dies soon after her weeding.

Act 2 Scene 2 (line 77 & 78):
"My life were better ended by their hate,
Than death prorogued, wanting of thy love."
They wouldn't have died without the hate between their families, but inn the end it was their love that killed them. This quote clearly shows this.

Act 3 Scene 5 (lines 55 & 56):
"Methinks I see thee now, thou art so low,
As one dead in the bottom of a tomb."
Once again clear foreshadowing of what is to come. The next time Juliet sees Romeo he is indeed dead in a tomb.

Act 5 Scene 3 (line 111):

"And shake the yoke of inauspicious stars."
This quotation shows Romeo feels he has beaten fate and is free from its hold over his life, however the audience knows that this is untrue because he has played right into fates hands.

The background characters 1- the Nurse, Mercutio, Tybalt and the Capulets.

Nurse
Mother Figure to Juliet - Has raised her since she was a baby.
"...Thou wast the prettiest babe I e'er I nursed/And I might live to see thee married once, I have my wish" (1,3,61)

"An honour! were not I thine only nurse/I would say thou suck'd wisdom from thy teat." (1,3,68)

These show how the nurse cares for Juliet, having been there for her throughout her whole life. She is like a mother as she wishes to see Juliet married, as most mothers do, as it is one of the most important things to happen in someone's life.

Ideas on Love
"...Thou wilt fall backwards when thou hast more wit..." (1,3,43)

"Go, girl, seek happy nights to happy days" (1,4,106)

She talks of physical love rather than meaningful on both occasions.

Mercutio
As a Person
His name reflects his mercurial nature. He is noisy and rude, his language being full of jokes and puns.

Ideas on Love
"If love be rough with you, be rough with love:/Prick love for pricking, and you beat love down..." – Act 1 Sc 4

Mercutio's view on love is also physical. He often makes sexual references and doesn't seem to care about the emotions and feelings concerned with love.

He mocks Romeo's romantic views;

"Alas, poor Romeo, he is already dear, stabbed with a white wench's black eye, run through” – Act 2 Sc 4

Tybalt
As a Person

"What, drawn and talk of peace? I hate the word/As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee./Have at thee coward." (1,1,64)

He appears to be an aggressive character and holds an old grudge against the Montagues. He shows a deep hatred for the family, as seen at the beginning of the play, when he warns Benvolio that he will attack.

Quotes on background characters - 2 (Friar Lawrence, The Prince)
Friar Lawrence - Friar Lawrence is one of the characters central to the outcome of the play.

Act 2 scene 3
"With baleful weeds and precious-juiced flowers." - baleful means harmful or poisonous so this is foreshadowing the end of the play.

Act 2 scene 3
"Be plain, good son, and homely in thy drift, riddling confession finds but riddling shrift". - This shows that the friar has a calming effect on Romeo.

Act 2 Scene 6
"So smile the heavens upon this holy act, that after-hours with sorrow chide us not". - This shows that the friar thinks marrying Romeo and Juliet will end the bitter ongoing feud between the two of their families.

Act 3 Scene 3
"Thou art wedded to calamity". - this implies that the Friar thinks the marriage will be a disaster, and that Romeo is always unlucky.

Act 4 Scene 1
"Then it is likely thou wilt undertake a thing like death to chide away this shame". - This means that she'd be willing to kill herself to rid her of the shame of marrying Paris.

Act 5 scene 3
"I dare no longer stay". This occurs when the watch are coming and both Romeo and Paris are lying dead. Furthermore the Friar does not want to stick around as he could be held responsible for the deaths – shows he lacks strength of character.

"Her nurse is privy". He turns the nurse in for her knowledge of what has gone on.

On the contrary to the courage demonstrated by Friar Lawrence when he married Romeo and Juliet, he shows himself to be a bit of a coward when he leaves Juliet in the tomb and when he tells everyone of the nurse's part in his wrongdoings.

The Prince
Act 3 Scene 1

"And for that offence immediately we do exile him hence". This shows a harsh lenience as although he could have executed Romeo he exiled him and now he has to live without Juliet and with his sin, although in the end the exiling of Romeo killed them anyway.

Act 5 Scene 3

"All are punish'd ". - This sums up the feelings of all of the characters at the end of the play and shows that nobody has positive feelings at the end of the play and that this is their punishment.


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Saturday, November 5

A fresh perspective... R+J in txt spk

Chocolatey type treat for the first person to identify the accurate act and scene numbers....act 8 indeed!


--------------------- Act 1 -----------------------
Login:
Romeo : R u awake? Want 2 chat?
Juliet: O Rom. Where4 art thou?
Romeo: Outside yr window.
Juliet: Stalker!
Romeo: Had 2 come. feeling jiggy.
Juliet: B careful. My family h8 u.
Romeo: Tell me about it. What about u?
Juliet: I'm up for marriage if u are..Is that a bit forward?
Romeo: No. Yes. No. Oh, doesn't matter, 2moro at 9?
Juliet: Luv U xxxx
Romeo: CU then xxxx

--------------------- Act 2 -----------------------
Friar: Do u?
Juliet: I doRomeo: I do

--------------------- Act 3 -----------------------
Juliet: Come bck 2 bed. It's the nightingale not the lark.
Romeo: OK
Juliet: !!! I ws wrong !!!. It's the lark. U gotta go. Or die.
Romeo: Damn. I shouldn’t hv wasted Tybalt & gt banished.
Juliet: When CU again?
Romeo: Soon. Promise. Dry sorrow drinks our blood. Adieu.
Juliet: Miss u big time.

--------------------- Act 4 -----------------------
Nurse: Yr mum says u have 2 marry Paris!!
Juliet: No way. Yuk yuk yuk. Anyway, am married 2 Rom

--------------------- Act 5 -----------------------
Friar: Really? O no. U wl have 2 take potion that makes u look dead.
Juliet: Gr8.

--------------------- Act 6 -----------------------
Romeo: J-why r u not returning my texts?
Romeo: RUOK? Am abroad but phone still works.
Romeo: TEXT ME!
Batty: Bad news. J dead. Sorry m8.

--------------------- Act 7 -----------------------
Romeo: J-wish u wr able 2 read this...am now poisoning & and climbing in yr grave.
LUV U Ju xxxx

--------------------- Act 8 -----------------------
Juliet: R-got yr text! Am alive! Ws faking it! Where RU? Oh...
Friar: V bad situation.
Juliet: Nightmare. LUVU2. Always. Dagger. Ow!!!

Logout.......!


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Thursday, November 3

I know there's a lot of homework and different tasks flying about just now, so I thought I'd clarify what's going on for anyone who's a bit muddled...
* We have done two mini-essays on Romeo and Juliet. Some (a handful) are still to come in - you know who you are!
* We have another mini-essay due in on Monday 7th November (the theme essay). This one should be longer and more involved than the other two.
* Personal studies should be at extended plan/first draft stage. Any problems, speak to me NOW!
* Everyone passed the textual analysis NAB (go you!)
* We will do one more R+J essay, then move on to poetry.
* The close reading NAB will be mid-December
* The personal study NAB will be mid-January (if not before, depending on the general preparedness of the class.)
* That's enough for now.....scared yet? ;-)

You're doing great, and you're all on track. Well done.

Ms B


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Wednesday, November 2

Email link

I finally bothered to work out the html code to add my email address the the link bar
thataway ------->
so it should be easier for you to find my email address, as it'll never move (not sure if it'll work with hotmail though....let me know).

Ms B


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