Annotation Guide: Romeo and Juliet - William Shakespeare

A guide on the questions and ideas to consider whilst reading the play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, with a coverage of symbols, motifs, and themes.

1. Annotation Guide: 1

2. Getting Organised: Record these symbols on your title page: 4 Themes: Love Hate Fate Youth Motifs: Symbols

3. Theme Discussion: Love or Hate One of the key questions of the text, which William Shakespeare leaves for the reader to decide, is whether the ultimate fate of the protagonists is caused by love or hate.

4. One of the key questions of the text, which William Shakespeare leaves for the reader to decide, is whether the ultimate fate of the protagonists is caused by fate or youth. Theme Discussion: Fate or Youth

5. Practice Task - Theme: Hate / Love My name, dear saint, is hateful to myself, Because it is an enemy to thee. And the place death, considering who thou art If any of my kinsmen find thee here If they do see thee they will murder thee. My life were better ended by their hate, Than death prorogued, wanting of thy love.

6. Practice Task - Theme: Hate / Love My name, dear saint, is hateful to myself, Because it is an enemy to thee. And the place death, considering who thou art If any of my kinsmen find thee here If they do see thee they will murder thee. My life were better ended by their hate, Than death prorogued, wanting of thy love.

7. Exemplar Annotation Read these sections and annotate them, then compare to the example provided. Prologue Act 1, Scene 1, Line 169-200 Act 1, Scene 1, Line 198-226 Act 1, Scene 5, Line 118-145 Act 2, Scene 2, Line 54-85 Act 2, Scene 6, Beginning – Line 30 Act 3, Scene 1, Line 95 onwards

8. Prologue

9. Act 1, Scene 1, Line 169-200

10. Act 1, Scene 1, Line 198-226

11. Act 1, Scene 5, Line 118-145

12. Act 2, Scene 2, Line 54-85

13. Act 2, Scene 6, Beginning – Line 30

14. Act 3, Scene 1, Line 95 onwards

15. Good luck annotating the rest of the play