Homework, Tuesday 11th October, 2016

Read the extract from Act 1, Scene 4 below, which is a soliloquy (a character talking to the audience as a way of getting his/her thoughts and feeling across).

1.     Go through it and analyse it, line by line. You can do this by annotating it or writing notes down on a separate piece of paper.

2.     Write a 300 word answer to the following question:

                   How does what Romeo says in this extract foreshadow the

                   events of the story?

Focus on the following:

·        The reference to the stars

·        The ‘despised life’ he refers to

·        The use of the word ‘He’ with a capital ‘H’ (why is a capital used here?)

·        What he says in the last line

ROMEO:

          I fear too early, for my mind misgives

         

          Some consequence yet hanging in the stars

         

          Shall bitterly begin his fearful date  

         

          With this night's revels, and expire the term

         

          Of a despised life closed in my breast

         

          By some vile forfeit of untimely death.

         

          But He that hath the steerage of my course

         

          Direct my sail!—On, lusty gentlemen!

This is due on Thursday, October 14th.