Elementary A2 (Waystage)

R A I N B O W S

Romeo and Juliet

William Shakespeare
 R A I N B O W S

William Shakespeare

Romeo and Juliet

Adaptation, dossiers and activities
by Giorgia Canazza

Illustrations
by Mauro Borgarello
Romeo and Juliet
Project editor: Manuela Barbero
Revisor: Annabel Pope
Cover: Mauro Borgarello
Design: Manuela Piacenti
Quality controller: Lunella Luzi
Page layout: Costantino Seminara
Printing: La Grafica, Boves (Cn), Italy

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

William Shakespeare .......................................................................................................... 4

Act 1 – Fights and Love in Verona ............................................................. 5

• Extension: The Globe Theatre ........................................................................................... 18

Act 2 – Secret Plans ................................................................................................... 19

• Extension: Sonnet CXXX .................................................................................................... 30

Act 3 – Love and Deaths in Verona ....................................................... 31

• Extension: Juliet’s house ....................................................................................................... 43

Act 4 – Secret Plans, Again ............................................................................. 44

• Extension: Romeo and Juliet – then and now! .......................................................... 54

Act 5 – Tragedy ................................................................................................................ 55

• Extension: Dire Straits’ “Romeo and Juliet” ................................................................. 69

SUMMING-UP ACTIVITIES .............................................................................................. 70

LIST OF CHARACTERS .................................................................................................... 73
GLOSSARY .............................................................................................................................. 75
 The Author
The Author
????

William Shakespeare
Shakespeare was born on April
rd
23 1564 in Stratford- upon-Avon,
Warwickshire, England, where he
also died in 1616. His family paid for
William’s education, but historians
are not sure he went to university.
At the age of 18 he married the 26-
year-old Anne Hathaway and the
couple had three children.
Between 1585 and 1592,
Shakespeare began a successful
career in London as an actor and
writer. He also owned1 part of an
acting company called the “Lord Chamberlain2’s Men”, and part of
theatre he helped to found3, The Globe.
Shakespeare wrote and acted for Queen Elizabeth I and King
James I during the period called the “English Renaissance”. His early
plays were mainly comedies (Much Ado About Nothing, A Midsummer
Night’s Dream…) or histories (Henry V…); later, he wrote tragedies
(Hamlet, King Lear, Macbeth…) or ‘romances’, with a touch of
supernatural (The Tempest…).
Shakespeare wrote Romeo and Juliet around 1595. He didn’t invent
the story, but, as was usual at the time, he used existing stories by other
authors and probably inspired by some real events, and transformed
them into a masterpiece4 thanks to his unique style.
Many plays by Shakespeare are still very popular today: even after
more than 400 years, people still love to go to the theatre to see his
works because his themes of love, revenge, death and power are still
very modern.

1. owned: had, possessed. 3. found: to start building.

2. chamberlain: person who lived at a 4. masterpiece: an excellent work of art.
queen’s or a king’s court.

4
Fights and Love in Verona

BEFORE READING
1
Act

1 Tick what you know about the play Romeo and Juliet.
a. “Romeo and Juliet” is a... .
comedy tragedy satire
b. Romeo and Juliet are... .
totally imaginary characters
characters from a real story
partially real characters
c. Romeo and Juliet are... .
teenagers children adults
d. Romeo was a... .
Montague Capulet Tudor
e. Juliet was a... .
Montague Capulet Tudor

2 Put the words below into the right column, then add three more.
master • Lady • uncle • nephew • mistress • aunt • Lord • niece

Male s Fe M ale s

3 One of the topics of Romeo and Juliet is romantic love. Find at least
ive adjectives or expressions to describe what and how you feel
when you are in love. Use a dictionary if necessary.
When I am in love, I’m/I feel...

5
Romeo
Fights and and
Love inJuliet
Verona
7
8
9
10
11
12
AFTER READING • Fights and Love in Verona

WORKING ON THE TEXT

1 Act

1 Read the sentences below. Tick if they are true, false or not mentioned.
Correct the false ones.
T F NM
a. The story takes place in London.
b. Romeo and Juliet belong to two rival families.
c. Paris is Juliet’s brother.
d. The masked ball celebrates summertime.
e. Juliet is ifteen years old.
f. Tybalt is Romeo’s best friend.
g. Juliet’s nurse is called Mary.
h. The nurse doesn’t know anything about Romeo.
i. Romeo and Juliet have never met before.
j. At the end of the act, Romeo and Juliet are both very
happy and carefree.

2 Complete the following table with the main characters that have
appeared in the irst act of the play so far. Which family do they
support or belong to?
The Cap ule Ts The MonTague s

WORKING ON VOCABULARY
3 Circle the odd one out word in each group and explain why.
a. to quarrel to ight to provoke to pacify
b. masks music swords fun
c. Lord Lady Ms Sir
d. daughter uncle cousin friend
e. sleep love hate worry

4 Complete the sentences with the words you circled above.

a. Prince Escalus would like to ................................ the Montagues and the
Capulets.
b. Benvolio is Romeo’s ............................................. .
15
 AFTER READING • Fights and Love in Verona

c. To stop the ight Prince Escalus screams, “Put your .................... down!”
1 Act

d. Today, the word used for a young girl like Juliet is .................................... .
e. After the party Romeo couldn’t ................................. because he couldn’t
stop thinking about Juliet.

WORKING ON GRAMMAR

5 POSSESSIVE ‘S. Use the possessive case to describe the relationship

between the characters.
Ex. Tybalt is Lady Capulet’s nephew.
a. Benvolio is ...................................................................... friend.
b. Juliet is ............................................ and ............................................... daughter.
c. Tybalt is ...................................................................... worst enemy.
d. Lady Montague is ...................................................................... mother.
e. Lord Capulet is ...................................................................... father.
f. Paris is ...................................................................... suitor.

WORKING ON SKILLS
Speaking
6 Pair Work. Ask and answer questions with the simple past and past
continuous. Use the prompts below.
a. Who/quarrel/along the road of Verona?
b. Why/they/ight?
c. Who/stop/the ight?
d. Romeo/involved?
e. Why/Romeo/sad?
f. Can/the servant/read?
g. Who/ind out/Romeo?
h. What/happen/to the young lovers?

Listening
7 Listen to the conversation between Lord Capulet and Count Paris
before the party. Fill in the missing words and then check your answers.
Lord Capulet Today the Prince gave the Montagues and us the same
(1)
.................................! It’s not dificult for me and Lord Montague to keep
(2)
................................. . The problem is with the (3)................................. people!

16
AFTER READING • Fights and Love in Verona

Paris You both have a respectable (4)

1
................................. and it’s a shame
Act

you have fought so long! But milord… I’m here to talk about (5)............
..................... . So, how do you like the idea of me (6)................................. your
daughter? Have you thought about my (7)................................. proposal?
Lord Capulet Well, as I have already said, my daughter is too (8).................
...................! She’s not yet (9)...................................! Could you wait two more
(10)
................................. to marry her?
Paris Many young girls are (11)................................. at her age!
Lord Capulet That’s true, but Juliet is the joy of my (12).............................. and
my hope for the (13)................................. . Gentle Paris, let’s agree that you
can start (14)............................... her, for the moment… By the way, tonight
there will be a (15)................................. at my house. Many guests are invited
to celebrate (16)...................................... and there will be many other young
(17)
....................................., too. Look at them and listen to your heart very
carefully. Is my Juliet the right girl for you? Or is it just a (18)......................
....................... of the moment?

Writing
8 Write a short description (about 50 words) of your ideal party. Talk
about the place, the kind of music and dancing, the people, the food
and drinks, the games, etc… .
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................

17
ELEMENTARY R A I N B O W S
A2 (Waystage)
Approx. number of headwords: 700

Romeo and Juliet

The immortal story of Romeo and Juliet is re-lived in this new, graphic
version of the intense passion of two of the most famous Shakespearian
protagonists. The two very young lovers are ready to go against their
families to stay together, and, with the help of a friendly nanny and a
clever friar, they finally get married. However, pride, hate and fate are just
around the corner…
Five short and engaging extensions give some additional interesting
information on this 400-year-old work, its context and its outstanding author.

beginner • A1 (Breakthrough) Levels of accredited examination boards:

✓ elementary • A2 (Waystage) Cambridge English: Flyers / Key (KET)

Trinity: Grade 3, 4
pre-intermediate • B1 (Threshold)
City & Guilds (Pitman): Elementary
intermediate • B2 (Vantage) ESB: Foundation 3
Edexcel: Basic
post-intermediate • C1 (Effectiveness)

Teacher’s Resources available on line:

Answer Key, Transcripts, Summing-up Activities.