Body paragraph (two)

     The importance of reading plays by Shakespeare should never become overlooked by our schools. (Insert quote here) Shakespeare's plays involve not only historical references and teachings, but also provide difficult readings. The ability to read Old English requires a certain skill similar to that of reading something in a foreign language. Reading Shakespeare's plays provides a challenge to most teens that they may not get from other books. It requires the ability to interpret what a person reads which remains a very important skill in today's world of law documents, contracts, and applications. Difficult readings are prominant in our world today and should not gradually become pushed aside.

Body Paragraph

     Romeo and Juliet stands as one of the most relatable of Shakespeare's plays. I think that youth can easily relate to it because of the young characters who play the main roles in the story. If people relate to a story, then they tend to have a much easier time understanding it. The characters in the story go through some of the same feelings that youth twenty years ago went through, as well as youth today and youth twenty years in the future. (Insert quote here) The animosity that many teenagers feel towards history and history class comes from their attitude that they cannot relate to it. Romeo and Juliet has relatable topics and feelings and should be read in schools.

Intro paragraph

     Romeo and Juliet is one of the most famous of Shakespeare's plays. Although the old English was difficult for me to understand, I think there is a lot you can learn from this book. It is a classic that people can relate to today and that they related to hundreds of years ago. Shakespeare's plays had an impact on both our culture's history and the enhancement of our language. Like I said before, the old English was difficult, but for the most part this play was easy to understand. I didn't have a hard time keeping up with the story. I think that Romeo and Juliet should be taught in schools because it's relatable, it is important for people to read and Shakespeare's plays, and it is one of the easiest plays to understand.

Thesis

     Romeo and Juliet should be taught in schools because it is relatable, it is important for people to read Shakespeare's plays and it is one of the easiest of Shakespeare's plays to understand.

Romeo and Juliet

     I just finished watching William Shakespeare's: Romeo and Juliet. Romeo Montague was played by Leonardo Dicaprio, Juliet Capulet was played by Claire Danes. Instead of Verona, Italy in the 1500's, the movie took place in basically what was Verona Beach, California in like the 1990's or so, basically it was more modern day. The film was a romantic drama and the literature work was a play.
     Basically what happens is Romeo falls in love with a girl who doesn't feel the same about him. In an effort to make him feel less depressed, Romeo's best friend Mercutio goes with him to the Capulet's party. Now, back up a second. Romeo is a Montague. The Capulets and the Montagues are major rivals. There are many problems for the city of Verona because of these two families. Ok now back to the party. Mercutio and Romeo and Benvolio, who is one of the Montague boys, disguise themselves to go to the Capulet party. At the party, Romeo meets Juliet. It was love at first sight. Neither of them knew that the other was their family's enemy. As the drama continues, Romeo and Juliet find ways to be together and then decide to get married. Romeo goes to Friar Lawerence who is basically the priest and asks him to marry him (Romeo) and Juliet. The Friar agrees thinking that this might be a way for the rivalry between the two families to end. So, Romeo and Juliet are married. Well then there is a turn in mood when Tyblat (Juliet's cousin) calls for Romeo to fight him. Romeo does not want to fight Tyblat because they are kind of relatives now that Romeo is married to Juliet. Mercutio gets into a fight with Tybalt instead. What ends up happening is Tybalt kills Mercutio and, out of rage, Romeo kills Tybalt. Romeo is banished from verona and it looks like he and Juliet will never be together because now, on top of all of this, Capulet is going to force Juliet to marry Paris. When Juliet refuses her father's, what is pretty much a command, to marry Paris, he gets mad and yells at her. Juliet goes to the Nurse for comfort, but instead the Nurse tells her to just marry Paris and forget about Romeo. As her last resort, Juliet goes to Friar Lawerence and asks him to help her or else she will kill herself. Friar Lawerence gives her a potion that will make her appear dead while she is really only asleep. The plan is that all of her family will think she is dead and she will get out of marrying Paris. Then, before they bury her, Romeo will come and get her and they will live "happily ever after" together. In an effort to not give away the ending, I will stop summarizing now... so yeah.
     One thing that was very similar from the story to the film was Friar Lawerence's attitude and perspective. He is consistantly supportive of Romeo and Juliet and is always trying to help them no matter the cost. He is aware of the consequences but, for some reason, he never seems to care.
     There were lots of differences between the play and the movie. I think the biggest difference was the ending. Though I am not going to give away the ending I will tell you how it was different. At the end of the movie there is a huge twist. Baz Luhrmann (the director of the movie) did a great job by surprising the audience while not drastically changing the resolution of the play. It was surprising, suspensful, and extremely unpredictable. I think he made a great decision by taking that route.
     I thought the film was great. I actually liked it more than the story just because it was easier to relate to since it was more modernized. I would recommend it to anyone who likes a classic movie with a twist. Although I liked the movie more, the book was very good too, and I would recommend it to anyone interested in a romantic drama with occasional humor.