Romeo and Juliet a Poem?

Romeo and Juliet – A poem?

By exploring the poem further you will review some of the features of poetry, and discover whether the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet contains these features.

/ To complete this activity

Respond to the questions about the features of the poem.
Use the printed verses provided to support your responses.
Check your answers at the end of this activity sheet.

Remember! Save your responses in your portfolio.

1.Does this poem have lines?

2.Are the lines arranged in verses (or stanzas)?

3.Is this rhyming verse or free verse?

Hint! Free verse does not have any rhyming words.

4.Read the poem below. Can you hear the rhythm (or metre) of the poem?

Hint! If you need to listen to Romeo and Juliet again, go back to Activity 1 and watch the Romeo and Juliet 1 video.

Romeo: By a name
I know not how to tell thee who I am:
My name, dear saint, is hateful to myself,
Because it is an enemy to thee;
Had I it written, I would tear the word.
Juliet: My ears have not yet drunk a hundred words
Of that tongue’s utterance, yet I know the sound:
Art thou not Romeo and a Montague?

5.Does the poem create pictures (images) in your mind? Highlight some of the words that paint the picture for you?

Hint! These phrases often contain adjectives and adverbs or describe actions.

Juliet:How camest thou hither, tell me, and wherefore?
The orchard walls are high and hard to climb,
And the place death, considering who thou art,
If any of my kinsmen find thee here.
Romeo: With love’s light wings did I o’er-perch these walls;
For stony limits cannot hold love out,
And what love can do that dares love attempt;
Therefore thy kinsmen are no let to me.

6.Is this a serious poem or a humorous one?

7.Use the verses printed here to explain your answer to the previous question. Highlight words or phrases that support your choice.

Romeo: With love’s light wings did I o’er-perch these walls;
For stony limits cannot hold love out,
And what love can do that dares love attempt;
Therefore thy kinsmen are no let to me.
Juliet: If they do see thee, they will murder thee.
Romeo: Alack, there lies more peril in thine eye
Than twenty of their swords: look thou but sweet,
And I am proof against their enmity.

8.Is the poem telling a story (ie a narrative)?

9.Use the verses printed here to give evidence of the poem’s narrative. Highlight the relevant words or phrases.

Juliet: My ears have not yet drunk a hundred words
Of that tongue’s utterance, yet I know the sound:
Art thou not Romeo and a Montague?
Romeo: Neither, fair saint, if either thee dislike.
Juliet: How camest thou hither, tell me, and wherefore?
The orchard walls are high and hard to climb,
And the place death, considering who thou art,
If any of my kinsmen find thee here
Romeo: With love's light wings did I o’er-perch these walls;
For stony limits cannot hold love out,
And what love can do that dares love attempt;
Therefore thy kinsmen are no let to me
Juliet: If they do see thee, they will murder thee.

10.Is the poem expressing feelings and emotions? Highlight relevant words to support your choice

Romeo: By a name
I know not how to tell thee who I am:
My name, dear saint, is hateful to myself,
Because it is an enemy to thee;
Had I it written, I would tear the word.

11.Does the poem contain any unusual or invented words? Highlight any you can see in this verse.

Romeo: I take thee at thy word:
Call me but love, and I'll be new baptised;
Henceforth I never will be Romeo.
Juliet: What man art thou that thus bescreen’d in night
So stumblest on my counsel?

12.This poem includes a special feature called a metaphor. Highlight it in the verse.

Romeo: 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.

13.What does the metaphor ‘night’s cloak to hide me’ mean? Circle your answer below.

a.Romeo is wearing dark clothes.
b.Romeo is hidden by the darkness of the night.

Answers to Romeo and Juliet – A poem?

1.Does this poem have lines?

Yes. Of course it does!

2.Are the lines arranged in verses (or stanzas)?

Yes. Some verses have one line and some have several. In this poem Romeo and Juliet take turns to speak each verse.

3.Is this rhyming verse or free verse?

Hint! Free verse does not have any rhyming words.

It’s a free verse not a rhyming verse. There aren’t any rhyming words in this verse.

4.Read the poem below. Can you hear the rhythm (or metre) of the poem?

This verse does not have regular rhythm.
It is spoken as a conversation. Some words may seem to be emphasised, however, this comes from the emotion in the voice, rather than a rhythm pattern. There are no rhyming words and the punctuation breaks up the lines, which does not allow a regular rhythm to develop.

5.Does the poem create pictures (images) in your mind?

Did you highlight these sections?
•orchard walls are high and hard to climb
•the place death
•kinsmen
•love’s light wings did I o’er-perch these walls
•stony.

6.Is this a serious poem or a humorous one?

Yes! Romeo and Juliet is a serious poem.

7.Use the verses printed here to explain your answer to the previous question. Highlight words or phrases that support your choice.

Did you highlight any of these sections?
•For stony limits cannot hold love out
•thy kinsmen are no let to me
•If they do see thee, they will murder thee
•there lies more peril in thine eye
•Than twenty of their swords.

8.Is the poem telling a story (ie a narrative)?

Yes. The poem is telling a story.
The poem tells you that Romeo and Juliet have met and want to be together but their families are enemies. All their meetings must be in secret or someone may be killed.

9.Use the verses printed here to give evidence of the poem’s narrative. Highlight the relevant words or phrases.

Did you highlight any of these sections?
•Art thou not Romeo and a Montague?
•Neither, fair saint, if either thee dislike
•How camest thou hither
•And the place death, considering who thou art
•If any of my kinsmen find thee here
•For stony limits cannot hold love out
•Therefore thy kinsmen are no let to me
•If they do see thee, they will murder thee.

10.Is the poem expressing feelings and emotions? Highlight relevant words to support your choice.

Did you highlight any of these sections?
•I know not how to tell thee who I am
•hateful to myself
•is an enemy to thee
•I would tear the word.

11.Does the poem contain any unusual or invented words? Highlight any you can see in this verse.

There are many words in the poem that are not used when we speak today. Did you highlight any of these?
•thee
•thy
•art thou
•bescreen’d
•stumblest.

12.This poem includes a special feature called a metaphor. Highlight it in the verse.

Did you highlight this section?
•night’s cloak to hide me.

13.What does the metaphor ‘night’s cloak to hide me’ mean? Circle your answer below.

b.Romeo is hidden by the darkness of the night.