Immediately after the death of Mercutio and Tybalt, the citizens gather, Capulet and Montague arrive and the Price arrives. The Prince listens to the events which lead to the death of the two men. ( By the way, Mercutio and the Prince were related.) The Prince pronounces the sentence he has imposed on Romeo for the offence he committed in killing Tybalt and expresses what he feels about the never-ending feud between the houses. Read the text and do the activity below.
PRINCE:
And for that offence
Immediately we do exile him hence:
I have an interest in your hate's proceeding,
My blood for your rude brawls doth lie a-bleeding;
But I'll amerce you with so strong a fine
That you shall all repent the loss of mine:
I will be deaf to pleading and excuses;
Nor tears nor prayers shall purchase out abuses:
Therefore use none: let Romeo hence in haste,
Else, when he's found, that hour is his last.
Bear hence this body and attend our will:
Mercy but murders, pardoning those that kill.
Activity 1: Glossary
This speech does not have a glossary. You create one by finding the correct meaning for each underlined word/phrase/line. Use the list below.
1-to there, relative, 2-regret/be sorry about, 3-keep you from being punished, 4- if you show mercy to a killer, he will kill again, 5 - he will be executed, 6- feud, 7- don’t come crying to me, 8- does, 9- dishonorable fight, 10- crime, 11-if not
Activity 2: Newspaper
Prepare the front page of a newspaper which covers some of the events of the day: Unsubstantiated rumors (gossip) about Romeo and Rosaline, Romeo and Juliet’s new secret affair/marriage, about the fights and the deaths of Mercutio and Tybalt, the sentence imposed on Romeo by the Prince and the warnings to Capulet and Montague to end the feud.
Your articles should contain : headline, information on who, where, what, when, quotes from interviews with bystanders or characters involved. Pictures would be nice too.
Enjoy!