Shakespeare Webquest Romeo & Juliet
Shakespeare WebQuest – Romeo & Juliet
Purpose: To reacquaint ourselves with William Shakespeare and the Elizabethan era.
Directions: Visit the links that go with each set of questions. Read carefully to answer the questions fully and correctly. Feel free to read beyond the questions! The sites are packed with information to help you learn more about life in Shakespeare’s day.
Part I: Shakespeare & the Globe
SHAKEPSPEARE:
Use this link to answer questions 1-8:
There are other links at the bottom of this webquest that you may find helpful, but you may have to do outside research. You want to take these notes in your Story Notes section – you will want to know more than just a “date” – make sure you are clear in your notes!
1)Click on the link to “Birth 1564 & Early Years”. William Shakespeare was born in what year?
2)What date do we recognize as his birthday?
3)Where was Shakespeare born?
4)Whom did Shakespeare marry? How many children did they have?
5)Click on the link for “1594” and find the acting companies Shakespeare was associated with in the early days. Name one.
6)What time period covers the lost years? Why are they called the lost years?
7)What happened in January 1593 to change Shakespeare's life as an actor. Be specific.
8)What day and year did Shakespeare die? Why is this interesting? How old was he when he died?
Use this link for question 9:
9)What does the word BARD mean? Why is Shakespeare known as “the Bard”?
GLOBE :
Under our first link, click on the “The Great Globe” on the left-hand side of the page. Scroll down to the section "Construction of the Globe,” and answer questions 10-16(once again, in your Story Notes section):
10)Where did the timbers to build The Globe come from?
11)Who was the carpenter who built The Globe?
12)What was Shakespeare's share as "householder?"
13)Why is The Globe so famous today?
14)How big was The Globe?How many people did it seat? (Use this site as well answer should be found in the first few paragraphs.)
15)Where exactly was The Globe originally built?
16)What did the flag atop the Globe signify? (Look for the section called“Elizabethan Advertising.”)
Part II: Theater
Use this link to answer questions 17-21:
on “Actors, Acting & Audience” on the left-hand side of the page.)
17)How many women actors did the company usually feature?
18)Was Shakespeare an actor? What was the term used to refer to actors?
19)How were the seats arranged for the audience? How did one get a good seat?
20)What would the audience do if they did not like a performance?
21)Find a picture of The Globe Theater (in your packet). {Click on the file below that says Globe Theater Explained. The numbers will correspond with the numbers on your handout!}Label your picture and include explanations.
Part III: Literary Terms
Research to find the definitions of these literary terms.They should go in the Literary Terms section of your notebook.It may be easier and more helpful to read the definition and then define the termin your own words.
Use the following sites:
1.
2.
3.
TERMS:
Dramatic TermsLiterary DevicesRefreshers
PrologueCoupletDramatic IronyAllusion
SoliloquyAsideMoodImagery
SonnetParadoxClimax
TragedyComic ReliefMetaphor
ComedyDialoguePersonification
History Monologue
Pun Fate
Go BetweenFree Will
Tragic Flaw/
Tragic Hero
Part IV: Lasting Influence
Visit the following website and read through the list of words:
22)List 5 words that shocked you most.
23)Use those words in an original short poem honoring Shakespeare(style of the poem is up to you).
Part V: Romeo and Juliet
Use the following link to answer the questions about Shakespeare’s play Romeo & Juliet:
24)What kind of play is Romeo and Juliet? (See “The theme”)
25)Where does the story take place?
26)Where did Shakespeare get the idea and story for the play? (Look for “History of the play”)
27)The main characters are Romeo ______and Juliet ______.
Part VI: Journal
Now that you are more familiar with Shakespeare, his time in history, and his Romeo & Juliet, take a moment to consider the following questions.
28)How are we still affected by Shakespeare and his writing?
29)Do you suppose Shakespeare would be as great a writer if he were alive today? Would he be better? Worse? Explain your answer.