4/30/10 English 1 Honors Make-Up Work
1. “Night”: Brainstorming
You will be exploring Act 3, Scene 2, in Romeo and Juliet, but first just think about the idea of “night.”
Brainstorm a web of definitions, synonyms, ideas, and images associated with the word night. I’ve started the
process for you.
darkness
dreams
Night
nightmares
2. Writing About Night
Select four to six words from your web, then use these words in a paragraph or a poem that produces a picture
of night in the reader’s mind. Do that here:
Why did you choose the words you did?
What did you learn/discovery through your writing?
3. Repitition of “Night” in 3.2.1-33
Shakespeare would often take words like night and use it throughout a play or scene. Each time the audience
hears the word “night,” a certain type of picture pops up in their minds. This is what writers call imagery. Look at
Juliet’s speech at the beginning of 3.2. Read the speech, circling and looking up any words that are unfamiliar.
Write those definitions in the margins of your book. Look up the scene on No Fear Shakespeare (online) for help,
but only after you’ve read it to yourself.
Scan the lines for phrases containing the word “night.” Analyze your discoveries.
 What are some of the different connotations or associations given to the word “night”?
 What does the night imagery add to the scene?
4. “Night” in the Rest of 3.2
Read the rest of the scene, keeping your eyes open for “night” imagery.
 Did you find more “nights”?
 How conscious of the imagery would you be if you read the scene with being told to look for it?
 Would it matter if you never picked up on the imagery? Why or why not?
 At what point does the scene begin to use the word “night” again?
 Romeo and Juliet have been eagerly anticipating the night. How do you think the recent events will
change the meaning of “night” for them?
5. Writing Assignment
Revise your piece on night and bring it in on Monday.
6. Homework
Read 3.3-5 and briefly summarize each scene in a short 3-5 sentence paragraph.