Romeo and Juliet Dialectical Journal – ACT I
KEEP THIS IN YOUR ROMEO AND JULIET FOLDER
Assignment: As we read William Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet, it will be your responsibility to
keep a dialectical (double-entry) journal. The purpose of the dialectical journal is to provide a platform
for you to further develop your reading, writing, and critical thinking skills. As you complete the
dialectical journal it will also become a very useful reference for completing additional assignments and
participating in class discussions. It is recommend that you use a spiral notebook for your journal;
however, you may also use loose-leaf paper – you will just need to be more diligent in keeping your
journal together and organized should you choose to use loose-leaf paper. If you choose to use a spiral
notebook, devote a whole notebook to this journal – do not combine this work with your science, math,
or even other English assignments. It is expected that you will complete this journal as we read, listen,
watch, and act out the play. Therefore, the majority of this assignment will be completed as classwork.
Format: The format of a dialectical journal is specific. Make sure you follow this organization so you
do not lose points on this assignment:
Your paper should be divided into two columns.
Within the left-hand column, you will record
text directly as it appears in the play along with
the line numbers. If you need to write down
more than two lines, you may paraphrase or
summarize the text within the left side column
and be sure to include the range of lines you are
paraphrasing or summarizing.
Within the right-hand column you must explain
the significance of the passage you recorded in the
left hand column. Significance is a broad term and
it includes a discussion of themes revealed or
developed, significant insight into a character, an
explanation on why the use of a literary device is
effective, and/or how the event may influence the
plot.
Dialectical Journal Prompts:
Act 1 Scene 1
-Purpose of lines the
opening scene.
-Prince’s speech
-Where has Romeo been?
-Use of oxymorons
-What is Romeo’s problem & what does Benvolio
advise?
Act 1, Scene 2
- Capulet's speech
- Use of dramatic irony
- Benvolio's advice to Romeo & Romeo's
response
Act 1, Scene 3
-Foils: Nurse vs
Lady Capulet
- Purpose of nurse?
- Lady Capulet’s speech
Act 1, scene 4
- Romeo's attitude
- Friends: Benvolio & Mercutio
- Queen Mab speech
- dreams are reality or illusion
- Use of pun
- Foreshadowing
Act 1 Scene 5
- Capulet's monologue
- Romeo's "infatuation/love at first sight"
- Tybalt vs. Capulet about Romeo
- Foreshadowing
- Inciting incident – who reveals conflict?
- Use of paradox
Quotes from Act I
In your journals, also in two-column form, complete the following: For each citation below:
(1) explain the plot action
(2) identify the speaker
(3) identify the person(s) spoken to
(4) explain the thematic significance
(5) identify in boldface the use of foreshadowing or irony or metaphor or simile; if none of these
exist, identify the use of a poetic device.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
What, drawn, and talk of peace? I hate the
word
As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee.
Have at thee, coward!
(I.1)
By thee, old Capulet, and Montague,
Have thrice disturbed the quiet of our streets…
…If ever you disturb our streets again,
Your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace.
(I.1)
Black and portentous must his humor prove
Unless good counsel may the cause remove.
(I.1)
Farewell. Thou canst not teach me to forget.
I’ll pay that doctrine, or else die in debt.
(I.1)
She hath not seen the change of fourteen years;
Let two more summers wither in their pride
Ere we may think her ripe to be a bride.
(I.1)
Younger than she are happy mothers made (I.1)
Take thou some new infection to the eye,
And the rank poison of the old will die.
(I.2, 1002: 52-3)
On Lammas Eve at night shall she be fourteen;
That shall she, marry; I remember it well.
‘Tis the earthquake now eleven years;
(I.3)
Well, think of marriage now. Younger
than you,
Here in Verona, ladies of esteem,
Are made already mothers. By my count.
I was your mother much upon these years
That you are now a maid.
(I.3)
This precious book of love, this unbound lover,
10 To beautify him only lacks a cover.
11
12
13
14
15
(I.3)
O, then I see Queen Mab hath been with you.
She is the fairies’ midwife, and she comes
In shape no bigger than an agate stone
One the forefinger of an alderman,
Drawn with a team of little atomies
Athwart men’s noses as they lie asleep;
(I.4)
I fear, too early, for my mind misgives
Some consequence, yet hanging in the stars,
Shall bitterly begin his fearful date
With this night’s revels and expire the term
Of a despised life, closed in my breast,
By some vile forfeit of untimely death.
But he that hath the steerage of my course
Direct my sail! On, lusty gentlemen!
(I.4)
Welcome, gentlemen! Ladies that have their
toes
Unplagued with corns will have a bout with
you.
(I.5)
O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!
It seems she hangs upon the check of night
Like a rich jewel in an Ethiop’s ear –
(I.5)
My only love, sprung from my only hate!
Too early seen unknown, and known too late!
Prodigious birth of love it is to me
That I must love a loathed enemy.
(I.5)