THEME TEACHING LESSON THREE - CREATIVE WRITING

We discussed Act I, Scene 5 and Act II, Scene 1, particularly Capulet’s intensity and control issues. How do these propensities affect his notions of loyalty and his expectations for his family? Is “interhouse” marriage between Capulets and Montagues really so terrible? It seems as if this is the first time in which the subject has been breached.

We visited the computer lab, and the students created writing pieces in response to the prompt:

Creative Writing Piece

For this block, you will create a short work of fiction based on Romeo and Juliet.

No matter which prompt you choose, you will use loyalty as your core theme!

You may write a script (verse or prose) or short story.

You may choose one of three topics:

A scene between Juliet, the Nurse, and Lady Capulet. Lady Capulet tells Juliet and the Nurse that one of the Capulet servants has disgraced the house by eloping with a Montague! What does Lady Capulet think of this? What do Juliet and the Nurse think, and how do they respond to Lady Capulet’s reactions?

A scene between Romeo, Mercutio, and Benvolio. Romeo has not yet met Juliet or Rosaline. Benvolio has just suggested that it’s all right for Capulets and Montagues to date each other! How do Romeo and Mercutio respond?

A scene between Lord Capulet and Paris. This is the first time that Paris has expressed his interest in Juliet (the first appeal that we see in the play from Paris to Lord Capulet is at least the second time that they’ve discussed the matter: PARIS: But now, my lord, what say you to my suit? CAPULET: But saying o'er what I have said before…). How does Paris express his request to Lord Capulet? How does Lord Capulet respond?

Excerpts of some responses:

B BLOCK

“Paris: What sense is there…At first glance, I may appear to be grave beseeming,
But the depth I feel for your daughter, there is no greater meaning
The common word may well be that we are none too fair,
But you soon will see that I know how to care.”
-T.C.

“Lord Capulet: I am going to have to think about this, Paris. I will have to take a minute to look over your proposal. The thing is, there is somebody else: Sir Harris.”
-C.H.

“Lord Capulet looked at Paris. What was first a grin soon became a smile, and Paris’ yellow teeth glistened in the afternoon sunlight.”
-B.F.

“ On a normal day in fair Verona, Juliet, Lady, Capulet, and the Nurse were sitting on the royal couch doing each other’s hair, eating Peppermint Patties, and watching the wonderful movie Clueless. The slumber party was going well until the butler came in and reported that one of the servants had run out and eloped with a Montague. The entire room was in shock.
Juliet broke the silence. ‘Ohhhhhh mmmyyyyy ggggoooooooooooo ssssssssssssshhhhhhhhhhh. We should so fire her.’
‘I agree,’ said Lady Capulet. ‘She is so on my no-text message list.’
‘You guys are so right. I’m not giving her a valentine this year. She should be loyal to our club that is named ‘Feminine Loyalty Sorority.’ Let’s go, girls!’”
-J.D.

D BLOCK

“Mercutio: I will always be loyal to you, Romeo; date the Capulet. It is the older patriarchal idiot fools whom we hate.”
-M.D.

“Mercutio: Love is for the loyals, man. If you ain’t loyal, ain’t no good comin’ from it.”
-D.E.

“PARIS: If loyalty is a problem, Sir, I will never stray; I am like a good mule, sir, never kicking or straying from my path.”
-J.G.

“Paris: I will trade you a chicken and some gum.
Lord Capulet: I don’t know; if you add a set of deer antlers in there, you might have a deal. Man, I tell you, I love to wear those things and prance around wishing that I was a deer.
Paris: Okay. You drive a tough bargain.
Lord Capulet: Yes, you got ripped off. My daughter is only worth the chicken.”
-C.H.

“Romeo
Love doth know me well, as I know it. Love art like the sun: no wall, no man, art able to stop it. Thy family doth not concern love, for love art independent and free of loyalty.
Mercutio
Romeo, wouldst thou curse and shame thy family’s honor? Wouldst thou love thy enemy? I bite my thumb at thee’s curst idea, knave!”
-J.M.

“ ’You should be ashamed for even thinking that the Capulet women are eligible to go out with!’ Mercutio screamed, his face getting redder at every glance that he took at Benvolio.
‘If a Capulet woman was the finest woman in all of Verona, shouldn’t she be a decent woman to wed?’ asked Benvolio.
‘No!’ Mercutio screamed, his hand reaching into his pocket, grasping a loaded gun.”
-A.W.

E BLOCK

“Mercutio: well I know u trying to be all loyal and stuff, but love is love.”
-B.H.

“Paris: Lord Capulet, I am madly in love with your daughter.
Lord Capulet: Do you kid?”
-C.M.

“*Romeo1 has logged into chat*

Romeo: Hey

Benvolio: Hey

Mercutio: Sup?

Romeo: nmu?

Mercutio: nm

Benvolio: hey dude, you should meet these girls. Juliet and Rosaline.

Mercutio: WTF r u talking about? You cant date a capulet!”
-N.L.

“Romeo: Let’s go for a walk through the city.

Benvolio: That sounds like a good idea. I have something to tell you guys.

Mercutio: Oh, no, not again, Benvolio! You are always coming up with extreme plots and wild plans.

Romeo: I hope this idea is better than the time you tried to train a horse to walk on its back two legs, and all it did was chase Mercutio for hours.

(Mercutio rolls his eyes and grimaces, remembering the event vividly.)

Benvolio: Don’t worry; this idea doesn’t involve horses, but it does involve Mercutio again, and you, and me.

(The three exit and go to the streets.)

Benvolio: So, are you ready to hear my idea?

Romeo: I guess…

Benvolio: Okay. You know how we have trouble finding women to date? What if we dated the Montague women! They look pretty, and, as we know, they have nothing up in their noggin. It would be easy to date them.

Romeo: Are you out of your mind?! The Capulet and Montague families are at war, and have been for as long as I could remember. That would be breaking the loyalty to our family.

Mercutio: This idea is worse than the horse plan. Although the women are nice, breaking the trust and loyalty with our family would be ridiculous and unspeakable!

Romeo: Benvolio, have you lost your mind?

Benvolio: Not that I know of…”
-J.A.

G BLOCK

"LADY CAPULET: Mine wine-engulfed blood art boiling in malice.
JULIET: Well, um...I believe that J-Van's acts were full un-chastisation.
LADY CAPULET: Thy opinion has been valued. We must part ways, brethren. Shabat shalom.
JULIET: Shalom, mine brethren."
-D.K.

"Key
LC = Lord Capulet
P = Paris

P: Montague Micro was demolished.
LC: That is wonderful news...Let's celebrate.
P (pops out champagne bottle): Before I pop the bottle, I would like to ask for your daughter's hand in marriage.
LC: Juliet?
P: Yes, sir.
LC: I can't think of a better man! After all, you're rich like me!
P: Let's party!!"
-J.S.

"Romeo: Our love, between thine self, and through her beautiful hair, filled with sparks of light, so beautiful and pure cannot be. For ere, we are Montagues and they are Capulets. Her bright eyes that light the night, her heart, that could defeat any demon, her gaze, could freeze time."
-D.G.

"Paris: Her beauty shines brighter than the torches of the night,
Her grace rivals the swans on water,
Her heart purer than the moonlight of a cloudless night.

Lord Capulet: I agree indeed, however, her heart is undecided and wanders the street of Verona searching for the one for her.

Paris: One shall step into the light, and show her the way.

Lord Capulet: Whom shall he be?

Paris: He shall be a fair gent.

Lord Capulet: Whom shall this fair gent be?

Paris: It shall be me; I shall be the fair gent to capture her heart."

Lord Capulet: Thou shall meet her tonight, and speak for your hearts."
-K.C.

"Bnyboy1234567890: did u guys hear bout the shootup at the gas station?

Merrycut1358: yeah that was pretty stupid.

RommieDhommee: wat da heck ru talking about? That was the coolest thing ever.

Merrycut1358: [WARNING LEVEL 17%]: wat was dat 4?

Bnyboy123456780: 4 not being 1 of us!!!

RommieDhommee: thats not nice

Merrycut1358 [WARNING LEVEL 15%]: g2g ttyl

Merrycut1358 SIGNED OFF AT 2:45:08 PM

Bnyboy1234567890: ru going 2 crash da capulet pArTy???

RommieDhommee: idk. G2G, bye!

RommieDhommee SIGNED OFF AT 2:49:46 PM

GMDBCman429 IS IDLE"
-D.H.

"Paris: These feelings. These feelings I have never felt before.
Capulet: What are these feelings of which you speak?
Paris: These feelings toward her are burning a hole in my heart!
Capulet: For whom do you have these feelings?
Paris: Your one and only daughter, Juliet.
Capulet: Out!
(Paris refuses to leave.)
Capulet: It would be a disgrace to the whole Capulet family for my daughter to marry so young! Out with you!
Paris: My lord, will all due respect, it should not be your decision whether your daughter marries so young. She is the most beautiful person who has ever been in sight of me. She is my one and only desire...I will give anything to be with her for the rest of my life.
(Capulet looks at Paris with a somewhat convinced face.)
Capulet: She is far too young to marry. She is my one and only daughter. To have her be wedded so soon would kill me.
Paris: My lord, your decision will not only decide if your daughter will marry so young, but it will decide if I live to see tomorow.
Capulet: You will not marry my daughter until she is eighteen. Until then, she is in my hands.
Paris: Oh, thank you, my lord, thank you so much. Your permission has saved my life. Thank you, thank you so much, my lord!"
-P.W.

"Romeo: 'Ello.
Mercutio: 'sup
Benvolio: ya know what? I think it would be just fine for any of us to go out with a Capulet.
Benvolio: We are just families, but we shouldn't be affected by our parents' arguments! Really.
Romeo: Interesting idea. It sounds like fun. They do have some good lookin' people.
Mercutio: .........
Mercutio: WT*!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!??????????????????
Mercutio: What are you talking about? Those battles apply to everyone, not just our parents.
Romeo: Still, it would a lot more fun than always having to avoid a person just because they are in a different family that just happens to be your family's enemy.
Romeo: I mean, really, if you found a girl you really liked and then found out that she was a Capulet, you wouldn't have a choice but to ignore her.
Benvolio: See, that's what I'm talking about. If you found a woman you really loved, but then discovered that you were from enemy families, you would have to stay apart. That would really suck.
Mercutio: Just throwing this out there, but have either of you actually been doing this?
Benvolio: No. I just had a random thought train and am throwing this out for discussion.
Romeo: .....um, maybe? Just kidding. I haven't been doing anything. Although Montague has been trying to find someone for me. Oh, well.
Mercutio: I still think it is rather odd that you are both agreeing to such a blasphemous topic. It is insane.
Romeo: I am just open to change. Really, Mercutio, you are taking this far too seriously.
Mercutio is now away
Romeo: Well, that is good. Now we can talk freely without a censor by that stupid fool of our cousin.
Benvolio: would you actually go with one of them? In reality.
Romeo: It depends. If she was real hot and stuff, then most likely I would. Otherwise, I don't think so.
Mercutio has returned
Mercutio: Well, I bet you have been having some uncensored talk while I was away.
Romeo: True, true. You could just scroll up and see, but that is your choice.
Benvolio: you know what? I think that you, being such a control freak, shall be disciplined.
Benvolio: *Faces computer screen and BITES THUMB!!!!!!!!!!!*
Benvolio: There. FEEL MY WRATH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Romeo: *Shakes Head* You are a simpleton."
-T.L.