Romeo & Juliet Lesson 14: Act 1 Scene 5 - PowerPoint

In the exploration of Act 1 Scene 5 from Shakespeare's timeless classic, Romeo and Juliet, students are encouraged to delve into the thematic use of light and dark imagery. The objective of the lesson is to enhance students' knowledge and understanding of this particular scene. They are invited to examine Romeo's speech, where he is captivated by Juliet's luminance, describing her as teaching 'the torches to burn bright'. Students are tasked with identifying instances of light and dark within the text, such as 'burn bright' and 'cheek of night', and to contemplate why Shakespeare might have chosen to use such starkly contrasting imagery. This exercise aims to deepen their appreciation of Shakespeare's literary techniques and the dramatic effect they create.

As the lesson progresses, the concept of love at first sight is introduced, with a focus on Romeo's immediate infatuation upon seeing Juliet for the first time. Students read Romeo's speech, filled with romantic and vivid descriptions of Juliet's beauty, and then connect comment boxes to the corresponding parts of the text. These comments highlight Juliet's unearthly beauty, Romeo's amazement, and the use of rhetorical questions and rhyming couplets. Further analysis involves finding quotations to support given points, such as Romeo being struck by Juliet's beauty, and examining the literary techniques used, like metaphor and juxtaposition. The aim is to enable students to interpret how Romeo's passionate and impulsive nature is conveyed through Shakespeare's language, which foreshadows the intense and tragic nature of their love story.