RESEARCH TOPICS FOR SHAKESPEARE’S ROMEO AND JULIET



RESEARCH TOPICS FOR SHAKESPEARE’S ROMEO AND JULIET

Choose one area from those listed below to develop a specific research question that you will answer in your project. (Some of the topics are adapted from Enotes.)

1.Romeo and Juliet’s passion for each other demonstrates the practice of “courtly love.” Identify some of the aspects of courtly love and discuss the similarities between Romeo and Juliet and modern youthful relationships. Courtly love flourished during the Middle Ages and influenced Renaissance literature. Traditionally, the system of courtly love defined a code of behavior for lovers. Under this system, how is love defined? What is the pattern of courtly love? How does the love between Romeo and Juliet follow this pattern? How does the love between modern teens follow the pattern?

2. Arranged marriage is another practice in Shakespeare’s time. What kind of considerations would parents have in mind when they were searching for suitable spouses for their children in Elizabethan England? How could this practice cause conflict between parents and children? What recourse do the parents have? What recourse do children have? For many modern young people around the world the concept of arranged marriage is a familiar one; in fact, the concept is part of many religions. How do arranged marriages today and the attitudes toward them compare with those in Shakespeare’s time?

3. In Elizabethan England, Queen Elizabeth was busy establishing Britain’s empire around the world. What places were colonized by Britain during this time period? What specifically did Britain hope to gain? What military strategies did Britain employ in her empire-building? What wars was Britain engaged in—the causes and the effects?

4. Montague sends Benvolio to find out the source of Romeo’s melancholy, or extreme sadness. Today we might call it depression. Examine Juliet’s actions and words for extreme emotions and rash decisions. How do the other characters explain her behavior and words? During the Renaissance, what was the attitude toward melancholy and mental illness? How could they be treated and/or cured? Compare melancholy/mental illness (Renaissance) to depression (21st century) in terms of societal attitudes, symptoms, causes, and treatment.

6. Shakespeare’s influence on today’s popular culture is tremendous. He has exerted this influence since he first wrote from the late 1500’s to the early 1600’s. Think of Shakespeare’s influence on the movie Titanic or the popular Twilight saga, but there are plenty of other stories in various media that Shakespeare has held sway over. What other stories has Shakespeare been a source of inspiration? What influence has he had in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries as well? In addition, Shakespeare is the most quoted source behind the Bible. What are some of his most famous quotes, and where can they be found today? (Romeo and Juliet is only the tip of the iceberg) Identify different areas of Shakespeare’s influence in popular culture through today including movies, TV, plays and song lyrics.

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