Month: August 2015

Just in Time For Back To School: “Romeo and Juliet” Summaries For Your Viewing/ Reading Pleasure!

| astronut1

Well folks, it’s a new month, and that means a new play, and since August is also the beginning of the new school year, I’ve decided to make August’s Play of the Month—- Romeo and Juliet! Many of us study this play in school, a lot of us write papers, and some of us even perform in it, so I’m going to give you Romeo and Juliet commentary, artwork, analysis, and comedy ALL MONTH LONG! So to start, let me take this opportunity to help familiarize you with the plot.

Here’s a very kid-friendly summary of the play: http://www.kidzworld.com/article/4866-kidz-notes-romeo-and-juliet 

Here are a few videos that sum up the story of the play:

1. Crash Course: Romeo and Juliet Summary presented by Paper Towns author, John Greene:

2. Shakespeare For Kids: Romeo and Juliet:

http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fkkve73rnCk&list=PLBIGI43j4La9EJr5SeTQsFRg1df7hGrXI

3. A retelling of Romeo and Juliet from my favorite children’s TV program: Wishbone!

4. Thug Notes: Romeo and Juliet (PG-13 Language ahead)

Remember, nearly everyone knows this story, and we don’t want to end up like these people: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=121975740

Happy Birthday Juliet!

| astronut1

Hi Folks,

Not only is it the first day of this month, it’s also a Shakespearean holiday! According to this passage from “Romeo and Juliet,” today is Juliet’s Birthday!

NURSE: Even or odd, of all days in the year,
Come Lammas Eve at night shall she be fourteen.
–Romeo and Juliet, Act I, Scene ii.
Lammas Eve, is a pagan holiday, also known as Lughnasa, a Celtic holiday traditionally held on August 1st, or the midway point between the summer solstice and the Equinox. It was a day celebrating harvests and the beginning of fall, and was celebrated through eating wheat, drinking wine and burning a giant wicker man in effigy, (the inspiration of the film of the same name, and the festival of Burning Man). By the way, not everyone appreciates this holiday, click here to see what I mean.
There is also another significance to Juliet’s birthday. It makes her a Leo, a star sign traditionally associated with the Sun. So, when Romeo calls her “The Sun,” there is a literal connection to her birth. Shakespeare makes many allusions to astrology in Romeo and Juliet, as a metaphor for fate.
In the next few days I’ll be talking about what these allusions mean and how they help people understand the play.
Enjoy Juliet’s Birthday everyone!
By the way, here’s a link to a fun website: Juliet’s Blog: http://julietisthesun.blogspot.com/