DRAMATIC SIGNIFICANCE

Transcription

1 You are asked to discuss the dramatic significance of a quotation from the play. To do so successfully, you must approach the question with a plan!

2 Step One: Identify the speaker of the quotation.

3 Step Two: Describe the context, or situation, in which the speaker is saying these words.

4 Step Three: Explain the overall dramatic significance of this quotation as it relates to the play.

5 A quotation may have dramatic significance for a number of reasons. It could: - Develop plot - Create foreshadowing - Suggest something about character - Present an irony - Introduce an important symbol - Highlight a motif, or repeated image - Develop a theme

6 Act I, Scene ii, Lines 7-13 CAPULET: Comparison to fruit; let two more seasons pass before she is ready to be consumed Metaphor to suggest how young Juliet really is But saying o er what I have said before: My child is yet a stranger in the world; 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. PARIS: CAPULET: made. Younger than she are happy mothers made. And too soon marr d are those so early Literally, damaged like fruit that has been plucked too early

7 - Developing plot? Act I, Scene ii, Lines Creating foreshadowing? - Suggest a character trait? - Present an irony? - Introduce a symbol? - Show a motif, or repeated image? - Develop a theme? CAPULET: PARIS: CAPULET: But saying o er what I have said before: My child is yet a stranger in the world; 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. Younger than she are happy mothers made. And too soon marr d are those so early made.

8 Paris is talking to Old Capulet. They talk on the street after the initial fight has taken place. Paris attempts to get Capulet to agree to let him marry S Juliet. Capulet isn t too fond of the idea. He warns Paris that marrying a girl too early can ruin the relationship. These lines are significant because they make reference to the theme of time. Time is a reappearing theme in the play. In other places, we see especially how things are moving too quickly. Capulet s own marriage is brutal! It is also ironic that Romeo and Juliet want to marry so quickly. There is also a reference to picking fruit and the seasons.

9 E Speaking out on the hot streets of Verona, a street recently the scene of a chaotic fight between the Capulet and Montague boys, Paris speaks with Juliet s father about marriage. Paris attempts to convince the old man to agree to let him marry his daughter Juliet a girl of only 13 years of age. Capulet is visibly dismayed, however, especially by the idea of his daughter marrying an older man. He sternly warns Paris that marrying a girl too early can, in fact, marr the girl, causing irreversible harm to her emotional and physical health. In fact, he compares Juliet to a piece of fruit that would require two more summers of growing until it was ripe enough to be consumed. According to Capulet, such a difference in age between husband and wife will ultimately lead to disaster. The exchange between these two is significant because here we see another reference to time, a reappearing motif that develops an important theme within the play. In other scenes we see how things are moving too quickly, with Capulet s own marriage a classic example! It was likely ruined when he married too young in an arranged ceremony, and Lady Capulet appears to have a strained relationship with her daughter. It is also ironic that Romeo and Juliet want to marry so quickly with Friar Lawrence. Shakespeare seems to suggest that these characters need to slow down, particularly in relation to love a theme called temperance.

10 EXCELLENT PROFICIENT SATISFACTORY LIMITED IDEAS & IMPRESSIONS The student s analysis of the quotation is INSIGHTFUL, and the discussion of the dramatic significance is PERCEPTIVE and ILLUMINATING. Support is PRECISE and reinforces the student s ideas in a convincing way The student s analysis of the quotation is THOUGHTFUL, and the discussion of the dramatic significance is REVEALING and SENSIBLE. Support is SPECIFIC and WELL CHOSEN and reinforces the student s ideas in a persuasive way The student s analysis of the quotation is STRAIGHTFORWARD, and the discussion of the dramatic significance is ADEQUATE. Support is GENERALIZED and reinforces the student s ideas in a reasonable way although it may lack persuasiveness The student s analysis of the quotation is SUPERFICIAL and OVERSIMPLIFIED, and the discussion of the dramatic significance is INCOMPLETE. Support is LACKING or IRRELEVANT, and only weakly connects to the student s ideas WRITING SKILLS The student s diction is PRECISE, and sentences show SKILLFUL VARIETY in type and length. This writing demonstrates CONFIDENCE in control of sentence structure, usage, spelling, punctuation and grammar. Overall, this is POLISHED writing. The student s diction is SPECIFIC, and sentences show generally effective VARIETY in type and length. This writing demonstrates COMPETENCE in control of sentence structure, usage, spelling, punctuation and grammar. MINOR ERRORS may appear. The student s diction is ADEQUATE, and sentences are STRAIGHTFORWARD in type and length. This writing demonstrates BASIC control of sentence structure, usage, spelling, punctuation and grammar. There may be LAPSES IN CONTROL, but overall, writing is conventional. The student s diction is IMPRECISE and/or INAPPROPRIATE, and sentences are frequently AWKWARD or AMBIGUOUS. This writing demonstrates A LACK OF CONTROL of sentence structure, usage, spelling, punctuation and grammar. JARRING ERRORS impair the communication of the writing.

11 So how does one score an Excellent? For one, try describing the physical setting in your opening sentence, rather than the bland, is speaking. VERSION 1: Paris is talking to Old Capulet. VERSION 2: Speaking out on the hot streets of Verona, a street recently the scene of a chaotic fight between the Capulet and Montague boys, Paris speaks with Juliet s father about marriage.

12 Secondly, avoid using to be verbs such as is, am, are, was, etc., and instead use active verbs. Consider the difference between these two sentences: A. Paris is speaking with Juliet s father about marriage. B. Paris speaks with Juliet s father about marriage. converses petitions inquires petitions discusses blabs chews the fat confabulates

13 Concentrate on strong diction and syntax. Use a thesaurus if need be, and ensure you add descriptive modifiers: VERSION 1: Capulet isn t too fond of the idea. He warns Paris that marrying a girl too early can ruin the relationship. VERSION 2: Capulet is visibly dismayed by the idea of Juliet marrying this older man. He sternly warns Paris that marrying a girl too early can marr the girl, causing irreversible harm to her emotional and physical health, and that the relationship between husband and wife will ultimately fail.

14 Lastly, say something meaningful about what importance these lines have in developing the characters, or a theme, irony, symbol, etc. It is not enough to merely paraphrase the plot; you must add your own analysis and interpret the meaning. To discover these meaning, you MUST first pose questions! Example: Here we see another reference to time a motif that will repeat throughout the play, especially as it pertains to things moving too quickly. Capulet certainly alludes to his own marriage (an apparent cold and heartless relationship), which was ruined when he married too young. Ironically, it is just this kind of love that Romeo and Juliet will hurry in to with Friar Lawrence.

15 OTHELLO EXAMPLE I am one, sir, who comes to tell you your daughter and the Moor are making the beast with two backs" (Lines ).

16 OTHELLO QUOTATION EXPLICATION CONTENT Speaker Context Dramatic Significance

17 OTHELLO QUOTATION EXPLICATION STRUCTURE Point Proof Discussion

18 POINT I. Iago s crude and incendiary remarks about Desdemona represent the 8irst step in his plan to draw Othello to ruin.

19 PROOF & DISCUSSION I. Iago s crude and incendiary remarks about Desdemona represent the 8irst step in his plan to draw Othello to ruin. Iago & Roderigo outside Brabantio s house at night Iago s plan: to incense [D s] kinsmen Plague him with 8lies ; work Desdemona s father against him Roderigo/Iago use offensive slander: old black ram is tupping your white ewe and B s daughter is covered with a Barbary horse; concludes with making the beast with two backs Image is an irreverent depiction of the sexual act On one level opening scene characterizes Othello (thick lips; horse; beast with sexual appetite) and helps instil expectation of his character The scene helps to create sympathy for Othello and align the audience against Iago and his plan; it is an ignoble, treacherous plot, and it is set in motion here.

20 OTHELLO QUOTATION EXPLICATION STRUCTURE Topic Sentence Elaboration Proof Discussion Other Connections Clincher

21 Iago s crude and incendiary remarks about Desdemona represent the first step in his plan to draw Othello to ruin. Here, early in the play in Scene One, Iago and Roderigo have planted themselves outside of Brabantio s house, an important Venetian counsellor, but more importantly the father of Desdemona. The ensign s plan is simple: to incense Desdemona s kinsmen, and to Plague him with flies. To enact his crude plot he shouts slanderous, obscene details about Desdemona s relationship with Othello, waking Brabantio from his sleep and enraging him. Here, Iago s repeated references of an animal mating with another beast suggest a brutish and offensive act between Othello and Desdemona: Point Elaboration Proof Even now, now, every now, an old black ram Is tupping your white ewe! He further insults the honour of Desdemona claiming she makes the beast with two backs with a kind of Barbary horse. These irreverent images of the sexual act would be enough to anger any father, but because of Othello s position as a moor an outsider to Venice from Africa Iago knows he can metaphorically stir the pot. Thus his insults with Roderigo towards Othello, referencing his thick lips and African heritage, should help instil for the audience a characterization of the great general. However, because Othello has been so plain with the audience in announcing his evil intentions, all of these suggestive details really work as a foil for when we first meet Othello in the next scene. Simply put, this early episode in the play actually helps intensify the nobility and gentle charisma of the great general and showcase the ignoble treachery of his jealous ensign. Discussion Connections Clincher