Name Class. Analyzing Mood Through Diction in Romeo and Juliet Act I, scene V

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1 Name Class Analyzing Mood Through Diction in Romeo and Juliet Act I, scene V Mood is a literary element that evokes certain feelings or vibes in readers through words and descriptions. Usually, mood is referred to as the atmosphere of a literary piece, as it creates an emotional situation that surrounds the readers. Mood is developed in a literary piece through various methods. It can be developed through setting, theme, tone and diction. Diction is a fancy way of saying the author s word choice. Authors use different words to covey different tones and moods. Consider how the nouns "man" and "freak" create entirely different feelings in the reader. Calling someone a man has a positive connotation, while freak has a negative connotation. The verbs "rain" and "downpour" also convey different tones. Does a character go about his work "carefully" or "recklessly?" All it takes is a single word choice to produce a tone or mood shift. Today, you and your group will be responsible for taking a chunk of Act I, scene V of Romeo and Juliet and determining the MOOD of the text. You will do this by looking at the diction (word choice). Possible moods: ominous foreboding romantic hostile inflammatory hopeful flirty fatalistic tense These are only possibilities and are by no means the only moods. Remember the mood words are generally emotion words You may need to look up the definitions of the mood words in the dictionary to make your decision TASKS: 1. As a group REWRITE your section of text, sentence-by-sentence or chunk by chunk, with dialogue that modern teens would use. 2. Once you have paraphrased, look at the diction to decide what the MOOD of the text is. Think about the emotion that the words give off. 3. Fill in the graphic organizer with the mood and an explanation about why the group made the choice that they did. 4. Use your responses to complete an analysis paragraph on your own notebook paper. Use the paragraph stem below to help you craft your paragraph. William Shakespeare creates a mood of by selecting words that have a connotation (or and connotations). For example the words,, and create a mood because. The words,, and also add to the feeling of because 5. Be prepared to share your analysis with the class.

2 GROUP A Text: O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright! It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night Like a rich jewel in an Ethiope's ear; Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear! So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows, As yonder lady o'er her fellows shows. The measure done, I'll watch her place of stand, And, touching hers, make blessed my rude hand. Did my heart love till now? forswear it, sight! For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night. What specific words helped you make the mood decision? List the WORDS and explain their CONNOTATIONS.

3 GROUP B This, by his voice, should be a Montague. Fetch me my rapier, boy. What dares the slave Come hither, cover'd with an antic face, To fleer and scorn at our solemnity? Now, by the stock and honour of my kin, To strike him dead, I hold it not a sin. Why, how now, kinsman! wherefore storm you so? Uncle, this is a Montague, our foe, A villain that is hither come in spite, To scorn at our solemnity this night. Young Romeo is it? 'Tis he, that villain Romeo. What specific words helped you make the mood decision? List the WORDS and explain their CONNOTATIONS.

4 GROUP C Text: Content thee, gentle coz, let him alone; He bears him like a portly gentleman; And, to say truth, Verona brags of him To be a virtuous and well-govern'd youth: I would not for the wealth of all the town Here in my house do him disparagement: Therefore be patient, take no note of him: It is my will, the which if thou respect, Show a fair presence and put off these frowns, And ill-beseeming semblance for a feast. It fits, when such a villain is a guest: I'll not endure him. He shall be endured: What, goodman boy! I say, he shall: go to; Am I the master here, or you? go to. You'll not endure him! God shall mend my soul! You'll make a mutiny among my guests! You will set cock-a-hoop! you'll be the man! What is the mood? What specific words helped you make the mood decision? List the WORDS and explain their CONNOTATIONS.

5 GROUP D Text: Why, uncle, 'tis a shame. Go to, go to; You are a saucy boy: is't so, indeed? This trick may chance to scathe you, I know what: You must contrary me! marry, 'tis time. Well said, my hearts! You are a princox; go: Be quiet, or--more light, more light! For shame! I'll make you quiet. What, cheerly, my hearts! Patience perforce with wilful choler meeting Makes my flesh tremble in their different greeting. I will withdraw: but this intrusion shall Now seeming sweet convert to bitter gall. What is the mood? What specific words helped you make the mood decision? List the WORDS and explain their CONNOTATIONS.

6 GROUP E [To ] If I profane with my unworthiest hand This holy shrine, the gentle fine is this: My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss. Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much, Which mannerly devotion shows in this; For saints have hands that pilgrims' hands do touch, And palm to palm is holy palmers' kiss. Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too? Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer. What specific words helped you make the mood decision? List the WORDS and explain their CONNOTATIONS.

7 GROUP F Text: O, then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do; They pray, grant thou, lest faith turn to despair. Saints do not move, though grant for prayers' sake. Then move not, while my prayer's effect I take. Thus from my lips, by yours, my sin is purged. [kissing her] Then have my lips the sin that they have took. Sin from thy lips? O trespass sweetly urged! Give me my sin again. [kissing her again] You kiss by the book. What specific words helped you make the mood decision? List the WORDS and explain their CONNOTATIONS.

8 GROUP G What is her mother? Nurse Marry, bachelor, Her mother is the lady of the house, And a good lady, and a wise and virtuous Is she a Capulet? O dear account! my life is my foe's debt. [Exit all but and Nurse] What's he that follows there, that would not dance? Nurse I know not. Go ask his name: if he be married. My grave is like to be my wedding bed. Nurse His name is Romeo, and a Montague; The only son of your great enemy. My only love sprung from my only hate! Too early seen unknown, and known too late! Prodigious birth of love it is to me, That I must love a loathed enemy. What specific words helped you make the mood decision? List the WORDS and explain their CONNOTATIONS.