Romeo and Juliet in Bosnia Reading Skill: Have you ever read a story that seemed familiar? Maybe it reminded you of another story. Or maybe it even reminded you of a personal experience. When you ask yourself how a story is like or unlike another story or experience, you are making connections. Often, we connect with stories about love, loss, friendship, or betrayal. These concerns are common to all people, no matter where or when we live. Making connections helps you better understand the subject. Story I read Another story or my own experience Increased understanding Into the Editorial An editorial is a story that presents opinions of the writer. Editorials are common in newspapers and newsmagazines. They are often used to present an editor s opinion of a current news event. In Romeo and Juliet in Bosnia, the editorial writer uses a tragic story to present his opinion about war. 184 HOLT ADAPTED READER Copyright by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.
Bob Herbert BASED ON THE EDITORIAL FROM The New York Times, May 8, 1994 Copyright by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved. ROMEO AND JULIET IN BOSNIA 185
MAKING CONNECTIONS I ve read Shakespeare s play Romeo and Juliet. The title of this editorial makes the connection between that play and this report. In line 3, I see one similarity already. Two lovers die together. MAKING CONNECTIONS Re-read lines 12 14. Find another similarity between this story and Romeo and Juliet. Describe it on the lines below. MAKING CONNECTIONS Take a look at lines 29 32. What connection does the writer make between this story and all wars? 5 10 15 20 25 30 One Tuesday night Frontline 1 presented the true story of Bosko Brkic, an Eastern Orthodox Serb, and Admira Ismic, a Muslim. 2 They met in the mid-1980s, fell in love, and died together in Sarajevo. 3 The documentary Romeo and Juliet in Saravejo focuses on thoroughly human people caught up in a horror. It s one thing to hear about the bloodshed caused by war, but it s different to actually witness a parent search for meaning while recalling a lost daughter. The shock of their story is that they could be a young couple from anywhere. They graduated from high school in June of 1986, and they both were crazy about movies and music. Admira had a cat named Yellow that she loved and Bosko liked to play practical jokes. Admira s father says he had nothing against the relationship. He says he had started to love Bosko. But Admira s grandmother opposed it: He is Serb, she is a Muslim, and how will it work? For Admira and Bosko, love was the answer. While Bosko was away on his required military service, Admira wrote that they would soon be reunited. After that, absolutely nothing can separate us. The 1984 Winter Olympics had just been held in Sarajevo. People were trying to live together in peace in this cosmopolitan city of Serbs, Croats, Muslims, Jews, and others. But people who hated those of different backgrounds and religions shattered the peace of Sarajevo. Bosko was faced with a cruel choice. He could not kill Serbs, his own people, and he could not fire on his girlfriend s people. Bosko and Admira decided to escape from Sarajevo. They had to cross a bridge between the Serb and Muslim lines. Gunmen from both sides overlooked the bridge. No one knows who shot the lovers, but onlookers said that Bosko died instantly. Admira crawled to him and died a few minutes later. Only the times and places change. Various reasons are given for the endless conflicts. If you dig a little, you will uncover ethnic or religious reasons. The world stands helpless before the madness, which is not the curse of our times but of all time. 1. Frontline: a PBS television series that presents in-depth news features. 2. Serb Muslim: people of different race and religion who were at war during this time. 3. Sarajevo (SAHR uh YAY voh): capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. From In America; Romeo and Juliet in Bosnia by Bob Herbert adapted from The New York Times, May 8, 1994. Copyright 1994 by The New York Times Agency. Retold by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. Reproduced by permission of The New York Times Agency. 186 HOLT ADAPTED READER Copyright by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.
Romeo and Juliet in Bosnia Most of us make connections between sources without even thinking about it. A song has special meaning for us because it reminds us of someone. Or a story reminds us of something that happened in our family. By making connections, we gain a better understanding of a subject. In the chart below, make three connections between Romeo and Juliet in Bosnia and some other work. The first column lists events from this informational piece. In the second column, list a similar event from a story you ve read or seen, or a song you ve heard. You can use a different connecting work for each event. One connection has been made for you. Event in Romeo and Juliet in Bosnia Event in Connecting Work 1. A Serb and Muslim fall in love. These Connecting work: the movie Titanic racial and religious groups are at war. Event: Two unlikely people fall in love. The girl is rich, and the boy is poor. 2. Two lovers die together. Connecting work: Event: 3. Life is disrupted by civil war. Connecting work: Event: Copyright by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved. ROMEO AND JULIET IN BOSNIA 187
Page 181 Making Inferences Juliet means she will kill herself with the dagger if the potion does not work. Soliloquy Circle What if it be poison. Page 182 Soliloquy Possible response: Juliet is frightened and is getting more and more upset and hysterical. Vocabulary Spit means here spear. Page 183 Graphic Organizer: Soliloquy Sample answers: 1. Answers provided. 2. Summary: What if I wake up in the tomb before Romeo comes to get me? Juliet s State of Mind: Juliet is becoming scared. 3. Summary: Look! I think I see Tybalt s ghost coming after Romeo who killed him. Stop, Tybalt! Juliet s State of Mind: Juliet is becoming hysterical. Romeo and Juliet in Bosnia Page 184 Page 186 Sample answer: Another similarity is that both pairs of lovers have relatives opposed to their relationship. The writer says that the basis of the conflict in this story is the cause of all wars ethnic or religious reasons. Page 187 Graphic Organizer: Sample answers: 1. Answer provided. 2. Connecting work: West Side Story Event: Two lovers die in a gang fight. 3. Connecting work: Lives in the Crossfire Event: People s lives are disrupted by the conflict between the Catholics and the Protestants in Northern Ireland. 12 HOLT ADAPTED READER Copyright by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.