We are going to watch a couple of scenes-- from the balcony scene through the fight scene-- in the 1960 and 1990 movie versions of the play. This morning we are going to watch the older version. While we watch, students will compare and contrast the movie with Shakespeare's play. As I start the movie, they will prepare themselves to take notes.
The Zeffirelli movie is great. Watching it helps students visualize setting and character interaction. I will pause a few times while we watch to check for understanding and deepen knowledge. Here's an overview:
The Balcony Scene
Juliet awaits the Nurse
The Wedding Scene
The Fight Scene
These questions help students read the movie as they would a book. The movie is a text unto itself and I am trying to treat it as such. These questions also prepare students for a deeper conversation, once we have seen the same scenes in the Luhrmann version.
We should have a few minutes at the end of class to discuss our thoughts on the movie and review our notes. First, I will ask them to journal about what they better understand after watching the movie (W.9-10.10). Take a look at some of their notes. Then, I will ask questions, such as: