Dreamers Often Lie Second Meanings from Shakespeare S Romeo and Juliet

Dreamers often lie – Second meanings from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet 1. Begin this exercise by closely rereading Mercutio’s “Queen Mab” speech (Act I, scene 4). An online version of the scene can be found at http://shakespeare.mit.edu/romeo_juliet/romeo_juliet.1.4.html As you read consider the following focus:  How does Queen Mab deceive?  Look to two lines previous, Mercutio’s “That dreamer’s often lie.”  Knowing what you do about the story, how does that deception (Romeo’s dream – perhaps later Romeo’s vision of Juliet) come into play?

2. Go to http://www.clicknotes.com/romeo/brooke/welcome.html Here you will find “Shakespeare's primary source for Romeo and Juliet was Arthur Brooke's Romeus and Juliet, first published in 1562, two years before Shakespeare's birth, and reprinted in 1587, about eight years before the first performance of Romeo and Juliet.”

Don’t forget what you did with #1 above (put it in the close back of your head). Now, at the Romeus and Juliet site (where you are now), read Brooke’s note to the reader. Focus on his tone (the author’s attitude), specifically how he seems to judge the two lovers. Write down (and/or cut and paste) notes. Before you begin to wonder too deeply what this has to do with question #1, go read the end of Brooke’s work. Besides noticing its resemblance to the end of Shakespeare’s play – how does his tone seem to change (if it does)? Now you can wonder (and write down) what you think this might have to do with question #1.

3. Go to this site at http://www.albany.edu/jmmh/vol1no1/RJSarajevo.html , a review of Romeo and Juliet in Sarajevo. Why is the movie titled as it is? How is it similar (from Shakespeare’s play), how is it different? Go to http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/programs/transcripts/1217.html for a complete transcript of the documentary.

4. Go to http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/flfeedback/readflfeedbacksarajevo.html and read some viewer’s response to the Frontline Program (see question 3). How can people who have seen the same thing have so many different responses? Now try, at least in a general way, to link this to questions 1 & 2 (How can one author for that matter, such as Brooke, see the same thing in such different ways). 5. Go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_Mab and look at the history of Queen Mab and how she was used not only by Shakespeare – but by other authors as well – take notes. 6. Finally, examine the Prince’s words at the end of Shakespeare’s play. How do they echo Brooke’s own ending? How do they echo what occurred in Sarejevo? Why is it so important that it is morning? Can you tie all of these ideas, from question one to question six, together? How do the prince’s words apply to us all (go take another look at the site under question #4).