Module 5: Shakespeare

Lesson 5.3C: Module Project: Show ’em What You’ve Got

Here is your chance to put it all together, to show what you've learned about Shakespeare and Romeo and Juliet in the previous lessons.

Movie vs. Play
You've had a chance to read Romeo and Juliet, as well as watch Franco Zeffirelli's film adaptation. The visual images and filmed sequences probably helped you to understand the play better. At the same time, you probably noticed many similarities and differences between the movie and the play. You also noticed how the characters were cast, where the film was shot, and how the music and sound effects were used. You probably came away from watching Zeffirelli's movie adaptation of Romeo and Juliet with your own personal opinion of it. Perhaps you really enjoyed it. Perhaps you didn't like it at all. Perhaps there were some things you appreciated, but other flaws you couldn't ignore.

Whatever thoughts you have or opinion you hold about the movie, you are certainly entitled to share them with others. This makes you a movie critic.

Your job as a movie critic is to persuade your audience (or reader) to share your opinion (or at least notice it). Movie critics can often influence whether or not a movie is popular, and pass judgment on whether a movie should be critically acclaimed or not. Movie critics look at a movie carefully, pick it apart, and try to tell the public what to think. Their writing needs to be precise and persuasive.

Your job in the module project will be to write your own persuasive movie review of Zeffirelli's screen adaptation of Romeo and Juliet. A viewing template has been provided to help you get started with this and organize your thoughts. As you've also read Shakespeare's play, it will be important to refer to it in your movie review as well. This will help you to comment more accurately on the movie itself, as you'll have expert knowledge of the play, its plot, characters, and themes, to guide you. Good luck!

Summary
Completing this lesson has helped you to:

• demonstrate what you've learned in the play
• present a creative project
• use persuasive techniques in your project or presentation

Section Summary
In this final section, you have reflected on and analyzed Romeo and Juliet as a whole. You have explored imagery, foreshadowing, and theme to better understand what Shakespeare was trying to accomplish with this timeless classic.

Review the following list to ensure you have completed all assignments for this section.

• Section Assignment 5.3A: Shakespeare,Prince of Light
• Section Assignment 5.3B: Journal Entries
• Section Assignment 5.3C: Module Project: Show ’em What You’ve Got