Introduction to Romeo and Juliet

Part 1: Romeo and Juliet in

MoviesChoose one of the following movies, and

explain where the story of Romeo and Juliet might play into the movie.

#1: Letters to Juliet

Set in present-day Verona, the city where Shakespeare set his play, this love story brings in some aspects of the Shakespearean love story. There is a balcony scene in the movie which plays on the famous scene in the play. The main female character, Sophie, also falls in love with another young man after she has promised to marry her fia’nce. There are many differences of course in the storyline, though.

Letters to Juliet Explanation

#2: Toy Story III

“Spoiler alert: at the end of the movie, the toys get together and stage a version of Romeo and Juliet. Mr. Prickle Pants plays Romeo and a Little Green Man plays Juliet. Mr. Prickle Pants and the little man perform an adorable rendition of the famous balcony scene. The hedgehog quotes ‘but soft what light through yonder window breaks’ and the little green man replies: ‘Romeo Oh Romeo Wherefore Art Thou Romeo.’”

Toy Story lll Explanation:

#3: Beauty and the Beast

“…[There’s]this great segment that’s about 30 seconds, where there’s a subtle reference to Romeo And Juliet. In that particular scene we learn that the Beast never learned how to read, so Belle decides to teach him. At the end of the scene she reads to him

a passage from Romeo and Juliet and quotes the original play: ’There was never a story of more woe

than that of Juliet and her Romeo.’”

Beauty and the Beast Explanation:

Part 2: Present-Day Verona, Italy:

Setting for Romeo and Juliet

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g187871-Verona_Province_of_Verona_Veneto-Vacations.html

“So splendid was medieval Verona that its reputation alone inspired Shakespeare to set two plays here (Romeo and Juliet and The Two Gentlemen of Verona). Though its connection to the actual Capulets is tenuous at best, the so-called Juliet's House draws half a million tourists per year, many of them keen on reenacting the balcony scene. Don't miss the Roman amphitheater and the Palazzo Barberi.”

Juliet’s House:

Balcony at Juliet’s house

“Tourists look at love notes left behind by visitors of Juliet's balcony …”

http://www.shakespeareinaction.org/blog/shakespeare-references-in-disney-movies

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/9666843/Verona-clamps-down-on-tourists-visiting-Romeo-and-Juliets-balcony.html

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