Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Name a theme for Romeo and Juliet. Explain why it is a theme.

A theme is any main idea that runs throughout the story.  You can figure out the themes just by filling in the following blanks:

____________________________(name of story/play/etc) is a story about ________________________________(theme).

Romeo and Juliet is about many things, but young love, rebellion, deception, love, marriage, violence are just a few.  Can you see how these things may be themes?  Romeo is always in love, but when he finds Juliet, he is convinced it is the real thing.

The Capulets and Montagues have been fighting for so long, even their servants get involved.  Violence abounds so much that the Prince has declared anyone else who does it will be put to death (more violence, mind you). 

The main thing about themes is that the idea runs under the surface all throughout the piece of literature.  You should be able to think of examples of it from the beginning, middle, and end of the work.

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