GCSE Romeo & Juliet: Courtly Love Part 1

Summary

In this engaging workshop, Tom Brashington, a PhD student at Lancaster University, explores Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet' as the quintessential love story. He examines the concept of star-crossed lovers, drawing connections to ancient tales like 'Pyramus and Thisbe' and Italian literary influences. Brashington discusses the emotional volatility of the young characters and the significance of courtly love, highlighting the use of metaphorical language. Through exercises, he encourages deeper analysis of feelings and language in the play, setting the stage for further exploration in part two of the workshop.

Takeaways

• 😀 Tom Brashington, a PhD student at Lancaster University, leads a workshop on Shakespeare's *Romeo and Juliet*.
• ❤️ The play is often regarded as the greatest love story ever told, and the workshop aims to explore this claim.
• 📚 The workshop is divided into two parts due to its length, with part one focusing on contextual frames related to the play.
• 🌟 The term 'star-crossed lovers' refers to the idea of destiny in *Romeo and Juliet*, which is a longstanding narrative trope.
• 📖 The tale of *Pyramus and Thisbe* is highlighted as a parallel story that shares similar themes with *Romeo and Juliet*.
• 🇮🇹 During Shakespeare's time, Italian texts, including works by Mateo Bandello and Arthur Brooke, were influential in shaping the narrative of *Romeo and Juliet*.
• 👩‍❤️‍👨 The emotional volatility of the teenage protagonists, Romeo and Juliet, contributes to the play's captivation and relatability.
• 💔 The language used by Romeo and Juliet reflects the conventions of courtly love, emphasizing passion and emotional expression.
• 📜 Courtly love, popularized in medieval romance, involves using metaphor and euphemism to express desire and consent.
• 🕊️ The workshop encourages viewers to analyze examples of extreme emotional expression in the play, enhancing their understanding of its themes.

Q & A

What is the main focus of Tom Brashington's workshop?

The workshop focuses on Shakespeare's *Romeo and Juliet* and explores its reputation as the greatest love story ever told.

Why was the workshop divided into two parts?

The workshop was divided into two parts because the original video was too long, necessitating a split for better pacing and content management.

What are 'star-crossed lovers' as referred to in the play?

Star-crossed lovers are individuals whose romantic relationship is thwarted by outside forces or fate, as illustrated by Romeo and Juliet's tragic love story.

Which ancient story is highlighted as a precursor to *Romeo and Juliet*?

The story of *Pyramus and Thisbe* is highlighted, featuring two lovers from Babylon whose forbidden romance leads to tragic outcomes.

What role do teenagers play in the narrative of *Romeo and Juliet*?

Teenagers, represented by Romeo and Juliet, are characterized as impulsive and emotionally volatile, which significantly contributes to the play's dramatic tension and themes.

What literary tradition does Tom Brashington associate with the language used in *Romeo and Juliet*?

Brashington associates the language in *Romeo and Juliet* with the tradition of courtly love, which features metaphorical expressions of desire and romantic pursuit.

How does courtly love influence the dialogue in *Romeo and Juliet*?

Courtly love influences the dialogue by encouraging characters to express their feelings through metaphors and euphemisms rather than straightforward communication, allowing for nuanced interaction.

What does Brashington suggest about the emotional expressions of the characters?

Brashington suggests that the emotional expressions in *Romeo and Juliet* are often immediate and extreme, engaging the audience with the characters' primal feelings.

What example from Act 1, Scene 5 demonstrates the use of metaphor in the play?

In Act 1, Scene 5, Romeo uses religious metaphors to express his desire to Juliet, who reciprocates by continuing the metaphor while adding her own witty retort.

What is the overall conclusion of the workshop?

The workshop concludes by inviting participants to further explore the themes of *Romeo and Juliet*, particularly focusing on courtly love and emotional expression, and encourages inquiries into studying English literature.