RJ Lit Analysis

Introductory Paragraph

I. Good beginning- draws someone in. For example:The stale smell of death still hung in the air as Friar

Lawrence entered the tomb. The lasting effects of his actions came to a culminating point in the dagger that quickly took Juliet’s life.

Background information

What does the reader have to know in order to understand your paper?

• Explain the context or what is going on in your story.

• Who is the character or who are the characters

• What their role in the story is

• Any background that you need to have to make your point/ claim.

Example-context

Friar Lawrence is one of the main characters in Romeo and Juliet. As a friend and confidant to Romeo and an individual who has not only devoted himself to the church but also to maintaining the relationship between Romeo and Juliet, he is physically and emotionally in the middle of the story.

Bring in your point

If my topic is about the actions of an individual in the play, I need to talk about it.

For example:Friar Lawrence is aware of the difficulties that face

Romeo and Juliet as well as the precarious situation created by Romeo’s banishment and Juliet’s faux death. However, he still chooses not to follow through with communication to Romeo or monitorJuliet’s state of life and death.

Claim/Thesis

Now you write the statement that you are going to demonstrate in your paper.

For example: Friar Lawrence could have done more to clarify the

miscommuncation between Romeo and Juliet and save their lives.

Note: Even this is alittle vague, what could we say that is more specfic?

Bad claimsFriar Lawrence did nothing.Problem: Can’t fully be proven-he did do some

things.

Friar Lawrence helped only Romeo.Problem: this does not tell us enough. Why did he

help only Romeo? What did he do to help him? What is important about this?

Body paragraphsBody paragraphs need the following things:1. Topic sentence2. Introduce quotes or state examples3. Quotation or example4. Analyze and explain your example/evidence5. Concluding sentence/ or6. Transition sentence

Topic sentence

Topic sentence needs to narrow what this paragraph is going to talk about.

It lets the reader focus on one part of your thesis.

For example:

Claim: Friar Lawrence could have done more to clarify the miscommuncation between Romeo and Juliet and save their lives.

Topic sentence: Friar Lawrence attempted to help Romeo and Juliet

by sending a messenger to inform Romeo of Juliet’s actions. However, this was not enough to save her.

Introduce the quote or example

You need to explain from where you are taking the example or evidence. This is putting the quote in context of the story so you can be on the same page as your reader.

At the end of Act 5 Juliet awakens moments after the death of Romeo and just as Friar Lawrence enters the tomb.

Quoting or citing the evidence.

Make sure your evidence supports your claim.

Choose how much to quote. Too much is confusing as is too little.

Quote choices

Do I pick the one that shows how Friar Lawrence wanted to keep Romeo and Juliet together?

orDo I quote one where Friar Lawrence regrets his

involvement and the terrible events that have happened?

Choices“O, she knew well

Thy love did read by rote and could not spell. 1150But come, young waverer, come, go with me, In one respect I'll thy assistant be; For this alliance may so happy prove, To turn your households' rancour to pure love

This shows that he feels that Romeo and Juliet should be togerther and that their union could lead to their families’ reconciliation.

Choice #2“These violent delights have violent ends

And in their triumph die, like fire and powder, Which as they kiss consume: the sweetest honey Is loathsome in his own deliciousness 1470And in the taste confounds the appetite: Therefore love moderately; long love doth so; Too swift arrives as tardy as too slow.” (2.6).

This quotes shows that Friar Lawrence fears that he has done something wrong and cautions Romeo and Juliet in their love. This is better.

Analysis of the evidence

The writer needs to think out loud for the reader making the connections between the quote and why you are using it to prove your point.

Example of analysis

Friar Lawrence struggles between his belief that Romeo and Juliet do belong together and his fear that thier union will lead to disaster. Throughout the text he foreshadows the events that will occur between Romeo and Juliet and solidifies his role in the life and death of Romeo and Juliet by playing an integral role in their death.

Types of analysis

• Comparison with other characters

• Connect with new concepts

• Make distinctions: it is this and not that

• Show development over time

• Link with literary terms

Comparison with other characters

Friar Lawrence is not as much to blame as Romeo.

The Nurse is more to blame than Friar Lawrence.

Romeo is the worst character in the book.

Connect to new concepts

Although Friar Lawrence played a role in the tragic outcome of Romeo and Juliet, he did make an attempt to help them be together.

Friar Lawrence and the Nurse were both involved in the events that led to Romeo and Juliet’s death but Friar Lawrence showed just how devastated he was when he saw that they were both dead.

Making distinctions

Friar Lawrence was involved in Romeo and Juliets’ lives but he feels regret about his actions whereas Romeo and Juliets’ parents don’t show as much regret for all the pain they caused in thier feud.

The Nurse is also involved but throughout the play it is clear that she is concerned about Juliets’ happiness whereas Juliets’ parents say they care throughout the play but thier actions don’t always make this seem so.

Change over time

Friar Lawrence starts out just trying to help Romeo and Juliet get married, but he ends being involved in an unfortunate series of events that ulitmately cost Romeo and Juliet their lives.

Juliets’ parents try to be involved in her life but ulitmately end of pushing her to the extreme events that lead to her death.

Link with literary terms

Friar Lawrence reveals many important details of the story and lives of Romeo and Juliet through his monolgues.

The hints that Friar Lawrence gives throughout the story allow events to be foreshadowed early on; giving the reader an understanding of what is to come.

ConclusionRestate your claim/thesis in new words.Old:Friar Lawrence could have done more to clarify the

miscommuncation between Romeo and Juliet and save their lives.

New:Friar Lawrence’s involvement affects not only to his

own life but to tragically effects the lives of Romeo and Juliet as well causing conflict with others and within himself.

Conclusion of the topic

Make the point clear for the reader.

Friar Lawrence is to blame for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet.

Juliet’s parents thought they were leading Juliet along the right path but unfortunately they were a primary cause that lead to her death.

Transition to the next topic

You want to lead the reader to the next part of your claim/thesis.

Friar Lawrence actions affected Romeo and Juliet early on in the play and continued to affect them until the end.

The decisiosn that Juliets’ parents made lead to further unhappiness.

Conclusion-elaborate

Friar Lawrence has a great deal of internal doubts and unhappiness caused by his actions.

Juliets’ parents were trying to help and do what they felt was right along the way but in the end they realized too late what they should have done to help.

Conclusion- lesson or last thought

Leave the reader with a lesson or a profound thought.

One can learn from Friar Lawrence that the smallest actions can have large repurcussions. He made many attempts throughout the story to help Romeo and Juliet but did