Romeo and Juliet

The first time I read Romeo and Juliet, I was a freshman in high school. Back then, it wasn’t half as intriguing to as it is now. I remember not understanding the way Shakespeare wrote, what he was saying, or why this piece of his work was so famous. But being a junior in college now, and having taken in depth American literature classes and learning about Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet holds so much more significance to me now. It makes it so much more fun and easy to read when I understand the language and diction being used and can identify the major themes and turning points within the novel. Reading this for the second time around was so much more significant to me. I think Romeo and Juliet is so important to teach not only in a high school setting but a college setting as well, because not only is it probably Shakespeare’s most well-known piece of work, but it is complex enough to be engaging and challenging for students but also short and an easy enough read that it isn’t overwhelming. It provides many fun activities and writing assignments for lesson plans, engages students with its (at times) light hearted romance, but also plays on a darker side of relationships that may be more intriguing and relatable to students. In high school I thought it was the longest book ever and I skipped so many important parts, but looking at it now, it truly is a quick read for most people. This makes it very teachable because you can get through the unit fairly quick, keep students engaged, and also introduce them to Shakespeare in a fun way. A lot of times students can think Shakespeare is intimidating, that’s why I believe this piece is so important to introduce first. It’s short, easy to read, and fun. Romeo and Juliet is a classic that I don’t think is going anywhere anytime soon in the education world.