R & J Pop Quiz!

[Pinoikoi]

I JUST realized that my husband has only read Romeo and Juliet in Tagalog. It was kind of cool hearing him pronounce the names differently than I know them as, and anyway, I started thinking about what a universal text it is.. so here's the question- and NO cheating on the answers.. FROM MEMORY..

How many people die in Romeo and Juliet?

My father is a professor, and he always talks about how many people get this wrong when nearly (literary) everyone has read it... so let's see how MDC mamas do!

[Pinoikoi]

Oh yeah, and the answer is 6.

Mercutio- Romeo's friend is killed by Tybalt
Tybalt- Juliet's cousin is killed by Romeo
Paris- Juliet's suitor and relative of the Prince is killed by Romeo
Romeo- killed by poison by himself
Juliet- killed by dagger by herself
Romeo's mom- at the very end of the play it is stated that she took her last breath- ie- killed herself

lots of people forget Romeo's mom.. although I think that it is arguable that eight or more is also an accurate answer. At the beginning of the play, the Prince says to the Capulets and the Montagues that their family feud has interrupted his city--- um, thrice? Does he give it number? I think he might. I think it is obvious or at least arguable in the play that the killings have been going on for awhile, so there were probably deaths before the time line that Shakespeare allows us to experience..

[sapphire_chan]

Drat, missed both Paris and Romeo's mom. And I don't think the people who die outside the frame of the play should count.

[journeymom]

Dag Nabbit. All I could think of was Romeo, Juliet and Tybalt.

[Pinoikoi]

Originally Posted by sapphire_chan

Drat, missed both Paris and Romeo's mom. And I don't think the people who die outside the frame of the play should count.

Don't feel bad, a lot of people miss them.. I don't think they are in any of the film versions..

And personally, I agree with you about the deaths outside the frame of the play (mainly because they aren't named characters- we know nothing about them just speculation).. I only put it in because I was CERTAIN someone would bring it up... so I kind of was beating them to the punch so to speak..

This has been an interesting experiment so far..

[staceychev]

I got it right, but then again, I teach 9th grade English, so I re-read it every year!

[Pinoikoi]

Originally Posted by staceychev

I got it right, but then again, I teach 9th grade English, so I re-read it every year!

Me too!

[St. Margaret]

Hmm, the Prince does say three times, but we we act it out in my classes, we're always sure to throw in one of those deaths in the opening fight scene (catch 9th graders' interest fast ) so I said 7, and did not count the previous two (at least) deaths.

I remembered Romeo's mom and Paris, though!

[athansor]

Missed Paris and Romeo's mom.

[TheBluebird]

I missed Romeo's mom.

[KaraBoo]

dang, I forgot Paris and Romeo's mom. Boo. lol

[merpk]

Didn't vote, but answered in my head ... and boy was I way off base. Not even close.



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[Pinoikoi]

Originally Posted by merpk

Didn't vote, but answered in my head ... and boy was I way off base. Not even close.



:

Hey now.. go vote.. you'll skew my results!

[Pinoikoi]

bump