Romeo and Juliet
By William Shakespeare
How oft when men are at the point of death Have they been merry, which their keepers call A lightning before death. O how may I
Call this a lightning? O my love, my wife! Death that hath sucked the honey of thy breath Hath had no power yet upon thy beauty. Thou art not conquered; beauty’s ensign yet Is crimson in thy lips and in thy cheeks,
And death’s pale flag is not advanced there. Tybalt, liest thou there in thy bloody sheet? O what more favour can I do to thee,
Than with that hand that cut thy youth in twain To sunder his that was thine enemy?
Forgive me cousin. Ah dear Juliet, Why art thou yet so fair? Shall I believe That unsubstantial death is amorous, And that the lean abhorred monster keeps Thee here in dark to be his paramour?
For fear of that, I still will stay with thee, And never from this palace of dim night Depart again. Here, here will I remain
With worms that are thy chamber-maids. O here Will I set up my everlasting rest;
And shake the yoke of inauspicious stars
From this world-wearied flesh. Eyes look your last. Arms, take your last embrace. And lips, O you The doors of breath, seal with a righteous kiss A dateless bargain to engrossing death.
[Takes out the poison] Come bitter conduct, come unsavoury guide.
Thou desperate pilot, now at once run on The dashing rocks thy sea-sick weary bark. Here’s to my love! [drinks] O true apothecary! Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die.
Question
Use the passage and the image to answer the question.
Juliet, clutching a dagger, kneels over the dead body of Romeo. To her left is the door of the tomb, on which the shadow of an approaching man falls.
Source: Zuri Swimmer. Alamy Stock Photo
In what ways does the scene in the painting match the description in Romeo’s speech? In what ways does the painting depart from the details laid out in the speech?
(4 points)
Short Answer Rubric (4 points)
Points Awarded Criteria
4
The answer is very clear.
The answer is fully supported by details.
There may be a few errors in grammar, usage, or mechanics. Errors do not interfere with meaning.
3
The answer is mostly clear.
The answer is supported by mostly relevant details.
There are a few errors in grammar, usage, or mechanics. Errors do not interfere with meaning.
2
The answer is somewhat clear.
Details are weak or not related.
There are some errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics. Errors interfere with meaning.
1
The answer is not clear.
There are few or no supporting details.
There are many errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics. Errors interfere with meaning.
0 The question is not answered.
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