Name: _________________________________ Period:____________________ Date: _________

Unpacking Complex Text: Notes on a Film Clip Gnomeo and Juliet

General Information:
Soliloquy: In drama, a speech by a character alone onstage in which he or she utters
his or her thoughts aloud. The soliloquy is important in drama because it gives the
audience insight into a characters inner life, private motivations, and uncertainties.
From An Introduction to Poetry, X.J. Kennedy and Danna Gioia
Monologue: An extended speech by a single character. The term originated in drama,
where it describes a solo speech that has listeners (as opposed to a soliloquy, where the
character speaks only to himself or herself). From An Introduction to Poetry, X.J.
Kennedy and Danna Gioia
Oh Gnomeo, Gnomeo
Are we really doomed Gnomeo
to never see each other again?
Why must you wear a blue hat?
Why couldnt it be red like my father?
Or green like
Like a leprechaun
Or purple
Like um, like a
Like some weird guy
I mean whats in a gnome?
Because you are blue my father sees red
And because I am red
I am feeling blue
Oh at any rate that shouldnt be the thing that keeps us a part should it?
From Gnomeo and Juliet
Directions: Answer the following questions about the clip from Gnomeo and Juliet. If you
need to watch the clip again, you may search our class weebly
(thevalueofstorytelling.weebly.com).
What conclusions can you draw from Juliets soliloquy?

What evidence can you find that Juliet lives in a world where people are judged based on
certain categories?

Name: _________________________________ Period:____________________ Date: _________

Unpacking Complex Text: Notes on a Film Clip Gnomeo and Juliet
Directions: Write two sentences about your best friend. Use vivid verbs and interesting
adjectives. Use one metaphor or a simile.

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Questions for discussion:
1. For the purposes of our discussion, decide which of the two shapes below is a
maluma and which is a takete. Dont worry if you dont know what these words mean!
Write your answers in the space below.

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2. Whats in a name?
If youre like the vast majority of Khlers respondents, youre compelled by the idea
that malumas are soft and rounded (like the shape on the left), whereas taketes are
sharp and jagged (like that on the right). As Khler showed, words carry hidden baggage
that may play at least some role in shaping thought. Whats surprising, perhaps, is how
profoundly a single word can shape material outcomes over time.
From The Power of Names by Adam Alter
3. Do you feel that you put people into categories? What categories do you put your
friends in? How about your enemies?
Name: ______________________________ Period:______________________ Date:
_____________________
Unpacking Shakespeare Complex Text
How to Unpack a Complex Text:
1. Listen to a recording of the text
2. Re-read the text at least three times
3. Read in chunks.
4. Underline key nouns
5. Write one question, one comment about the
piece
Key Verbs:
Analysis breaking information into parts.
Application use what you have learned in new
situations
Synthesis putting together new ideas into a unique product
Key Nouns:
Soliloquy: In drama, a speech by a character alone onstage in which he or she utters
his or her thoughts aloud. The soliloquy is important in drama because it gives the
audience insight into a characters inner life, private motivations, and uncertainties.
From An Introduction to Poetry, X.J. Kennedy and Danna Gioia
Monologue: An extended speech by a single character. The term originated in drama,
where it describes a solo speech that has listeners (as opposed to a soliloquy, where the
character speaks only to himself or herself). From An Introduction to Poetry, X.J.
Kennedy and Danna Gioia
Synecdoche: the use of a part for the whole, or the whole for the part.*
Ex: Take thy face hence. (Macbeth, V, iii) California State University LA *
Contractions: the shortening of words for poetic impact. *
Ex: tis= it is
neer= never
Syntax: Unusual word order in a sentence is called inversion. Shakespeare used
inversion to create specific dramatic and poetic effects. Inversion can be used to

emphasize key words, to create poetic rhythms, to give a character a specific speech
pattern*
EX:
Normal Sentence Structure: I ate the sandwich.
Unusual Word Order: Ate the sandwich I.
Wordplay: Shakespeare like all poets plays with
words.
Ex: Fair is foul and Foul is Fair.

Name:________________________________
Period:______________ Date:__________________
Minimal Marking Sheet for Translations:
Directions: As you write your translations, use this minimal marking sheet to
understand how you will be graded. Do everything on here and youll get an A on this
assignment!
1. Your version addresses the original theme is addressed in modern language.
2. Your version addresses the original conflict.
3. Your version is not a word for word translation but shows a deep analysis and
understanding of the original text.
4. Your version is told in the point-of-view of your chosen character.
5. Your word choice reflects the motivations and fears of this character.
6. Your version reveals something new about your character.
7. Your version uses Shakespearean syntaxinverted sentence structure.
8. Your version shows an analysis of the original theme, poetic components and
syntax.
9. Your translation has undergone the drafting and revising process.
10.
Your reflection contains
the following: compare and contrast paragraph (your work and the original),
rationale behind your word choices, and an overall discussion of your
writing/revision process.
* Now, its your turn to add two additional points to these sheets. These are ways in
which you wish to be assessed and graded. Think of these are two goals for your work, or
for the process of unpacking complex text in general. For Example: I read the text more
than once and took notes both times, or I looked up difficult vocabulary in the
dictionary.
11.______________________________________________________________________________________
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Original Shakespeare
O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo?
Deny thy father and refuse thy name.
Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,
And Ill no longer be a Capulet.

'Tis but thy name that is my enemy.

Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.
Whats Montague? It is nor hand, nor foot,
Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part
Belonging to a man. O, be some other name!

Whats in a name? That which we call a rose

By any other word would smell as sweet.
So Romeo would, were he not Romeo called,
Retain that dear perfection which he owes
Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name,
And for that name, which is no part of thee
Take all myself.

Original Shakespeare
O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo?

Miss Williams version

Oh Squidward, Squidward! Why are you
Squidward?
Deny your clarinet and refuse your terrible
paintings.
Or, if you wont, just be my best friend
And Ill no longer be Spongebob!
Its your name, Squidward, that is my
enemy.
Youre just you, though not a Tentacles.
And whats Tentacles? Its not this tentacle,
or that tentacle
Nor giant nose, nor bald head, nor anything
else
Belonging to a squid. Oh, have some other
name!
Whats in a name? That which we call a
jellyfish
By any other word would still sting as
painfully.
So Squidward, if his name wasnt Squidward,
Would still retain his amazing fine dining
skills.
Squidward, get rid of your name,
And in its place (since its no part of you)
Let me be your best friend!

Oh Squidward, Squidward! Why are you

Deny thy father and refuse thy name.

Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,
And Ill no longer be a Capulet.

'Tis but thy name that is my enemy.

Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.
Whats Montague? It is nor hand, nor foot,
Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part
Belonging to a man. O, be some other name!

Whats in a name? That which we call a rose

By any other word would smell as sweet.
So Romeo would, were he not Romeo called,
Retain that dear perfection which he owes
Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name,
And for that name, which is no part of thee
Take all myself.

Squidward?
Deny your clarinet and refuse your terrible
paintings.
Or, if you wont, just be my best friend
And Ill no longer be Spongebob!
Its your name, Squidward, that is my
enemy.
Youre just you, though not a Tentacles.
And whats Tentacles? Its not this tentacle,
or that tentacle
Nor giant nose, nor bald head, nor anything
else
Belonging to a squid. Oh, have some other
name!
Whats in a name? That which we call a
jellyfish
By any other word would still sting as
painfully.
So Squidward, if his name wasnt Squidward,
Would still retain his amazing fine dining
skills.
Squidward, get rid of your name,
And in its place (since its no part of you)
Let me be your best friend!