Romiette and Julio

Romiette and Julio

Presentation

start

Lesson Standards

9.1(A)

9.1(D)

9.2(B)

9.3

9.4(C)

9.4(E)

9.4(F)

9.4(G)

9.5(A)

9.5(C)

9.5(D)

9.5(E)

What will our learning look like today?

Today, we will delve into 'Romiette and Julio' to uncover its themes, analyze the characters, and discuss how the cultural and social context shapes the narrative.

I will improve vocabulary related to cultural diversity and social issues.

Language objective

Learning intention

Success Criteria

• Identify at least two key themes in "Romiette and Julio."
• Analyze one main character and discuss their development.
• Connect the events in the novel to the cultural and social context.

Do Now:

Think about a time when you felt a connection or understanding with someone from a different background. Write down some thoughts about how that made you feel in the chat!

introduction

Sharon M. Draper (b. 1952) is a New York Times bestselling author and lifelong English teacher. Before becoming a Coretta Scott King Award-winning author, she was named Ohio’s Teacher of the Year, and was honored in 1997 as the National Teacher of the Year for instilling a passion and love of reading and writing in her students. Best known for her engaging young adult stories that touch on modern and sometimes hot-button issues, Draper’s Romiette and Julio is a retelling of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. *Watch StudySync Video

Romiette and Julio is a modern young-adult novel with a unique approach to the story of Shakespeare’s famous play The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare’s play is set in fourteenth-century Verona, Italy, and is about two young lovers, Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet, who fall in love despite the fact that their families are enemies. The excerpt from the novel is a twenty-first-century chat-room conversation between Romiette Cappelle, an African American teenage girl who uses the screen name “Afroqueen,” and Julio Montague, a Hispanic teenage boy who uses the screen name “Spanishlover.” Afroqueen and Spanishlover are living in Cincinnati, Ohio, although Spanishlover recently moved from Corpus Christi, Texas. In 2001, when the novel was written, being able to get to know someone online was a relatively new possibility. As you read the excerpt from Romiette and Julio, think about the challenges that two young people from opposite backgrounds might face in their relationship.

Summary

In this modern take on Romeo and Juliet, two teens nervously get to know each other in an Internet chat room. Spanishlover writes to Afroqueen introducing himself, saying that he’s from Texas and that he doesn’t really like chat rooms. She agrees, saying that most of the talk is superficial. He tells her about a river he misses back home and then they compare themselves to different bodies of water. He jokes that he’s deep like an ocean, and she says that she’s like a lake, full of possibilities. While Spanishlover likes to swim, Afroqueen is afraid of water. In turn, Spanishlover admits that he’s afraid of being alone. Afroqueen sympathizes because it’s a feeling most kids have. From there, they talk about the music they like, and it turns out that Spanishlover plays the mandolin. Afroqueen is impressed—she likes mandolin music. They sign off and promise to talk again tomorrow.

admire- to regard with respect and awe

abandon- to leave

stagnant- not growing or changing; unmoving

potential- a quality or an ability that has not yet developed; a possibility

Vocabulary

8. Private Chat Room Conversation Dear Afroqueen: I’m from Texas. Do chat rooms get on your nerves? There’s so much junk! Nobody really says anything, just little one-liners that mean nothing. Hey, Spanishlover: Yeah, they annoy me. Some are better than others. I’ve been in some where we really talked about stuff. So what’s great about Texas? The Nueces River flows proud and beautiful all year. As does the Rio Grande. It’s wide and powerful, and I really miss it. And it never gets cold there like it does here. Does the river ever freeze? I’ve never seen the river freeze, and I’ve lived here all my life. But I’ve heard that it has frozen before. Boats get stuck right in the middle. I’ve never seen any other river, though. I figured they all looked the same—kinda wet. No, there is a difference. Some rivers are heavy and slow, others are cheerful and lively. Just like people. So are you a deep river or a stagnant stream?

I’m an ocean. I’m real deep. What about you? Me? I’m a lake. I got edges, but I also have ripples and possibilities. Now, cut all this, and tell me about you really. Like I said, I’m from Texas. I like Tejano music, refried beans, and guacamole. But I also like pizza, German chocolate cake, and sauerkraut. Remind me never to have dinner with you. Do you eat the sauerkraut on the pizza or with the German chocolate cake? Both! Let’s see, what else can I tell you about me? I like to sail and I’m a good swimmer. I can play different instruments and I speak two languages. I hate TV talk shows and stupid billboards. Now, your turn. Me? I’m one of the only girls in our class who uses the Internet and talks to people online. I like to read, and write poetry, and go to dances, but I also play basketball and soccer. You can sail and swim? I really admire that. I never learned to swim. I’ve never met anyone who couldn’t swim. Swimming is like breathing. How can you not know how to swim? Cause when you’re swimming, you can’t breathe! I’ve taken lessons since I was three. Couldn’t do it. I'm just plain

terrified of the water. But I know I’ll never drown, unless it’s in the bathtub, because I never intend to get close enough to any water that’s deeper than that! I am afraid of being alone, of being abandoned. I guess most kids feel that. Have you ever been left alone? No, not even lost in a grocery store. But fear doesn’t make much sense. It is just something you know and respect. Your fear of the water will make you strong. Maybe, but sometimes my fear takes over. I have bad dreams. Actually, I’ve been having this one really terrifying dream… What kind of dream? Never mind. Can you speak Spanish? Sí. of course. My whole family is from Mexico. What about you? I’m taking French II, but I’d be afraid to go to France with what I know. You know what else I like to eat? French croissants, and grape jelly. Also Cincinnati chili, but not with grape jelly on it! Have you ever tried any of the chili?

No, I haven’t had a chance to try Cincinnati chili, with or without jelly. But unless it’s hot and spicy, I probably won’t like it. My mother uses hot sauce on everything. Now I can’t eat a meal without it! Hot sauce. Yuck. And you had such potential .I bet you like carbonated pop too, don’t you? I like mild things—like fresh fruit juice instead of soda pop, and warm gravy instead of hot sauce (except on oatmeal—that gets warm milk, not warm gravy!). What about music? What’s your favorite? Well, I listen to rock and rap and R&B, but believe it or not, I like classical music sometimes too. It helps me write poetry, and relaxes me when I can’t sleep. I don’t tell many people this. You know my favorite? Mandolin music. I discovered it late one night when I was listening to the radio, feeling moody and blue. It was beautiful. You’re not going to believe this, but I play the mandolin! My grandfather taught me when I was a little boy. And you’re right. It’s a beautiful sound. But I also play the saxophone. I like the music, but there’s not much call for mandolins in the school marching band, not even in Texas. Give me a break! Nobody plays the mandolin, at least not on purpose! Wow, that’s awesome! Hey, I’ve got to get off of this computer and help my mom with the dishes. Sign on tomorrow at four. Let’s talk again. This was cool! Peaceout—Afroqueen I’ll be there! Talk to you then. Peaceout—Spanishlover

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Romiette and Julio

Thanks for everything

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With Genially templates, you can include visual resources to wow your audience. You can also highlight a particular sentence or piece of information so that it sticks in your audience’s minds, or even embed external content to surprise them: Whatever you like! Do you need more reasons to create dynamic content? No problem! 90% of the information we assimilate is received through sight and, what’s more, we retain 42% more information when the content moves.

• Generate experiences with your content.
• It’s got the Wow effect. Very Wow.
• Make sure your audience remembers the message.

Got an idea?

Let the communication flow!

With Genially templates, you can include visual resources to wow your audience. You can also highlight a particular sentence or piece of information so that it sticks in your audience’s minds, or even embed external content to surprise them: Whatever you like! Do you need more reasons to create dynamic content? No problem! 90% of the information we assimilate is received through sight and, what’s more, we retain 42% more information when the content moves.

• Generate experiences with your content.
• It’s got the Wow effect. Very Wow.
• Make sure your audience remembers the message.

Got an idea?

Let the communication flow!

With Genially templates, you can include visual resources to wow your audience. You can also highlight a particular sentence or piece of information so that it sticks in your audience’s minds, or even embed external content to surprise them: Whatever you like! Do you need more reasons to create dynamic content? No problem! 90% of the information we assimilate is received through sight and, what’s more, we retain 42% more information when the content moves.

• Generate experiences with your content.
• It’s got the Wow effect. Very Wow.
• Make sure your audience remembers the message.

Got an idea?

Let the communication flow!

With Genially templates, you can include visual resources to wow your audience. You can also highlight a particular sentence or piece of information so that it sticks in your audience’s minds, or even embed external content to surprise them: Whatever you like! Do you need more reasons to create dynamic content? No problem! 90% of the information we assimilate is received through sight and, what’s more, we retain 42% more information when the content moves.

• Generate experiences with your content.
• It’s got the Wow effect. Very Wow.
• Make sure your audience remembers the message.

Got an idea?

Let the communication flow!

With Genially templates, you can include visual resources to wow your audience. You can also highlight a particular sentence or piece of information so that it sticks in your audience’s minds, or even embed external content to surprise them: Whatever you like! Do you need more reasons to create dynamic content? No problem! 90% of the information we assimilate is received through sight and, what’s more, we retain 42% more information when the content moves.

• Generate experiences with your content.
• It’s got the Wow effect. Very Wow.
• Make sure your audience remembers the message.