Listen&Learn: Romeo and Juliet

Posted by: Jaksyn Peacock

The famous story of forbidden love

Pre-listening vocabulary

playwright: a person who writes plays
tragedy: a type of play that has a sad ending
feud: a fight that lasts a long time
masquerade ball: a type of party where people wear masks
forbidden: not allowed
forgive: to stop being upset with someone

Listening activity

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:16 — 1.2MB)

Gapfill exercise

Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy written by English playwright William Shakespeare. The main of the story are two teenagers named Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet. Their families have an ancient feud. The two first meet at a masquerade ball, and they fall in love almost instantly. However, they later that they are members of rival families, and their relationship would be forbidden. They decide to get in secret. But Juliet’s parents want her to marry someone else, a man named Paris who is a friend of the family. Towards the end of the story, Juliet fakes her so that she doesn’t have to marry Paris. Romeo, believing that Juliet is dead, poisons himself so that he doesn’t have to live without her. When Juliet wakes up, she finds Romeo dead and kills herself as well. The story ends when the two families realize their feud has gone too far and decide to forgive each other.

Comprehension questions

[wp_quiz id=”20156″]

Discussion/essay questions

Romeo and Juliet is a world-famous play that has been translated into many languages and performed many times. Have you ever seen the play? Did you enjoy it?
Even before Shakespeare wrote Romeo and Juliet, the theme of forbidden love was very common in books and plays. It’s still very popular today. Why do you think people like this theme so much?

Transcript

Romeo and Juliet is a romantic tragedy written by English playwright William Shakespeare. The main characters of the story are two teenagers named Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet. Their families have an ancient feud. The two first meet at a masquerade ball, and they fall in love almost instantly. However, they later discover that they are members of rival families, and their relationship would be forbidden. They decide to get married in secret. But Juliet’s parents want her to marry someone else, a man named Paris who is a friend of the family. Towards the end of the story, Juliet fakes her death so that she doesn’t have to marry Paris. Romeo, believing that Juliet is dead, poisons himself so that he doesn’t have to live without her. When Juliet wakes up, she finds Romeo dead and kills herself as well. The story ends when the two families realize their feud has gone too far and decide to forgive each other.

Written and recorded by Jaksyn Peacock for EnglishClub

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27 comments

Cida says:

I watched the film several times, I loved it. I think people like the theme, because it happens in many love affairs.
abdolmonem says:

1. No I don’t see this play and any plays.
2. Because most of people have a love that don’t achieve it.
English Club Indonesia says:

I watched the movie a long time ago when I was a kid. I didn’t enjoy it. People who like this theme just don’t seem to have good taste in movies. At first, this theme might be entertaining, but after you finish the movie and try to rethink the whole plot, it just seems rather dull.
Quynh Nga says:

This play is really attractive although it has a sad end. Haizz, my Romeo and Juliet !
Kate says:

great!
Trinh Minh Thi says:

wonderful
Bilel says:

I am really greatful for this one. I’am highly enjoyed this sad story that i’ve never heard about it before.
I’am at the beginning of my learning english journey and i found this exerice helpful and usefull a lot.

This my first time in this site and abviously it seems very interesting even much more than others sites.
Thu says:

Wow, I have heard about Romeo and Juliet known as a romantic couple. I am not sure if I knew the story until reading this tonight. It is such a tragic ending which is opposite from happy forever!!!

However, it was what happened in the past in my very old generations too. Marriages were almost arranged by the families and love wasnt allowed as a tradition.

Compared to that, We are so lucky in today’s world. We have freedom and rights to do what we desire. We will be someone that we aim to be.
Fidencio Huaito Berrios says:

jo jo jo
Ali SHimal says:

First of all I am so grateful for providing English learners with a such academic material especially literature. Secondly , there are a lot of love relationships ends with a tragic ending like this. For example , rival families , social class , and cultural gap. These factors spoiled my own love. Finally , I hope you can publish as rich and useful materials like the above one .
Kathy says:

I love learning, and am so grateful that it’s never too late to learn. I want to thank everyone for their comments. And, to encourage those of you who were less than thrilled with your results, PLEASE DON’T GET DISCOURAGED !!! Hard work enables us to grow . . . to know . . . and to show. To grow in the awareness that we still need to grow. To know that we must always remain teachable. To show our appreciation for the patience that others have extended to us. Especially when we had no appreciation, or patience with them, at the time.
again, I thank you.
Alimata says:

Thank you for story.
Dien says:

Great job
Lesley Jackson says:

These exercises are brilliant! Thank you so much.
Binta says:

Thanks for this wonderful story
Wadeeha says:

I really like tragedy stories.
Josue says:

Romeo and Juliet. It’s one of famous story on passion love. Glad to listen it one more time.
Isaac Vázquez says:

Good listening and comprehension practice, thank you.
Raymundo Patiño Magallanes says:

This way to introduce to literary jobs is very useful to understand and to appreciate literature.
Tavan says:

It is very useful for student make practice English. thanks.
Muhammad Harris Chohan says:

Great job Jaksyn,
Is it possible for us to upload here same story in our voice after listening. After that each student of English Club will listen each other.
Atiya says:

Great job
Kajari Guha says:

Infotainment!
Ezzy says:

I am always listening to English club. Thank you so much for what you prepare for us!
Raj says:

Good job!
The King Of Love From IRAN says:

Thank You for sharing with us,
Christine PENNEC says:

wonderful!