You know the story of Oedipus and you know the rules of Greek Theatre – we’ve looked at the limits those rules placed on the telling of the story. For instance, it had to start less than an hour before its end, and move forward in unbroken time. It could not show any violent episodes from the story.
You know the plot of Romeo and Juliet, written for a very different style of theatre. What if Romeo and Juliet had to be told according to the rules of Greek Theatre? That’s the topic of this essay. Of course it would cause enormous problems, but why? Be specific about what would be lost, what would be distorted. Romeo and Juliet has been a perennial crowd-pleaser for over three centuries… how would a Greek version affect an audience?
Suggestion: it would be a good idea in your introduction to mention that there were these two very different styles of theatre, Greek and Renaissance… then give a very quick synopsis of Romeo and Juliet, written for the Renaissance style. THEN present a Thesis Statement about what the effect today on an audience might be if Romeo and Juliet had to be told in the Greek style. (Would they be bored? more excited? more confused?)
Then in the body of your essay, get on with the job of proving your point with specifics. This should be a standard five-paragraph academic essay. When your essay is finished, upload it as a .pdf document. Remember to double-space.
Of course you may refer to your books and notes while writing.
