Nice job on Practice Question 1 where you wrote an empathy essay as Howard from Death of a Salesman!
Today, we will post our practice essays here in order that everyone can benefit in revision from one another's work.
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Use ALL your time during this 40 minute period to answer the following question.
Imagine that you are Benvolio from Romeo and Juliet and that you have just come from hearing the Prince banish Romeo. What are your thoughts? Write out these thoughts as a full-length essay in sentences and paragraphs that can be understood. Remember that with "empathy" questions of this sort, you should feel free to interpret, but should be careful not to invent.
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Exam Practice Question 2
ReplyDeleteMy first thoughts when I heard that Romeo is banished from Verona were that it was my fault. I am the one who got Romeo to go to that party, and Tybalt saw him there, so it is my fault that Tybalt hates him and tried to kill him. It is also my fault that Tybalt killed Mercutio which got Romeo mad. I should have not been walking in the streets with Mercutio and listened to his jokes when we knew we could not avoid a brawl if we were to be seen, which we were.
It is not fair for Romeo though. I agree with the man that said hat Romeo did what the law would have done; killed Tybalt for killing Mercutio, but since the Prince is in charge, he gets to decide, and no one gets to say anything to him. He even said this himself. I think that the prince is wrong and he did not give much thought to achieve his final decision of banishing Romeo from Verona. It is even more unfair that Romeo will be killed if he is seen in the town again.
I am also extremely mad at Tybalt. It is mostly his fault that Romeo got banished. Tybalt was told at the party to not interfere with Romeo’s presence there, but he could not keep himself and being Tybalt, he immediately got extremely angry and went hunting for Romeo. If he could just think of having some fun instead of just wanting to get revenge, none of this would have happened.
But what about Romeo? Why did he not defend himself and not fight Tybalt. Instead, he acted as though he was his best friend and he could not hurt him at all, and the weirder thing was that he could not tell anyone the reason that he loves Tybalt so much. If Romeo had just defended himself, or at least even walked away and not let Tybalt’s over-aggressiveness do anything to him. It is Romeo’s fault that Mercutio died in the first place. We all know that Mercutio is a very humorous character and always jokes around, and I know that he has some temper swings but I also know that Mercutio would never kill anyone. Mercutio and Tybalt were just fighting around and just joking, and no one would have gotten hurt if Romeo did not interfere. If Romeo just left them to fight and did not put his arm out to stop Mercutio, Tybalt would never have stabbed him. In fact, I think that Tybalt may have stabbed him as an accident. I saw the expression on his face after he hurt Mercutio.
Even Mercutio has a slight fault in this. He acted as though he was not hurt at all when in fact Tybalt had stabbed him very badly. Even though he was bleeding heavily, and about to die, he kept joking and walking around. If only he admitted that he actually was badly hurt, we would have brought some doctors and he would almost definitely have not died there. Only after he died did we see how big the wound on his stomach was. And why did he start fighting Benvolio? Tybalt was there to consult Romeo, so Mercutio had nothing to do with this situation. I don’t even know if Mercutio was joking or if he was serious about attacking Tybalt, or if it was just another one of his mental swings.
Exam Practice Question 2
ReplyDeleteI have just heard the Prince banish Romeo. I have no idea what to do, if I should go tell the family or if they will find out themselves. These thoughts I kept getting in my head.
I continued thinking of how life would be without Romeo and if it really was his fault. I knew from the start that Tybalt was the one who started this fight and Mercutio was certainly joking about the whole act however, later it ended with losing Mercutio. He definitely stood up for his friend and showed how much he cared for his friendship with Mercutio.
Tybalt never understood the real feeling of friendship, and not many people do in general however, there are times in lives where people have to stop and start thinking if it really is something to fight for or either just letting it go and never come back to that thought or fight again. Romeo certainly came back to the fight and wanted to finish it properly by killing Tybalt.
However, I am pretty sure that Romeo never wanted to cause more drama. It just happened to be this way as Tybalt never got enough of his cruel jokes and Romeo was sure he wasn’t joking but Tybalt most probably did mean it in a joking way.
As I am a friend of Romeo, I know how seriously he reacts to many things and sometimes his behavior can be not understood. I know that Romeo is a good person; he did not mean it to be this way he just wanted to stand up for his best friend Mercutio and proved to us that their friendship meant much to him and Mercutio.
Mercutio was a good person, nobody could ever think of Mercutio wanted to kill anybody. It was Tybalt who began this ugly fight and nobody could ever think that this fight would kill one life. I have known them two for many years and I know that they would have never wanted this or ever wanted to be doing such ugly thing as both these people have a heart and that’s what matters!
Having a heart means having a strong feeling because having a heart gets you far. And this is exactly what Romeo did, and he came all this way to show and proof that Mercutio meant a lot to him and was a great part of his life. It is always sad and depressing to be losing a person a certain person who meant a lot and much to their lives but this is all what life is about and we all have to go through moments like these in our lives to continue living.
Romeo and Juliet
ReplyDeleteRomeo you idiot, why don’t you think! You’ve gotten yourself banished, and almost killed… in less than 20 minutes. The banishment was completely fair, you killed Tybalt and you’re lucky you weren’t sentenced to death.
What was he talking about?! “I love your name as dearly as my own” This only got him angrier! After he murdered Mercutio, I wanted to do nothing other than go over and kill him myself… but I restrained myself, in fear of what happened to Romeo.
His loves are coming to be too much, while his thinking too little. He needs to start thinking about what he does, but it’s too late to start now. He might be able to fix this, somehow but I think its better him being away from Verona. All this fighting, he is better away from it. Maybe he’ll meet a new woman there and be happy.
I wonder if I can convince the Prince to let him back soon, after all Romeo did to Tybalt what the law should have done to him. When Tybalt killed Mercutio under Romeo’s arm, Tybalt should have been sentenced to death. Romeo killed Tybalt and essentially did what the law was going to do sooner or later. The Prince is a sensible man, I’m sure I can convince him to let Romeo back for a bit. Hopefully that will be for the best and he won’t mess up, again.
He loved Rosaline but he seemed different that day. As if something else had happened. What had he done after that party? He was being very strange at that party as well. Maybe something had happened, I saw Tybalt and he seemed angry. If only he could have just settled down with Rosaline and stopped this stupidity.
It seems as if this problem with us, with Romeo, had started at the party last night. What if we bringing him there got Tybalt angry? Then Mercutio would be alive, and Romeo wouldn’t have been exiled. All these things, which could have possibly happened…
Romeo and Juliet
ReplyDeleteWhat have you done Romeo? Revenge is not always the answer and killing Tybalt was the worst thing you would have done. I wanted to kill Tybalt too but I knew the consequences and held myself from doing so but…Romeo is a kind soul who would not hurt a fly yet he still slew Tybalt and is now banished. The banishment by the Prince was tough to take in but the Prince is the Prince and that banishment was a fair act against Romeo.
Romeo loved many girls, what happened on that night of the party that made him acknowledge Tybalt; a Capulet, as an equal of a Montague? He was acting strangely after that party and that morning he seemed different, what could have happened to Romeo that could have changed him so. I know Mercutio was slain by Tybalt but under Romeo’s arm, Romeo who knew Mercutio almost as well as I should not have seeked revenge knowing the consequences.
I thought he loved Rosaline, what could have happened then if he was so inlove with her and couldn’t tell a soul where he had been, all of this does not make sense in my eyes. I know that we got split up from Romeo during the party but there were so many people there and I couldn’t tell where he was at any given moment, only after Mercutio found him standing beside the staircase that I realized he must have found a girl as I knew the face and determination he had when he left us that night, I only wish I knew who that was!
Romeo where has he gone, I wish he would have told me so that I could help him in some way, blast him! We are worried about him but I don’t think there is anything we can do since the Banishment. I only wish I had broken up their fight then perhaps this wouldn’t have happened, if I broke it up then maybe Romeo would still be here and I could know the reason for his love towards Tybalt.
I’m greatly saddened by Romeos banishment and wonder where Romeo could have gone in such a short time to evade this danger that is now upon him, Romeo is a Montague and I would gladly help him as he is family…if only I knew where he was!
I guess all I can do is hope that Romeo is alright and is doing fine on his own where ever he may be, and perhaps I will visit Friar Laurence to get rid of some of my thoughts and to have some comfort…I have lost Mercutio and Romeo is banished, what will happen now?
What? Romeo banished? It can’t be true! Why didn’t they stop fighting and shake their hands and just walk away, I should have known that something was going to happen. I had to stop them... Maybe I had to stop them because Romeo this time didn’t want to fight he wanted to talk and he was really happy! I don’t know what to do they just saw each other on the streets of Verona, if they didn’t saw each other than all of this didn’t happen. And the Prince actually is right because he said that if we did it once again that something would happen! But not Romeo, Tybalt it was his own fault why did he killed my best friend Mercutio? Romeo didn’t want to fight but the reason for killing Tybalt is that he killed our friend, Mercutio was our best friend and he was really angry so he just did what he was thinking he did it too fast.
ReplyDeleteBut maybe, maybe I’m not going to say it to Romeo what I’m thinking now because that would be stupid but I’m only thinking that, maybe it is good that he is being banished he could have been killed by Tybalt! What? What am I saying? That it is good that Romeo has to leave? No way! Of course not I mean he is my friend and, he shouldn’t be punished because he had all the reason to kill Tybalt because Tybalt killed Mercutio!
Romeo was upset because Rosaline didn’t like him, he was rejected and I don’t know what happened but suddenly he came laughing with a smile on his face and he was skipping to us. I think he saw Rosaline and maybe she liked him. And now he gets banished, all his life in Verona is gone he has to start all over again! I can’t let that happen but what do I need to do? I don’t know what to do but we need to do something to get him back to Verona. I think I need to speak with the Prince that he gets another punishment, or I need to go to Friar Lawrence maybe that man has ideas because he knows Romeo really well.
Exam Practice Question 2 grade 9 lit
ReplyDeleteRomeo banished? I don’t know what to do, if I go tell the family or if they will find out themselves. Why did they have to die...? Everything was perfect earlier.
I wonder how life is going to be without Romeo and if it really was his fault. I know that Tybalt was the one who started this slaughtering and Mercutio was definitely joking about with Tybalt but later it ended with losing Mercutio. He without doubt stood up for his friend and showed how much Mercutio meant to him as a friend.
Tybalt never really liked Romeo but I think he wanted to... but because of the family he couldn’t. there are times in lives where people have to stop and start thinking if it really is something to fight for or either just letting it go and never come back to that thought or fight again. Romeo certainly came back to the fight and wanted to finish it properly by killing Tybalt.
I am pretty confident that Romeo never wanted to cause more drama. It just happened to be this way as Tybalt never got enough of his cruel jokes and Romeo was sure he wasn’t joking but Tybalt most probably did mean it in a joking way.
by mike... didn't finnish
Romeo and Juliet – Thoughts of Benvolio After Banishment
ReplyDeleteRomeo banished from Verona, this could not be more tragic and devastating than the slaying of Mercutio. It is as though by the second, it keeps on getting worse. First the death of Mercutio, now the banishment of Romeo, what could possibly be next? My own cousin is banished, and they would banish him just for quarreling with a man that killed one of his greatest friends. I would think that it should be the Capulets to blame for this, and that if Tybalt were alive, he would be the one to be banished from Verona.
Maybe I, Benvolio and the other Montagues could hopefully deal with this problem caused by Tybalt, whom slain Mercutio. I still wonder, what could Romeo possibly be doing at this very hour, and where could he possibly be? If Romeo is caught by a Capulet, he shall be chased and slaughtered on the spot by one, if encountered.
Maybe someone could give me the location of where Romeo could possibly be held, so I could pay a comforting visit to support this tragedy that Romeo is suffering. But all this was a waste of time, as Romeo requested Tybalt’s peace and had respect for him, but Tybalt would quarrel with a man who has one hair less on his beard than he should have, so the Capulets are to blame for this event.
This entire fray, decided by it on the Prince, I thought was not fair as Romeo should not get banished for taking his revenge on the one who slain Mercutio. But as a matter of fact, Tybalt had actually slain himself. Romeo had been helpless on the ground, barely able to stand up, and yes still holding a sword, but would Romeo actually just hand over his only weaponry to one that had been trying to kill him? Tybalt ran and jumped onto Romeo, thus falling onto the blade that pierced his stomache. This whole fray is Tybalt’s fault, the death of Tybalt was his own fault, and this whole quarrel started just because Romeo had been seen with his mask off at an evening party held by the Capulets.
Romeo should have never been banished, and I will try my best to comfort him in these difficult times, and will make sure he is held in a safe home. Tybalt slew Mercutio, and Tybalt ran into Romeo’s blade, thus killing himself. Romeo should have never been banished for this entire fray!
by kalean 9a
Oh Macutio why? You lay dead all hopes of peace between Montague and Capulet are destroyed. Tybalt is dead fueling the Capulet’s rage they will not let it stand at this. Romeo is banished, forbidden to enter the city to live amongst his friends, his family and his enemy.
ReplyDeleteRomeo why did you have to chase Tybalt and slay him? You should have left him and honored Macutio’s death with long disserved peace. Now the Capulets are out raged with The Princes decision and at all means are going to try and hunt down poor Romeo.
Banishment is better than death even if Romeo may not think this. Being separated from the beautiful city of Verona to Mantuer. Did Rosaline’s false love lead him to this all the anger and hate and for the revenge of Macutio. Romeo was acting depressed no joy and life like he used to have and all this odd behavior not coming home spending whole nights away from home and coming and leaving without a words notice.
Now Macutio is gone the spirits of the Montagues will be low and the absence of Romeo will not do the family good. We should appreciate the Princes mercy and abide by his laws, not act out in more blood filled violence.
*Sob* I will miss all the times I had with Romeo from the laughter to the unpleasant brawls with the Capulets I remember him as if he was my brother and I will never forget how he dismissed Tybalt’s rage and challenge refused to fight and stood for peace.
By Nathan Back
Empathy Question for Benvolio.
ReplyDeleteWhat to do, what to do. What to do for poor Romeo. He who acted merely on emotion and tried to stop the fighting has been banished! For no reason as well. He just did what the law should’ve done, taken Tybalt’s life. He offered peace to Tybalt and refused to fight, and yet Tybalt wouldn’t accept the peace and still pushed his buttons to try to get Romeo to fight. Romeo was on the floor! Begging Tybalt not to fight with him, poor Mercutio saw this and stood up for his friend. What did Tybalt do? He murdered Mercutio. It is because Tybalt knows not what love is, he has no true friends but other Capulets and he didn’t understand that Mercutio was simply standing up for his friend.
Tybalt would most certainly be put to death because Mercutio was the Prince’s relative! Blood relative as well! Now poor Romeo has to pay the price because Tybalt can’t bear to lose, so to speak. Now Tybalt and Mercutio are dead and Romeo has been banished. I begged the prince for mercy. I told him everything that happened and still he showed no mercy for my poor cousin. Romeo tried to do the right thing but, is the right thing every really the right thing?
I wonder where Romeo is right now. Romeo won’t last long on his own; he’s too much of a dreamer. He acts on impulse too much, that’s what got him in this mess in the first place. He acted so fast after Mercutio died and simply killed Tybalt. When I went to get him from the scene of the crime, he wouldn’t budge. What did he mean, “I am fortune’s fool”. It probably has something to do with that girl at the party. That was a strange night. After that night he never spoke of Rosaline again. Instead he just disappeared after the party and try as we might we couldn’t find him.
Perhaps if I were to go to the Prince, alone with no interfering Capulets I could reason with him, get him to see that Romeo did nothing wrong really, just defended Mercutio the prince’s relative! The man would be blind not to see that Romeo wasn’t the bad guy or the murderous scoundrel that Tybalt makes him seem, but a poor young boy who was trying to stop them fighting but when Mercutio was mercilessly slaughtered he had no choice but to avenge the life of Mercutio. Mercutio was his relative so he must be in mourning and be thankful for what Romeo did, and how does he thank him? He banishes him for avenging the life of his own relative. The prince’s relative that is.
Let me try again, what Romeo meant by, “I am fortune’s fool!” I mean he wasn’t really he just did something for Mercutio. He didn’t mean to kill Tybalt I guess but in our lives it’s kill or be killed. Those Capulets are heartless and merciless and they will kill you if you are alone because that’s what they did to our great grandfather. Mercilessly killed him, over what! A girl, a lousy girl who he asked to dinner. They always think they are better than us, better then everyone. We have just as much money and riches as they do, maybe more and they still think they are better than us! What nerve they have. They are so pompous that they killed the relative of the prince!
ReplyDeleteOh poor, poor Romeo. The household won’t be the same without him. He was the light of the house and the laughter and everything. Everyone loved him. He must stay away from the house; if he were to die I don’t know what I would do. It would of course be all the Capulet’s fault. Those Capulets with their ways that make everyone upset. It’s their fault he’s in this business and if he were to die to make up for the fact that he was avenging the murder of a friend and he simply concluded what the law should end. The life of Tybalt. If he were to lose his life for it I would be so angry and distraught I would kill all of those good for nothing Capulets. I would bite my thumb at every Capulet I see and not give a care about the consequence. The vermin.
What am I saying? I am so caught up in rage I don’t know what I am saying anymore. I wouldn’t do that, I do care about the consequences. If I were to do that, I would be no better than a Capulet! I am a Montague not a Capulet and we have respect for either people and we have our heads screwed on right, not to tightly, but just right. We know right from wrong and we know that revenge is sweet, but hardly ever worth it because in the end the ‘victim’ wins because we would be punished for the revenge. I mean Mercutio did have a hot, fiery temper and did like to cause trouble. That was no reason to kill him; however he did tell Tybalt that he wanted to kill him. Like I said Kill or Be Killed.
What am I doing? Going against my friends? Am I really justifying the Capulet’s wrong? I don’t know what to think anymore. I am lost in a sea of emotion; anger, hatred, sadness, concern and most of all annoyance that justice has not been served! I need to lie down.
Exam practice 2
ReplyDeleteOh Romeo, why did you have to go do such a pointless thing. Tybalt did kill Mercutio, and he was such a good friend of yours, but killing Tybalt only made more anger, and hate rid between the families and this is what it has led to. This has solved no problems between the families and now with Romeo being banished. How will he accept the news?
Tybalt was silly to start the row and try arouse a fight and then lead on to Romeo, but when he killed Mercutio he took it too far and it only led on to more anger and hate rid which made Romeo mad and he didn’t know what he was doing. Oh I know that Romeo will not except the news lightly, and also to be away from his family and friends will only upset him even more. Also away from the love of his life, Juliet. I wonder how she has taken the death of her cousin. She must be feeling confused and upset because it was Romeo’s hand that did slay Tybalt.
I do not know why the Capulet’s did not believe that I meant well and did not mean for this fray to happen. Even though I am on the Montague’s side, when it comes to fairness, I am not biased. Tybalt did start it, but none of the Capulet’s could understand that. Also Romeo did try to stop it all from happening, but Tybalt being stubborn wanted to fight.
Romeo has only done well in this small town, he never wanted for any of this to happen. The families continuous fights should have nothing to do with the younger generation of the families. Romeo never cared for such fray’s, he was always thinking and day dreaming about girls and other things, that he loved so much. He does not deserve banishment.
From my opinion, Romeo deserves to stay because Tybalt did slay Mercutio and Romeo did slay Tybalt, so it was an even fight. But the prince did not see that, and his anger about yet another feud must have overcome him and made him feel like it was all Romeo’s fault, and that someone had to blame for it, and since Romeo was still alive, he would take all the blame.
When I heard that Romeo was to be banished, I was upset because I knew the real truth of the whole fight, but no one would understand that. Romeo never wanted to fight with the Capulet’s. He always made sure that he was not around when a feud was going on between them, but he was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and for Tybalt to believe that Romeo was joking about his kind words, was disrespectful, because I could see from Romeo’s face that he meant every word he said, and also he meant it all because of Juliet. He loves her so much that he has managed to love the whole family to. But Tybalt could not see that, and looked right past Romeo’s Kindness.
It is my duty to find Romeo and tell him of this decision. I would rather I told him, than him finding out from a Capulet or the Prince. At least I will know his reaction and will be able to control him, rather than he getting depressed and doing something stupid. I am also sure that Juliet will understand his situation and will show sympathy. I just hope Romeo does not take it too harshly and leaves without a single word, because he is like family to me and I do not want him to fall into any danger. I will be with him for the whole way, I will make sure that he gets to his destination safely, and I will find him a place to stay for now, until we figure out a way to see each other and also for him to see Juliet.
But I wish him luck with his venture.
Empathy Exam Question - Andrew Graham
ReplyDeleteRomeo, Romeo, thou art a fool in your-own self. Why oh why did you slay Tybalt, all would be well if thou had refrained from the act. Mercutio was tragically killed by his hand, and his hand alone, but this was stupid of you to retaliate. Is there a reason for you to have done this? Revenge? Anger? For a woman? None of the less, you must not have been yourself when it was committed.
My good friend, I have never seen you that mad before. It was scary for me, and I wish that I could have stopped it from happening. I just felt that I should have not intervened in the fray, as something might have come bad for many more good people, and they could have attacked me, unarmed as well. “I thought only for the best” I remember you telling good Mercutio, and that was how I felt in your fray. Oh Romeo, look what you have done to yourself! You are banished from your home, where you spent your whole life! You know nothing outside Verona walls, and now you have been exiled away forever. You should not think badly of the Prince though, as he fought not to have you killed, and reasoned to have you exiled instead.
Life will not be the same without my good friends Romeo or Mercutio anymore. I will be lonely from time to time. I hope we can stay in contact somehow. I wish to meet you in the near future, and tell you all that will have happened inside Verona. You must be feeling lonely too; all on your own, outside of your home, nowhere to go, no home to return to. I hope you can start anew, and live a good, long life, but still remember your good friend Benvolio!
What am I to do now? I have no Romeo anymore, no Mercutio anymore. What am I to do? Everyone will miss you my friend, as I am sure that you will miss them. At least that wretched villain Tybalt is no more, and so cannot start frays with any good men anymore. I told the prince of what had happened, right down to your well-spoken words of the Capulet, and informed him of all action that had occurred in the breakout. The prince does not think you a bad person, and he wanted to help you escape death.
I will miss you a lot good friend, and I wish this had never happened today, so we could all just go home, and rest ourselves. Goodbye and I hope that I will be seeing you soon. I despise the Capulet name as much as the next Montague, but I did not with this to happen to them either. They should not have started it, and have been so provoking of Mercutio, and that Vile Man should not have slain him either. Oh, I hate arguments and fighting, why can’t everyone just get along in life? All life is now is war and fighting, and constantly in our Verona, Capulet and Montague fight and argue all of the time.
Somehow, we got caught into this, and I pity you for what has become of you.
Exam Practice Question 2
ReplyDeleteBenvolio from Romeo & Juliet
Poor Romeo! Why did he have to do such a silly thing? Did he need to kill Tybalt? Why did he say all that stuff? Is he starting to become mad? Oh Romeo, run far away. Go flee to the next city. Do not get caught by these retched fools. Can’t they just leave him alone? It was a mistake, wasn’t it? Why did he get so annoyed?
The Prince just banned him from Verona, why? He is such a good kid. Oh Mercutio why did you have to challenge Tybalt. He didn’t do anything to deserve it. Why did my best friend have to fall? He was so shocked. Why did Romeo say all that silly stuff, ‘Tybalt, the reason I doth love thee doth much excuse the appertaining rage, to such a greeting, villain I am none, therefore farewell, I see thou knowest me not.’ It was such a foolish thing to say, and all it did was infuriate Tybalt.
I tried to stop them, I really did, but I guess it wasn’t enough. They just kept on going. The fights couldn’t stop and then in a flash, it was over. Mercutio was slain by Tybalt, and Tybalt by Romeo. Oh what a shock Romeo had when he found out that he had slain Tybalt. Oh poor Mercutio, I thought he was joking. He was such a good friend and a funny fellow.
Those foolish Capulets, thinking it was all Romeo’s fault. Must they be so stubborn? They all just think it is the Montague’s fault. The Prince said the right thing but must he banish Romeo. Oh where will he stay, what will he do? The way Romeo acted with Tybalt was infuriating. What fire eyed fury did he have. Why did he do this? He started a war that cannot be stopped.
From my point of view, it’s all the Capulet’s fault as they began this bloody fray. The slain Tybalt began it and they must be punished, even though Tybalt learnt his lesson. What must I do to stop them? Must I fight back, or just let Romeo find his way out of the city alone? Oh Romeo, kind and gentle Romeo. Romeo deserves to stay here with us, and it’s all the Capulets’ fault. I must stop them. Oh what am I saying, I don’t want more war.
I told him the truth. I told Prince the truth and nothing can change that now. The thing is, was it right of me, did I do the right thing? Did Romeo deserve this dark fate? Romeo actually sounded like he didn’t want to hurt Tybalt at first, then his anger grew out of control. And what did he mean he didn’t want to fight. He loves to fight. He was just doing the wrong thing in the wrong place, at the wrong time. He was foolish not to see that. I need to help Romeo. Did Tybalt need to get so infuriated over such a little petty thing, like going to his party? Could we just not have gone there? We couldn’t just leave them alone for once? No, Mercutio had to intervene and try to crash the party of the Capulets, therefore causing Tybalt to get all feminine about it.
Mercutio was also very foolish to strike at Tybalt with all those comments. He sounded like he wanted to die, but he wasn’t sure about it yet. He was having a hard time I could understand that but why did he have to do such a silly thing as to get killed by Tybalt. We all knew that Mercutio could have killed Tybalt, but there was something unstable about him. It is my duty to help Romeo and get out of Verona and get to safety before they kill him. This must end the death of Tybalt and nobody will remember about him ever again. Yes that’s what I shall do.
MAXXXXXXXXXXX
Exam Practice Question 2
ReplyDeleteMy cousin! My dear cousin got banished. That is not fair!
I remember how he tried to keep Mercutio from fighting. He meant all for the best. He didn’t want all this to happen. He wanted peace, just like me. But then, Tybalt killed Mercutio.
Tybalt, you horrible person! It’s your fault! You killed my dear friend Mercutio. And Romeo, who always acted fast and without thinking, ran after Tybalt to fight. I tried to stop Romeo. I didn’t try hard enough… I could have stopped everything. I could have stopped this horrible fight. But then, Romeo killed Tybalt. It happened so fast. Why did you do that, Romeo? Why didn’t you just stop for a second and think about what you were doing? Anger and Rage have blinded him.
Of course, I’m thankful that the Prince didn’t decide to kill Romeo as a punishment. Instead, he banished him. Romeo has to leave… Mercutio is gone. My two best friends leave my side. Who will I joke with and talk to now? Who will I walk through the streets of Verona now? Who will I go to Capulet’s feasts now? Does it make sense to stay here, in Verona, when all my friends leave me? And all what is left, are the Capulets?
Why didn’t I stop the fight? Why didn’t I stop Mercutio when he attacked Tybalt? Why didn’t I stop Romeo when he ran after Tybalt? Why did I try harder? I could have stopped the fights, the deaths, the punishment. Why was I too weak to do so? Why?
Romeo, oh Romeo. How often will I be able to see you now? Will you be far away? Will I have to travel far? Am I allowed to see you? And if Romeo won’t leave Verona early enough, then he will be killed! Romeo, I hope to God that you will leave now and stay in a city far away from all the Capulets. There you can have a good life, without enemies around you. I’m sure you will find new good friends. I’m sure everything will be okay. Yes, everything will be alright. Maybe, it’s even better so. Now, Romeo doesn’t have to see his familiy’s enemies ever again.
But how must Romeo feel? He killed Tybalt. Will this guilty thought travel with him the rest of his life? Romeo, who is always so easily hurt and full of strong feelings, how will he be able to live through all this? His friend, Mercutio, dead, and his enemy, Tybalt, killed by Romeo’s hand. That’s too much for such an emotional boy like Romeo. He was heartbroken after the whole scene with Rosaline. How will he feel now? With all this bad things happened in the past… Will he be able to live a good life with such a bloody, bad past? He needs my help and comradeship. He needs me. But how can I help him, when he lives so far, far away? How?
Oh Romeo, I think you have to live through this time by yourself. Romeo, you can do this! I know you can. I will pray to God that he helps you through this bad time and that he forgives you for the horrible act you did. Everything will be alright. You can do this, Romeo!
Exam Practice Question 2 - Benvolio's Thoughts.
ReplyDeleteBanished? Banished from Verona forever and if he returns he shall be killed? How could the prince be so harsh, all Romeo did was what the law would, why should more violence be created now? Can’t we finally have peace once and for all?
Romeo, I did tell Mercutio not to start a brawl as the Capulet’s were around: “Oh good Mercutio let’s retire, the sun is hot, the Capulet’s are abroad and if we meet we shall not escape a brawl” where the exact words I told our dear Mercutio. Then Tybalt and his gang showed up, acting all high and mighty. This was because of the party... I did say it was a bad idea didn’t I? None of this would have started if we hadn’t crashed the Capulet’s party, we should have stayed well away from it in my opinion! No one listens to me though it’s as if I’m a ghost but I do say things for a reason, and look where it’s ended up now!
The only reason we went to that party was for Romeo to see Rosaline, and look where that girl’s got him now! Banished from Verona forever! He seemed very happy the next day though, so I guess everything went well with him and Rosaline that night but whatever am I going to do without Romeo now, I’ve lost a good friend and god knows where he is now! That boy can’t survive on his own.
Peace between the families is all anyone really wants, why can’t we just stop all these pathetic brawls and keep peace, for both families sake. Look where it’s ended up. I’m so glad Romeo did not stay and fight Tybalt, but why in on earth did Mercutio accept the fight if it wasn’t his. He was then stabbed under Romeo’s arm. Tybalt was aiming for Romeo but why is Tybalt so mad at him? It cannot possibly be just the party. Something did happen that night, something he hasn’t yet told us.
If only Romeo had stayed calm none of this would have ever happened, I’ve never seen him get so mad he wouldn’t hurt anything, let alone kill a person. Especially when he’s in love as he becomes so effeminate. I don’t understand, is it me just being blind I just don’t understand why Romeo was so passionate about the Capulet’s when he said “and good Capulet, who’s name I love and tender as dearly as my own’ and then he stabbed Tybalt. It makes no sense I really don’t know what to think.
What if I hadn’t been so truthful when the prince asked me to, if I said Tybalt was killed by Mercutio at the same time, then Romeo wouldn’t have been banned. I do hope Romeo has no hatred towards me but I couldn’t lie to the prince but I am Romeo’s friend and should have protected him. Oh I do hope everything figures itself out!
He will come back though, I’m sure he will. To say goodbye to Rosaline most likely, and hopefully he’ll come and say goodbye to me. I’ll go to Friar Lawrence for some help as he always knows what to do and Romeo spends a lot of time with him so hopefully the Friar will know exactly what’s been going on with him and hopefully peace will now be restored between the two families as so many lives have been lost. Hopefully the prince will see that Romeo should not be banished, and allow him back into Verona, if Romeo stay’s away from Verona for a little while though.
This hopefully will have been the final fights and deaths caused by both us Montague’s and those Capulet’s forever.
Well today hasn’t turned out like I would have thought. Now I won’t be able to see my good cousin Romeo in the morning as he has been banished. If Tybalt and Mercutio didn’t get into a fight, none of this would have happened. But it must have been fate.
ReplyDeleteI do believe that Romeo should have been punished for murdering Tybalt even though he killed Mercutio; I think that banishment might be a bit too harsh. But it was the Prince’s decision. We all have to follow what he says. Now we all know what happens if the rules are broken.
Now our best friend Mercutio is dead. His jokes amused us all. I found it hilarious when he said ‘look for me tomorrow and you shall find me a grave man’. Know we all know why he said that line. As it may have been funny then, he knew that his life would shortly end.
I had never seen Romeo so angry afterwards. None of us could keep up with him when he sprinted to find Tybalt. I could see the sense of vengeance in his eyes. He didn’t stop running until he found Tybalt. When I saw the two fighting, I knew that one of them would die. This time, it was serious. Romeo was fighting for his life and for Mercutio. He was no match compared to the advanced fighting skills of Tybalt. Romeo’s victory was very lucky. For a moment, us Montagues thought that Romeo was going to be killed. However, when Romeo picked up that sword and pierced it into Tybalt’s stomach, we knew it was all over.
I informed the Prince what happened in a non-biased view. Obviously Lady Capulet would have never believed me. I knew that the Prince would have, he has often trusted me. That might be why Romeo wasn’t killed. The Prince did seem to realise that Romeo killed Tybalt for the right reasons in that his best friend was murdered by Tybalt.
Maybe exiling Romeo was the right decision by the Prince. Murdering Romeo would have been too harsh even though he murdered someone. He still has his life and will never be too far away from us.
The chain reaction to the dreadful events must have started at that party we went to last night. That might have been why Tybalt was asking for Romeo, he may have spotted him at the party. I wonder why Romeo stayed at the party when we left. I guess I’ll never know unless I find him.
This day is a day of mourning. Two young men have been killed and Romeo has been banished. I consider myself lucky for not getting too deeply involved in the fighting and murders. But I see it as my duty to find Romeo and support him. Wherever he goes, he will be ok.
Grade 9 Lit- Exam Practice Question 2
ReplyDeleteRomeo has just been exiled from Verona. Mercutio has met his end along with Tybalt. Is this what it comes down to? Is this end of our dear houses? So many fights have been fought and so many lives have been taken in vain, I wonder if we remember why we are fighting in the first place.
Romeo has always been rather impulsive and love sick, but thank goodness for that as I doubt he would have lived if her were at that fight we had earlier in the week. So I have much to thanks to give to Rosaline. Lately Romeo seems more emotional, I didn’t even what to fight Tybalt at fist saying that his love for him was greater than his hate. What did he mean by that?
Well Romeo is now exiled and if he enters Verona he will be a dead man, he has no reason to be in Verona so I’ll doubt that he will defy the Prince and wall through Verona gates. What guilt he must feel for taking Tybalt but probably that guilt has been overlooked because of the great sorrow he feels for the loss of Mercutio.
When we had gone to the Capulet’s ball a day ago Romeo seemed to be quite content. Tybalt had noticed us but hadn’t said anything I wonder who had stopped him. It’s not like Tybalt to keep quite when someone invades his property. That was a fun evening but I keep wondering where he disappeared to as we were walking home. I bet that, whatever he did after he left us had something to do with his new found love for the name Capulet.
Romeo’s mother is in a mess, losing her son and a dear kinsman all in the same day, well it’s hard on everyone really. I hope that the families have learnt their lesson and that they’ll think twice before starting a fight. Knowing these families fights so well I know that they will have more fights in the future and stir havoc in these streets again.
Poor Romeo I wonder how he feels about all this, what is going through his head right now, my dear cousin. He’s probably misses Rosaline more than Verona walls. Poor Mercutio he constantly took the Mickey out of Romeo and his over dramatic ways. Mercutio was constantly joking, till the very end I say if he hadn’t joked so much we might have believed his cry for help. Even though he wasn’t a Montague he cared Romeo and the family. He was constantly being dragged into our fights and now paid the price of them. I wish I were more courageous, I warned Mercutio to leave as I knew that the Capulets' would be searching aimlessly for a fight and they found it.
In the end all of us have paid a hefty price for this feud. Romeo has paid the most for his impulsive ways. He is now exiled and cannot show his face in Verona’s shadows anymore, I can’t help but wonder what will happen to the rest of us.
-Valentina Spiteri
GRADE 9 LIT – EXAM PRACTICE QUESTION 2
ReplyDeleteThis is just too much. I can’t take in all of this in one go. If it has to happen, could it go one after another slowly? I can’t even get used to the death of Mercutio yet. Why did this happen to us. Why did everything have to be like this? Things were being fairly good for awhile. Me, Romeo and Mercutio doing our usual pranks, having the most fun time. It didn’t have to end up like this. Mercutio dying, tybalt dying, and romeo now BANISHED? What am I supposed to do in the middle of this mess? Mourn? I can’t stand losing another friend.
Mercutio was such a great guy. He was the best one in the bunch. I remember when we went to crash the capulets retarded costume party. It was hilarious. Though when romeo disappeared we were a bit confused of where he was. He has been acting so peculiar since after the party. Like when he came before the whole fight started, too happy to be human. What was with him today? And that he refused to fight tybalt? That is just unmanly. The Romeo that we knew was fun, searching for fights, but as well a hopeless romantic. He better not be in love again. If that is the reason for all this chaos, I don’t know what I’m going to do with him. Although, that is ff I ever will get to see him again.
This is all Tybalt’s fault really. He was the one who wanted to pick up a fight. Why couldn’t he of just resisted his temptation to fight us montagues and mind his own business. This horrible feud has been going on for generations, but it hasn’t gotten this bad. Mercutio. Dead. Tybalt. Dead. Romeo. Banished. These guys are the leaders of our gangs. And if Romeo dies, I don’t know what else I can do but to kill myself. All my best friends are gone. It can’t get worse than this, can it? After this nothing will be the same. Hopefully this will mean an end to this rage. We need to stop all this fighting and just obey the prince and his orders. I know that it sounds stupid, boring and just silly, but it’s the best thing to do. No one wants to handle deaths in their lives. Before I was all up to fighting and thought it was hilariously fun. But after this, everything’s changed. Two of my best friends gone from Verona. One of them from life. This is getting too violent. If only Mercutio listened to me from the very beginning of this day. That he shouldn’t of gone into the streets today, to just retire and wait for another day to wander the Verona streets.
But sometimes Mercutio just doesn’t think thoroughly. He is a funny guy, but might not just be a clever one though. Oh what am I saying? I cannot speak ill of the dead. And that he actually is dead, I just cannot set my mind on it. Oh how I wished this all was just a dream or a hallucination. That Mercutio was alive, not about to be buried. That Tybalt was alive and well and not an inconsiderate jerk. That Romeo was his old self and could control his anger against Tybalt. If only this day never happened. What if this feud never occurred between our families? The person that started this, no matter if he’s a capulet or a montague, he would have surely gone to hell. Just look what complete, un-reversible damage he has made to people’s lives. Just seeing the capulets and montagues today at the town center. We were all so upset, emotional and angry. They didn’t even have the patience to listen to me tell them how everything happened. Or what the prince had to say.
Oh what can I do now? There is pretty much nothing else to do but to find Romeo and warn him about the banishment. Or perhaps he has already heard and is on his way. Oh what pain that boy must be in right now. I just can’t help imagining if this all hadn’t happened. We live in a harsh world. A harsh world.
Exam Practice Question
ReplyDeleteEmpathy Question - 2
Oh Romeo Romeo, why hast thou done thineself such injustice?
Oh Romeo, why have you done this to yourself? Your ill-temper and spontaneity has left you banished from these glorious Verona walls, where you have lived your whole life and know of little else. I think of you, still a young man out in Mantua away from your friends and family. All because of Tybalt who was unwilling to open his eyes and see your peaceful intentions, offending the volatile Mercutio.
I suppose I should not be focusing on the bane of your banishment, but rather the good fortune the Prince has allowed us. While he has banished you from Verona, he was willing to spare your young life from death as he listened to my recount of what happened, seeing through the biased pleas of desperation from both houses and into what really happened. The Lady Capulet was screaming at the Prince for your head, calling me unreliable and biased, with both bodies lying near. Two lives had been lost already, what a terrible dark day it would be when three lives were lost in one day to the feudal fray of the Montagues and Capulets, especially since I am already distraught at the loss of the strong-headed Mercutio, unwilling to go when I asked.
I was frightened during the brawl between Mercutio and Tybalt but not as I was when I saw you in a angry frenzy of vengeance and rage, trying to avenge Mercutio’s death. I could not believe when I saw Mercutio dying, always strong and witty but then so weak and deathly. I could understand you fury at Tybalt, and I believe his death was justified, but you did not need to carry it out and end up punishing yourself.
I cannot believe that in such a short time I have lost two of my great companions and friends to the cruel systems of Death and Justice. It makes my hate for this vile and meaningless war between the two great houses, even if we have the chance to keep in contact with each other, I find myself angry not only at Tybalt but at you too. You were selfish, young and foolish, but I still will still love and miss you through this mix of emotions I am feeling.
Oh gosh, I’m worried for my friend, Romeo…
ReplyDeleteRomeo, why did you do it? My dear friend I’m worried for you now. The price has just announced that Romeo should be found and killed, since he killed Tybolt, but it wasn’t his intention. I agree with the people, as they say, Tybolt slew Mercutio, Tybolt must die, but then others say that Romeo slew Tybolt, must Romeo die?
I can’t stand to see my friend be sentenced with death; after all he’s been through. when we were at the town, Romeo ran over towards us, just when there was a feud going on between Mercutio and Tybolt, but when Romeo arrived, Tybolt told Mercutio, that Romeo was his man, and he didn’t want to deal with Mercutio, but Mercutio was argumentative and Didn’t want to just drop it like this, as his noble character as his own. He told Tybolt, “stand and draw” and that’s when I knew that today wasn’t going to be one of the best days in my life.
When Romeo came over, with Mercutio continuing their fight, Romeo insisted them to stop fighting, and was telling Tybolt, our arch enemy of our family, that he loved him, and his name (family) just as much as he loves his own. Everybody thought he was playing a little joke but , but as the long friend I have been to Romeo, I knew that it wasn’t simply just a joke, but I wasn’t sure what he meant by this. I think he’s going slightly crazy, or maybe he just wanted Mercutio to return home, safely tonight.
After the fight, and Mercutio’s death, I was telling Romeo, run before the people come and get you, and slay your life too, but he took a while to register what I said, as he was too surprised I believe about what he just did. I’m wondering now, where did he run too? Perhaps he went to hide far away since he thought his life would be taken away from him he is seen by anybody. I hope he is okay.
Romeo, screaming out “I am fortunes fool!” showed that he didn’t intentionally think about him killing Tybolt, and knows that the consequences are terrible…
Over the past few days, Romeo seemed to be depressed, about this girl called Rosaline, but since yesterday night, he seemed to not mention her, but be distracted about something else. Last night, at the Capulet’s house, Romeo went missing and we left the party without him. The next morning he returned and spoke nothing about it, where was he? The last time I saw him that night was when we left, he turned around and ran back into the house.
I feel as if I just lost someone extremely important to me. Romeo Just got banished; I don’t think it is entirely his fault because before the fight he refused to join in he told Tybalt that he loved him but he couldn’t say why, even when Tybalt told Romeo he refused to. Mercutio was the one that actually decided to fight Tybalt I don’t even think Tybalt intended to kill Mercutio but because Romeo got in the way Tybalt stabbed Mercutio. Then when Romeo found out about it He went to kill Tybalt.
ReplyDeletePersonally I feel that Romeo has done wrong because he did run after Tybalt to kill him and it was his fault that Mercutio got killed. However I still feel love for him. I have been with him most of my life. He is such a lovely, friendly person. He dislikes fights and refuses to be around the trouble. It is horrible how He is the one that has to be banished. He would have made a fine gentleman.
The thoughts running through my head at the moment is if only Mercutio and I had gone back home when we saw the Capulet boys. If only we decided to go and walk around Verona at a later time, all I can think about is “if only” I regret this incident. I did try to stop it maybe if I tried harder, then maybe it wouldn’t have happened.
Everyone is fed up of our useless fight even I am. We always disturb the town. It is never peaceful even the Prince warned us about our fighting. We just make the world a bitter place. I wish it would stop. Romeo would have been the perfect successor of the Montague house hold and I think he would have been able to stop the horrible feud between the Capulet house hold and the Montague house hold. If only he didn’t kill Mercutio. I hate how both families have been having this quarrel for such a long time; I don’t even know why we hate the Capulet house hold. I don’t even think anyone knows why we are against each other. We have both lost people we cherish so why can’t we just put it all behind us and be friends. We all know what it like for each other we are the same so we should make peace already.
Evita
It is unbelievable, if Romeo is found he will be dead, and it is not fair. He had to kill Tybalt, otherwise Tybalt would just get away with the murder of Mercutio, becase these kind of people get away with everything, even death. Killing him was the only answer I think, Romeo had to do it, oterwise he would just hate himself ad regret a thousand times that he did not do it. Well, now he regrets killing him. What would be the best thing to do? I don’t know, I just hate that he has to suffer now.
ReplyDeleteI don’t know where he is, and we might not ever see eachother again. It is as thoughi will be alone for the rest of my life, first Mercutio left me, now Romeo, I am alone and my shadow is the only thing that is with me now. Silence is killing me. I am afraid just as much as Romeo is, I don’t know is he is alive or not, if he is healthy or not, what if he got caught?
I wish I could turn back time, only if I could. I would turn back to the time when we were about to go to the party, because if we wouldn’t go, then Romeo would fight with Tybalt, and Mercutio would not be dead, nor would Romeo be banished. Or even, I would turn back to the time when Montague’s started to fight with the Capulets, now we would be friends, good neighbours, not enemies.
Don’t know how to live further, will I ever see my best mate again, or never?Time will show, but how I wish everything could be easy again, I want to see how he laughs at the beach again, and just enjoys life.