Romeo and Juliet Group

Question:

salimouf
salimouf
Student
High School - 10th Grade

What would Tybalt write to Romeo or "Montague's house" in the challenge letter in Act 2 Scene 5 of "Romeo and Juliet"?

 I wish you can give me ideas about what would Tybalt say to Romeo, -or The Montague's house as he directs the letter there challenging Romeo- and how would he say them and why? In addition, I was wondering if there is any special way in writing an old shakespearean letter or an Elizabethan letter. Thanks in advance.

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Posted by salimouf on Saturday May 24, 2008 at 3:43 PM and tagged with act 2, challenge, juliet, letter, romeo, romeo and juliet, scene 5, shakespeare, tybalt.

Answers:


  1. cybil Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    Tybalt would insist that Romeo had insulted the House of Capulet by coming uninvited to the party. Keep in mind the longstanding feud (of unknown causes) between the Capulets and the Montagues; Tybalt is rash and headstrong---he's clearly looking for a fight.

    Look at the language of the play for ideas about how to word Tybalt's challenge. Try writing a basic challenge and then "translating" it to Elizabethan English. For instance, you may write something like "because thou hast insulteth our family." 

    I've included two web sites below that will provide further information about dueling and challenges. I hope you find them helpful. 

    Sources:
    http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~wew/rapier.htm#WPTOHTML2
    http://www.users.uswest.net/~swidmaier/fencing.htm

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    Posted by cybil on Sunday June 1, 2008 at 12:29 AM