This is a PPT I used to introduce a unit on Romeo and Juliet to a group of Yr 9 students. The focus question for the unit was: Why is Shakespeare still so popular? The PPT was played to the song 'Romeo and Juliet' (a cover version by The Killers).

1. Why is Shakespeare still so popular?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87cLyBR1JTo

2. You know the story…

3. Boy meets girl …

4. They fall in love…

5. And live happily ever after…

6. WRONG!

7. Two young, star-crossed lovers meet at a masquerade ball…

8. one of them is more of a ‘lover’ than you might have thought! (Wink wink…)

9. And in the midst of hatred….

10. They fall deeply in love...

11. YouTube clip ‘The meeting’ (to 6:35): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_y9Vd4tGPi0&feature=related

12. Only to be thwarted by ......

13. Mafia warfare…

14. Bossy, meddling parents…

15. Secrets and deception…

16. Male egos…

17. Bad advice and gossip…

18. And a lack of communication… O Romeo, why won’t you answer your iPhone?

19. Sound familiar?

20. So why would a story over 400 years old still appeal to so many people all over the world?

21. For hundreds of years, Romeo and Juliet has been adapted in dramatic, print, visual and movie form…

22. And in even more innovative ways… YouTube’s First interactive book: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2WfW0z0GzE&feature=watch_response Romeo and Juliet Flip Book http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmsrMse_ZXg&feature=related Romeo and Juliet – Anime http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0pj9X5yaRQ&feature=related

23. Your task: Which messages in Romeo and Juliet do you think are relevant to an audience of today?