Act III

Oxymoron

You may recall that a paradox is a contradiction that, upon further examination, reveals a possible truth. A paradox tends to be complex and multifaceted. On the other hand, an oxymoron is a more concise version of a paradox. An oxymoron is the juxtaposition of seemingly contradictory terms. The plural form of oxymoron is oxymora or oxymorons. Like paradoxes, oxymora may appear illogical at first glance, but many of them make sense on a deeper level. In fact, most oxymora are used in everyday language and are easily understood. In this interactivity, you will learn more about oxymora and how they are used. Click the player button to begin.

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The Tragic Hero

Aristotle, a famous Greek philosopher, first came up with the idea of a tragic hero. A tragic hero is a character in a literary work who has the potential for greatness but is doomed to fail. William Shakespeare composed numerous tragedies, and among his most famous tragic heroes are King Lear, Othello, and Macbeth. In this interactivity, you will explore the three defining characteristics of a tragic hero while examining the character Hamlet from another of Shakespeare's famous plays called The Tragedy of Hamlet. Click the player button to begin.

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Turning Point

A turning point in literature occurs when the direction, mood, or plot of a story makes a drastic change. Usually there is a huge problem that arises, or a character in a play makes a choice or decision that turns the action of the story around. Naturally, it is this change that seals the fate of the hero and begins moving the plot toward either a happy ending or tragic ending. Essentially, the turning point sets off a series of events from which the hero cannot escape.

You will definitely see a turning point occur in Act III of Romeo and Juliet!

 

 

Reading Act III of Romeo and Juliet

In Acts I and II of Romeo and Juliet, two teenagers fall in love and secretly get married. Their relationship seems like paradise so far, but Act III is about to present a turning point that threatens to unravel the happiness that they have shared so far. Access and read Act III of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. Use this interactivity as an accompaniment to studying the third act. Before you read each scene from Act III, scroll down the parchment paper for a brief introduction to the scene. Click the player button to begin.

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Act III of Romeo and Juliet Review

Now that you have explored Act III of Romeo and Juliet and learned about oxymora, tragic heroes, and turning points, it is time to review your knowledge and practice what you have learned. In this non-graded activity, read the questions and select the appropriate answers. Click the player button to get started.