In Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Juliet points out that, “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose / By any other word would smell as sweet” (2.2.43-44). She is arguing that an object’s qualities will not change under a different name - therefore names are not important. Decide if you agree or disagree with Juliet that people’s names are not important. Explain your decision and include support from novels, personal experiences, etc. Something to consider: why do a lot of people spend so much time and effort creating a “name” for themselves? What are consequences if we do “not care what other people think of us”?

Item 7 shakespeare often puts the audience in a situation where they know more than one of the characters does. how does shakespeare increase the tension in the four-lovers story line by giving the audience information that one or more of the characters does not have? the audience knows that hermia’s father really approves of lysander and there is no need for hermia and lysander to run away. this knowledge builds tension because the audience wonders if hermia and lysander’s relationship will survive a night in the woods. the audience knows that helena really hates hermia and wants to hurt her. this knowledge builds tension when helena tells demetrius of hermia’s plan to run away because the audience wonders if hermia will be caught and punished. the audience knows that lysander and demetrius are under the spell, but helena and hermia do not. this knowledge builds tension and makes the audience eager to see what will happen next. the audience knows that oberon is observing the lovers, but the lovers do not know. this knowledge builds tension because oberon falls in love with helena and decides to become a human so he can marry her.