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Romeo and Juliet and West Side Story - Compare and Contrast

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet

West Side Story, the modern retelling of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, won ten Academy Awards for its rousing depiction of the tale of star-crossed lovers. But how closely does the plot align to its source material? Compare and contrast the characters, settings, and plot elements of both plays. 

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CCSS: Adaptable
Instructional Ideas
  • Have class members choose one literary element to compare in a thorough analysis essay
  • Project the worksheet onto the whiteboard for a collaborative discussion after watching the film as a class
  • For advanced learners, have them try to align the elements themselves without the help of the worksheet
Classroom Considerations
  • Learners may need more space to conduct an in-depth analysis
Pros
  • Worksheet aligns with both the stage play of West Side Story and the 1961 film
  • Covers an array of details from the plays
Cons
  • None