Discussion questions - love story

Outline the subject matter of the poem? The subject matter of the poem is of two people that glance at each other, and have a 'love at first sight' moment. This song is based on the story of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, where they look into each other's eyes and fall in love with each other. In the song, the line "See you make your way through the crowd, and say hello, little did I know" suggests that they had no intention of meeting each other, but they had somehow caught each other's eyes. In the film clip, Juliet is talking with some friends, and Romeo is walking to her. When Juliet turns around, their eyes meet and they instantly feel a connection with each other. 

Why is the poem entitled “Love Story”? Use evidence from the lyrics to support the titles significance and relevance. The poem is entitled "Love Story" because it recounts a journey of two people that had met and fell in love, however they couldn't be together as their were numerous boundaries stopping them. The line "And my daddy said stay away from Juliet" suggests that Juliet's father did not feel that Romeo was good enough for his little girl. The lines "Romeo, save me, they're trying to tell me how to feel. This love is difficult, but it's real" shows that this isn't a fairy tale, but that this real and the love they are feeling for each other is real, however it is a struggle, like in a lot of love stories. 

Describe the relationship between the two characters. Who are they? The two characters in the song are based on Shakespeare's characters, Romeo and Juliet. The relationship between Romeo and Juliet is that they are in love during the beginning of the song, "You'll be the prince and I'll be the princess", however near the end Juliet starts to think differently as she begins to feel that he had forgotten about her and has left her without saying anything, "I got tired of waiting, wondering if you were ever coming around. My faith in you was fading...Romeo save me, I've been feeling so alone". However Romeo surprises her by coming back for her, and asks for her hand in marriage, "Marry me, Juliet, you'll never have to be alone. I love you and that's all I really know". 

What evidence is there to suggest that these lovers have to overcome obstacles in their relationship? One piece of evidence that suggests that these lovers have to overcome certain obstacles is that Romeo has to prove to Juliet's father that he is the right man for his girl, "And my daddy said stay away from Juliet". Juliet loves Romeo too much to not see him, however she was forbidden to see him, so they had to sneak out and secretly meet up, "So I sneak out to the garden to see you. We keep quiet 'cause we're dead if they knew".

What themes and issues are explored in the lyrics and through the video clip? The themes and issues that are explored in the lyrics and through the video clip are love, journey, heartbreak and acceptance. Love is shown in many ways throughout the video clip and lyrics, but one example is when Juliet says, "And I was crying on the staircase begging you please don't go" which suggests that she doesn't want Romeo to leave, but to stay with her as she has strong feelings for him. Journey is shown through the video clip by showing Juliet and Romeo going through different events so that they could be together, and near the end, they are running for each other like they are at the very end of their journey. Heartbreak is shown when Juliet is feeling upset as she thinks Romeo has left her for good, and will not come back, "My faith in you was fading". Acceptance is shown in the lyrics when Romeo says that Juliet's father has finally agreed for him to marry Juliet, "I talked to your dad, you'll pick out a white dress".

How does the “Love story” end for Romeo and Juliet in the song? Is this how it ends for the Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet? Why does Taylor Swift end her song this way? What perspective is she writing from and why would they want the story to end this way? The ending for "Love story" is that they get married and are able to live happily ever after, with Juliet's father approving of the marriage, "He knelt to the ground and he pulled out a ring and said marry me, Juliet, you'll never have to be alone...I talked to your dad, you'll pick out a white dress". This isn't the same ending for Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, because instead of being able to live happily ever after with the parents accepting the marriage, they end up dying as they feel that they can't live with each other (Romeo thinks Juliet is dead and vice versa). Taylor Swift wants to end her song this way to show that there can be happy endings, and that love is not always a tragedy. From this song, she shows that there can be a special someone out there that is worth fighting for. She is writing from the perspective of the girl that is portrayed as Juliet. Taylor Swift would want the story of Romeo and Juliet the way her song did because she may not feel that this would be quite accurate, and that this story should show the happiness and adventure that love has, without a tragic ending.