Creating Empathy

It is 2012 and a girl in her late teens has started dating someone who she believes is her true love. Unfortunately, her parents, family and friends don't approve of the relationship and are trying to force her to end it. Her parents have even gone so far as to say that they will disown her if she doesn't stop the relationship. In her diary she writes down her feelings about the whole situation. What does she write?

In your response, consider where in the world this girl lives, what her family situation is, what her social status is, what it is about her 'true love' that her family and friends dislike, etc.

05.06.2012
I met the most handsome guy today, he is like the perfect image right out of my dreams. His name was Drake. Drake have the most mesmerising jade like eyes that one could imagine and that any woman would love and simply melt from. He had the softest short scruffy dark brown hair that was perfect for his overall image, tall, thin but with a good build. He definitely did not look scrawny or buff but just right, a man who still seemed to have tremendous strength in his arms, legs and entire body. He is like the man any woman would wish for in their dreams. I wonder if ... his personality is as good as his looks Diary?

08.06.2012
Diary, you remember how I mentioned Drake before? well guess what?! he transferred to my chemistry class today and he sat next to me today ><. He is such a nice guy, very open and cheerful, not at all awkward to be around. It was so easy for us to simply break out into a conversation and it went on so well that we even had lunch together. Drake is like totally my type of guy, a great guy with a great personality, what more could you ask for? 

15.06.2012
It has been nearly over a week since I started getting to know Drake and I am convinced that he is 'the guy' for me. That he is my 'true love', I've told my best friend Amy about this but she thinks that I'm just fantasizing too much and that it will never work out between us and I should just stay friends while it lasts. Well, I know I may not be the smartest girl in school but I work hard despite the fact that my parents always end up bribing my teachers. I'm little girl in a rich family and get the top spot no matter what, even though I hate it. I know I'm not the best and that the Emily in the front row with the square glasses and sweatshirt is and I simply want to have a normal time where I am the same as any other kid that goes to school and Drake.... Drake he is like the only other person who would talk to me like my best friend Amy. Another reason why  I could just fall right into his arms without any hesitation.

17.06.2012
Today was the day, I finally confessed my feelings to Drake....

18.06.2012
I was so nervous to hear his response today...

23.06.2012
We went on our first date....
There is one thing about him that always gets me and its those eyes his has when he looks at you and you simply feel drunk, drunk by his looks, by his eyes .

05.07.2012
It has been nearly 3 weeks since we have started dating. I have been telling my family how perfect Drake is and how I think he is the perfect guy, how no one will be better suited for me than him, he 'is the one'. They then told him to bring him home at least so they could have a look instead of hearing me brag about me everyday and see if he really is 'the one' before I go any further. It has been a tiring day and I'm going to rest early, can't wait to hear all their compliments tomorrow about Drake he was simply, again perfect today!

06.07.2012
Why? I mean I love him and he is like the 'perfect guy' and yet they all say his too fishy and that he is too perfect. I mean, how can they say that about him? He may be perfect but that doesn't mean he is weird or up to anything. He loves me, I'm sure he loves me just the way I love him. There's no way ..... No No he loves me, Drake loves me. They are just jealous that I found my dream guy and they always ruin everything. How could they? How dare they say that about my beloved Drake!

10.07.2012
I don't know what's going on anymore....

Love Story – Taylor Swift

We were both young when I first saw you

I close my eyes and the flashback starts

I'm standing there on a balcony in summer air

See the lights, see the party, the ball gowns

See you make your way through the crowd

And say hello, little did I know



That you were Romeo

You were throwing pebbles

And my daddy said stay away from Juliet

And I was crying on the staircase

Begging you please don't go

And I said


Romeo, take me somewhere we can be alone

I'll be waiting, all there's left to do is run

You'll be the prince and I'll be the princess

It's a love story, baby, just say yes



So I sneak out to the garden to see you

We keep quiet 'cause we're dead if they knew

So close your eyes, escape this town for a little while



Oh, oh, oh



'Cause you were Romeo,

I was a scarlet letter

And my daddy said stay away from Juliet

But you were everything to me

I was begging you please don't go


And I said


Romeo, take me somewhere we can be alone

I'll be waiting, all there's left to do is run

You'll be the prince and I'll be the princess

It's a love story, baby, just say yes



Romeo, save me, they're trying to tell me how to feel

This love is difficult, but it's real

Don't be afraid, we'll make it out of this mess

It's a love story, baby, just say yes



I got tired of waiting, wondering if you were ever coming around

My faith in you was fading

When I met you on the outskirts of town


And I said
Romeo save me, I've been feeling so alone

I keep waiting for you but you never come

Is this in my head, I don't know what to think

He knelt to the ground and he pulled out a ring

And said


Marry me, Juliet, you'll never have to be alone

I love you and that's all I really know

I talked to your dad, you'll pick out a white dress

It's a love story, baby, just say yes


Oh, oh, oh, oh

We were both young when I first saw you

Love Story Official Music Video Clip           http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlbB7qt6v_0

Discussion Questions:

Outline the subject matter of the poem?

The subject matter of the poem is a love story, mainly based off Romeo and Juliet with a happy ending. This is known as the lyrics state, 'I'm standing there on a balcony in summer air See the lights, see the party, the ball gowns', the balcony scene in Romeo and Juliet and how they met at a ball is very well known to the general audience who know about Romeo and Juliet. In addition, Romeo and Juliet are mentioned throughout the song. 


Why is the poem entitled “Love Story”? Use evidence from the   lyrics to support the titles significance and relevance.

The poem describes a love story and a very famous tragic love story by William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet but has also incorporated it into a love story that there is a happy ending. This is obvious as the lines, 'it's a love story...' is mentioned thrush out the song.

Describe the relationship between the two characters.  Who are they?

The two characters in the song are Romeo and Juliet. They have met at a party/ball and fallen in love but they were children of enemy families and because 'he was Romeo' her father opposed them.'...little did I know, that you were Romeo' meaning she had began falling for him without knowing he was Romeo and that it might have been otherwise if she did.

What evidence is there to suggest that these lovers have to overcome obstacles in their relationship?

'This love is difficult, but it's real'
'Don't be afraid, we'll make it out of this mess'
...'I keep waiting for you but you never come'
...'I talked to your dad, you'll pick out a white dress'
These lines show that their love are having difficulties but it's real and they will somehow make it out of this mess together. as time passed Juliet continued to wait and slightly became restless but then Romeo finally shows up asking for her hand in marriage after getting permission from her father. Living happily ever after.


What themes and issues are explored in the lyrics and through the video clip?

Love and relationships are themes explored within the lyrics as it is mainly about ones romance story and how they could finally be together again. I think the video explored the lyrics in a way to show that even though in the actual story romeo and Juliet had a tragic end it is possible for them to reincarnate and meet again but this time their love for each other in their past lives will draw them together and the tragedy will now have a happy ending.

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?

Romeo gets approval by Juliet's father to marry her but in the real story of Romeo and Juliet tragically, they both die after believing the other is dead. Maybe she didn't want a tragedy and she thought it could have been different.she is writing in Juliet's perspective and as Juliet she would want to be with Romeo and have the support of their family.  They may also have wanted the story to end this way as the title of this song is 'love story' which would tend to be thought of as a fairy tale to the general public. Fairy tales have happy endings, they are bright and colorful stories as opposed to the original Romeo and Juliet, filled with blood and killing.