Read the excerpts from Ovid’s "Pyramus and Thisbe" and Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.


"Pyramus and Thisbe"


Pyramus had left

a little later than his Thisbe had,

and he could see what surely were the tracks

of a wild beast left clearly on deep dust.

His face grew ashen. And when he had found

the bloodstained shawl, he cried: “Now this same night will see two lovers lose their lives: she was

the one more worthy of long life: it's I

who bear the guilt for this. O my poor girl,

it's I who led you to your death; I said

you were to reach this fearful place by night;

I let you be the first who would arrive.


Romeo and Juliet


FRIAR LAWRENCE: Meantime I writ to Romeo

That he should hither come as this dire night

To help to take her from her borrowed grave,

Being the time the potion’s force should cease

But he which bore my letter, Friar John,

Was stayed by accident, and yesternight

Returned my letter back.



Both excerpts show that __________ and __________ may have dire consequences.


Making Promises.

Meeting Secretly.

Being Delayed.

Sharing Half-Truths and Lies.

Having Incomplete Information.