Patrick Caro

Mrs. Coco
Eng 1001 T/TH 1:30-230
October 11, 2015
Line Of Inquiry: How did the melody and the lyrics towards the end of Taylor Swifts Love Story
produce a different mood compared to the ending of Romeo and Juliet.
Preface:
I chose Taylors Swifts Love Story because the text is a great allusion that uses many
different qualities. Taylor Swift has a unique style and the way she can elude to other texts, have
lyrics with deep emotion, and provide a catchy tune all in one is incredible.
The Group conference allowed me to see what other people thought of my essay. Things I
wasnt sure about including or not was made either when I asked my group. They liked my
points but wanted me to develop my thoughts some more. That is biggest thing I have to do
when it comes to revising my essay so all of my thought are understandable.
I have revised my paper by expanding it. I also cut pointless things that took away from
the focus. I believe explain more on the lyrics and why Taylor Swift did something made a more
established paper. I proud of the connections I made and how much I understand about each and
every lyric.
My number one question when I began my General Analysis Paper was what Taylor
Swift did specifically to put her own twist on Romeo Juliet. I wondered why the melody

transitioned at certain points. I also wondered why she the song began very depressing and ended
very cheerful. My biggest roadblock was analyzing on every stanza and then being able to
connect it back to Romeo and Juliet.
My biggest strength in the essay is analyzing the text. I have clear and concise idea that
explain Love Story really well. My biggest weakness is my organization. I tried to write in order
of the text. My paragraph follow the transition of the song and I dont know if that what I should
do. I have discovered that I can analyze a piece of text and pull out the elements the artist uses.

Love Story
Taylor Swift rewrote history in her hit song Love Story. Taylor Swift wrote Love Story to
give a much needed cheerful ending to Romeo and Juliet. A tragedy, Romeo and Juliet was
written to display how a young relationship that followed love instead of their family around
them was destined to fail. Taylor Swift didnt seem like Romeo and Juliet should have ended the
same way. How did the melody and the lyrics towards the end of Taylor Swifts Love Story
produce a different mood compared to the ending of Romeo and Juliet?
Romeo and Juliet began as two young lovers who met at a ball and did not want to depart
from one another. Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet were the heirs of two feuding families.
0The parents of Juliet saw Romeo as an enemy and opposed any relationship between him and
their daughter. The beginning of Love Story began with a similar tune. 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. Taylor Swift begins the

song through Juliets eyes. The lyrics shifted very quickly from a blissful Juliet to a somber and
gloomy Juliet. Taylor swift transitions perfectly from one stanza to the next by labeling Romeo
as a troublemaker because that is how she has always perceived the Montagues as(although Juliet
has never met a member of the Montague family before.) The lyrics dont just change the mood,
her voice because softer as you can hear the desperation in the final line. Taylor Swift used the
beginning of her song to recount the first few events that occurred in Romeo and Juliet.
Despite her fathers wishes Juliet saw Romeo again. The young couple both knew they
couldnt stay together and stay where they currently reside. The two lovebirds felt an
unbreakable love between one another and would do anything to stay together. They decided
their best option was to run away and get married together so they could have their happy
ending. Taylor Swift used the next two stanzas to continue to follow suit. 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. 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". Taylor Swift used another allusion in a piece that in its own is a conclusion. A scarlet letter
A is worn by those convicted of adultery. With Juliet being thirteen and Romeo being sixteen
labeling Juliet as a scarlet letter is an appropriate analogy.
The chorus of Taylor Swifts Love Story was put repetitively after the line I was begging
you, Please don't go And I said.... This is a perfect time to put a chorus because it shows the
desperation in Juliets voice. Using the sadness in the lyrics and the slowness of the melody
shows the audience the mood of Juliet as the chorus approaches. Romeo, take me somewhere
we can be alone. I'll be waiting; all that'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. The chorus shows the mindset of young Juliet who

thought it was so easy for her and Romeo to be together. The lyrics display a cry to Romeo
which shows the only thing Juliet wants is him. She is a princess that wants the one thing she
cant have and all she wants is to be Romeos princess. The chorus is a good foundation for the
song because each time it is played the mindset of a juvenile Juliet is shown.
Romeo and Juliet are labeled the greatest tragedy ever written because of the way it ends.
William Shakespeare, the author of the play concludes the piece with a bloody ending. Juliet
fakes her own death while secretly waits for Romeo to join her until she wakes so they can run
off together. Romeo doesnt know Juliet is still alive so when he sees her he drinks a vile of
poison. When Juliet awakens to a poisoned Romeo she feels the only thing she can do is join his
tragic fate. Juliet takes a dagger killing herself and concluding Romeo and Juliet.
A lot of people dont agree with the way Romeo and Juliet ended so Taylor Swift gave
the people what they have been wanting for five hundred years. The first of her final three
stanzas began with a hopeless Juliet. I got tired of waiting Wondering if you were ever coming
around. My faith in you was fading. This point in the song is very slow and seems like it will
follow the same unwanted ending of the archaic tragedy. This is where Taylor Swift places the
bridge of the piece which is the turning point of the song. 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 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 - go pick out a white dress
It's a love story, baby, just say, Yes. This is the much need ending Romeo and Juliet needed. The
whole song was through the eyes of Juliet until the last stanza. The last stanza shows Romeo
proposing to Juliet which suggest they live happy ever after. The whole song was very slow until
the last two stanzas which are very fast paced. The transition goes from a helpless somber mood

to a joyful mood. Taylor Swifts Love Story concluded exactly opposite which allows the
audience to experience Romeo and Juliet as a love story and not a tragedy.
Taylor Swift one of the most popular songwriters of the twenty first century rewrote a
play from the sixteenth century in contexts of a song. The song was written in the language of the
current people opposed to Shakespearean English. The whole song up until the bridge was slow
and retold the first three quarters of Romeo and Juliet. The ending was very fast paced and
showed that true love can have their own happy ever after. Many people arent fond of Romeo
and Juliet because they believe they didnt need to die. Taylor Swift ends her song as Romeo and
Juliet being married and living peacefully with their families. By shifting the tempo and through
carefully scripted lyrics Taylor Swift made her own version of how she felt the most well known
piece of literature should have went.