So, when I started teaching Romeo & Juliet this year, I told my kids I’d explain every single sex joke except one. One sex joke was dangerous enough that I would not explain it. If they found it, I would confirm that they found it, but still wouldn’t explain it - but if they knew where it was, they could probably figure it out themselves.
That part was in today’s lesson. This is the first year no one, not a single person said “Uh, what’s this medlar thing Mercutio’s talking about?” And I’m actually really sad. Where’s their sense of curiosity? Their sense of the naughty? I hear how they talk in the hallway, this joke is nothing. I normally have a great time being all “Hey, you found it! Still not explaining it, but if one of you figures it out, feel free to tell your friends!”
(For the record, the joke is basically Mercutio getting grumpy and grumbling about how he bets Romeo wishes his girlfriend did anal.)
(The general belief is that et cetera should actually read “an open arse” and “poperin pear” a pun on “pop her in there.” Anal sex was actually pretty normal back then, as a form of natural birth control. And for the record, this is a medlar:)