a formal discussion about a question or subject held in public

a central idea of a text that the writer intends the audience to engage deeply with

a question about a text that can be discussed

a question that is raised by a text that can be discussed without referring to it

Debating a question raised by Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet'

English

In this unit, pupils learn how Shakespeare explores multiple key themes throughout a single play. In 'The Windrush: Diary Writing', pupils will learn to develop their skills of writing a diary with emotion based on a significant historical event.

In 'Shakespeare's Macbeth’: Narrative and Soliloquy Writing', pupils learnt about character, plot and theme in a Shakespearean play for the first time. In this unit, pupils will learn how Shakespeare explores multiple key themes throughout a single play.’

Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet': diary and narrative writing

Depiction or discussion of violence or fighting, including threats of violence or the aftermath of violence.

Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

an idea the author wants us to engage with in a text

What kind of question is the following? 'Who is Romeo's cousin in the play?'

Should Juliet have followed Friar Laurence's plan?

because you need to understand the play to answer it

Why is the following question **not** a philosophical question? 'Was it right for Lord Capulet to try and force Juliet to marry Paris?'

True or false? You should be able to answer a philosophical question even if you haven't read the text that raised the question.

Should the prince have done more to control the feud?

Should the government do more to stop crime?

Should Romeo have tried to deal with Juliet’s ‘death’ differently?

Which of these are philosophical questions?

Which of these are true of 'Romeo and Juliet'?

The two main characters are killed in a duel.

Which of these are true about the plot in 'Romeo and Juliet'?

True or false? The Montagues and Capulets are still fighting at the end of 'Romeo and Juliet'.

Which characters help Romeo and Juliet to be together?

To escape marrying Paris, Juliet takes a potion that makes her seem dead. 

Believing she is really dead, Romeo poisons himself.

Juliet wakes up and, finding Romeo dead, stabs herself.

Put these events from 'Romeo and Juliet' in order. 

In those days, families had a lot of control over who children married.

She was embarrassed to tell them that she was in love.

Because of the feud, her family would never have allowed this to happen. 

She knew they'd make her divorce him and marry Paris instead.

Why do you think Juliet didn't just tell her parents she couldn't marry Paris because she was married to Romeo?

Content guidance

Depiction or discussion of serious crime

Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Adult supervision required

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Debating a question raised by Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet'

Lesson outcome

Content guidance

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.