'Romeo and Juliet': exploring ideas of sex and forgiveness in Act 3, Scene 2
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain how Juliet’s language around sex and forgiveness relate to ideas of female agency.
Key learning points
- Female sexual desire was frowned upon in Elizabethan England.
- Juliet’s language around sex implies that she anticipates pleasure and wants to take an active role.
- However, Juliet’s comparison to a child at the end of her speech about sex may undermine her agency.
- After finding out Romeo killed Tybalt, Juliet’s initial reaction is one of anger.
- We may see Juliet's forgiveness as her exerting agency or bowing to societal pressure to forgive her husband.
Keywords
Female agency - the ability of the female characters to take action and make their own decisions that affect their lives
Consummated - make (a marriage or relationship) complete by having sexual intercourse
Transactional - relating to the conducting of business, especially buying or selling
Infantalisation - treat (someone) as a child or in a way which denies their maturity in age or experience
Submissive - ready to conform to the authority or will of others; meekly obedient or passive
Common misconception
That forgiveness is always a personal choice.
Sometimes people feel societal pressure to forgive someone.
Teacher tip
It might be useful to read through the Nurse and Juliet's full exchange in Act 3, Scene 2 to see the progression of Juliet's emotional reaction in its entirety.
Equipment
There is a copy of Juliet's speech from Act 3, Scene 2 available in the additional materials.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of sexual content
Depiction or discussion of sexual content
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.In Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet', what does Juliet discover after her marriage to Romeo?
Q2.Which of the following are symbols associated with the image of a snake?
Q3.To wish that someone is 'blistered' is to wish something __________ onto them.
Q4.'The ability of the female characters to take action and make their own decisions that affect their lives' is the definition of female .
Q5.'Undermine the power and authority of (an established system or institution)' is the definition of which word beginning with 's'?
Q6.'An instance of buying or selling something' is the definition of which word beginning with 't'?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.In Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet', Juliet's initial reaction to learning that Romeo has killed Tybalt is ...
Q2.'Ready to conform to the authority or will of others; meekly obedient or passive' is the definition of which of the following?
Q3.'Treat (someone) as a child or in a way which denies their maturity in age or experience' is the definition of which word beginning with 'i'?
Q4.'Make (a marriage or relationship) complete by having sexual intercourse' is the definition of which word beginning with 'c'?
Q5.Complete the quotation from Act 3, Scene 2 of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet': "To an impatient that hath new robes / And may not wear them".
Q6.Complete the quotation from Act 3, Scene 2 of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet': "I have the mansion of a love / But not possessed it".
To help you plan your 11 English lesson on: 'Romeo and Juliet': exploring ideas of sex and forgiveness in Act 3, Scene 2, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 English lesson on: 'Romeo and Juliet': exploring ideas of sex and forgiveness in Act 3, Scene 2, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 English lessons from the Romeo and Juliet: Juliet and female agency unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.