'Romeo and Juliet': using tentative language to write about writer's intentions
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can use tentative language to write about Shakespeare’s intentions in ‘Romeo and Juliet’.
Key learning points
- Arguably, Shakespeare shows Juliet as both exerting agency and assuming a passive role in ‘Romeo and Juliet’.
- A writer’s intentions can reveal their overall message - what are they saying about society or humanity.
- Using tentative language is important because we can never truly be sure of a writer’s intentions.
Keywords
Intentions - something that you want and plan to do; an aim
Agency - the capacity of an individual to act independently from others and to make their own free choices
Conform - to behave according to the usual standards of behaviour that are expected by a group or society
Contemporary discourse - the current discussions and conversations happening in a specific field or context
Tentative - not definite or certain
Common misconception
We can get a definitive idea of the writer's intentions from the text.
We can never truly know what the writer's intentions were but we can tentatively explore ideas.
Teacher tip
You might like to make the discussions around whether Juliet has agency and Shakespeare's intentions whole class discussions to help pupils understand a range of different ideas.
Equipment
You may wish to have a copy of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet' for this lesson.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Depiction or discussion of mental health issues
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
Loading...
Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Starting with the first, put the following events from Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet' in chronological order.
Q2.Stereotypically, women in a patriarchal society were expected to be which of the following?
Q3.To be 'submissive' means to be which of the following?
Q4.To 'criticise' something means to do which of the following?
Q5.'Doing, or willing to do, what you have been told to do by someone in authority' is the definition of which word beginning with 'o'?
Q6.'The capacity of an individual to act independently from others and to make their own free choices' is the definition of which word beginning with 'a'?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of the following decisions does Juliet make in Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet'?
Q2.'Something that you want and plan to do; an aim' is the definition of which word beginning with 'i'?
Q3.To write 'tentatively' means which of the following?
Q4.Which of the following words are tentative?
Q5.'To behave according to the usual standards of behaviour that are expected by a group or society' is the definition of which word beginning with 'c'?
Q6.'The current discussions and conversations happening in a specific field or context' is the definition of __________ discourse.
To help you plan your 11 English lesson on: 'Romeo and Juliet': using tentative language to write about writer's intentions, 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': using tentative language to write about writer's intentions, 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.