'Romeo and Juliet': exploring the relationship between adults and adolescents
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explore the societal expectations around adolescent behaviour and parental control in ‘Romeo and Juliet’.
Key learning points
- Arguably, Shakespeare suggests that adolescence was associated with impulsiveness in Elizabethan England.
- Therefore, we might suggest that the tragedy of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ was in part due to societal expectations of youth.
- Shakespeare presents parental relationships as distant and separate from their children.
- Potentially, we might see Shakespeare as questioning ideas of parental control and children's obedience.
Keywords
Stereotype - a set idea that people have about what someone or something is like
Societal expectations - the beliefs and norms that a society holds about how individuals should behave and act
Adolescent - (of a young person) in the process of developing from a child into an adult
Impulsive - showing behaviour in which you do things suddenly without any planning
Autonomy - the ability to make your own decisions about what to do
Common misconception
That parents have always taken their children's wishes into account.
In Elizabethan England, children were expected to act in a way that would benefit their family through work or marriage.
Teacher tip
You could extend the discussion in LC2 to think about how we might see the surrogate parents, the Nurse and Friar Lawrence, as also trying to exert control over Romeo and Juliet.
Equipment
You may wish to have a copy of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet' for this lesson.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of mental health issues
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).Lesson video
Loading...
Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.In Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet', which of the following is true of Lord Capulet and Juliet?
Q2.To be obedient means which of the following?
Q3.'A set idea that people have about what someone or something is like' is the definition of which word beginning with 's'?
Q4.'To behave in line with socially acceptable conventions or standards' is the definition of which word beginning with 'c'?
Q5.'(Of a young person) in the process of developing from a child into an adult' is the definition of which word beginning with 'a'?
Q6.'The beliefs and norms that a society holds about how individuals should behave and act' is the definition of societal .
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of the following are stereotypical behaviours of adolescents?
Q2.Which of the following is true of Lord Montague's relationship with Romeo in Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet'?
Q3.'Showing behaviour in which you do things suddenly without any planning' is the definition of which of the following?
Q4.In Act 3, Scene 5 of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet', Lord Capulet refers to his word as which of the following?
Q5.In Elizabethan England, children were expected to do which of the following?
Q6.'The ability to make your own decisions about what to do' is the definition of which word beginning with 'a'?
To help you plan your 11 English lesson on: 'Romeo and Juliet': exploring the relationship between adults and adolescents, 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 the relationship between adults and adolescents, 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: the tragedy of societal expectations unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.