Analysing ideas of violence and honour in Act 3, Scene 1 of 'Romeo and Juliet'
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain how violence and honour are presented in Act 3, Scene 1 of ‘Romeo and Juliet’.
Key learning points
- Arguably, Shakespeare opens Act 3, Scene 1 with the expectation of violence through the pathetic fallacy “hot”.
- By connecting blood and violence, Shakespeare may be suggesting that violence is integral to men.
- Throughout Act 3, Scene 1, Shakespeare might be implying that men saw violence as a way to satisfy their honour.
- Mercutio’s connection of submission and dishonour may indicate that men were supposed to be violent and dominant.
- We could see Mercutio’s challenge as implying that men’s honour was also affected by those in their social circle.
Keywords
Masculinity - qualities or attributes regarded as characteristic of men or boys
Honour - a quality that combines respect, being proud, and honesty
Integral - necessary to make a whole complete; essential or fundamental
Dishonourable - bringing shame or disgrace on someone or something
Submission - the action of accepting or yielding to a superior force or to the will or authority of another person
Common misconception
That men were supposed to be the 'bigger man' and act rationally in the face of a challenge to their honour.
In Elizabethan England, men were expected to defend their honour.
Teacher tip
It might be useful to extend the thinking around Tybalt - what might Shakespeare be suggesting by creating a character that only speaks of honour and violence?
Equipment
You may wish to have a copy of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet' for this lesson.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.'The attribution of a personal nature or human characteristics to something non-human' is the definition of .
Q2.'Qualities or attributes regarded as characteristic of men or boys' is the definition of which word beginning with 'm'?
Q3.'A quality that combines respect, being proud, and honesty' is the definition of which of the following?
Q4.'Bringing shame or disgrace on someone or something' is the definition of which of the following?
Q5.'The attribution of human emotion and conduct to things found in nature that are not human' is the definition of which literary device?
Q6.Which of the following emotions might we link to the word 'hot'?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Complete the quotation from Act 3, Scene 1 of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet': "the mad stirring".
Q2.'Necessary to make a whole complete; essential or fundamental' is the definition of which of the following?
Q3.'The action of accepting or yielding to a superior force or to the will or authority of another person' is the definition of which word beginning with 's'?
Q4.In Act 3, Scene 1 of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet', what does Tybalt suggest will satisfy his honour?
Q5.Complete the quotation from Act 3, Scene 1 of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet': “O calm, , vile submission!”.
Q6.In Act 3, Scene 1 of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet', Mercutio calls Romeo's refusal to fight as "vile" which suggests that walking away from a fight was which of the following?
To help you plan your 11 English lesson on: Analysing ideas of violence and honour in Act 3, Scene 1 of 'Romeo and Juliet', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 English lesson on: Analysing ideas of violence and honour in Act 3, Scene 1 of 'Romeo and Juliet', 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 integral role of violence and honour to masculinity unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.