'Romeo and Juliet': contextualising violence and honour in Elizabethan society
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain the role of violence and honour in Elizabethan society.
Key learning points
- ‘Romeo and Juliet’ opens and ends with acts of violence.
- Exposure to violence would have been a reality in Elizabethan England.
- By staging the fights in daylight, Shakespeare implies violence was acceptable in society.
- Honour was a central aspect of men’s identities in Elizabethan England.
- Arguably, we might see honour as something that must be proven in public.
Keywords
Masculinity - qualities or attributes regarded as characteristic of men or boys
Honour - a quality that combines respect, being proud, and honesty
Stereotype - a set idea that people have about what someone or something is like
Dominant - to be in control; to be powerful
Duel - a contest with deadly weapons arranged between two people in order to settle a point of honour
Common misconception
That everyone considers 'Romeo and Juliet' to be about love.
Some critics consider 'Romeo and Juliet' to be primarily about violence and society instead.
Teacher tip
It might be useful to remind pupils what a patriarchal society is and how it might enhance stereotypes of masculinity.
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
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet' is a __________ play.
Q2.Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet' was written in the __________ era.
Q3.'Qualities or attributes regarded as characteristic of men or boys' is the definition of which word beginning with 'm'?
Q4.'A set idea that people have about what someone or something is like' is the definition of which word beginning with 's'?
Q5.Which of the following is the definition of a 'feud'?
Q6.'A quality that combines respect, being proud, and honesty' is the definition of which of the following?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Starting with the first, put the plot points of 'Romeo and Juliet' in chronological order.
Q2.Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet' begins with __________ in Act 1, Scene 1.
Q3.'A contest with deadly weapons arranged between two people in order to settle a point of honour' is the definition of which word beginning with 'd'?
Q4.To be 'dominant' means which of the following?
Q5.In Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet', which of the following is true of how Shakespeare stages the fight scenes?
Q6.Complete the quotation from the prologue of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet': “Two households, both alike in ”.
To help you plan your 11 English lesson on: 'Romeo and Juliet': contextualising violence and honour in Elizabethan society, 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': contextualising violence and honour in Elizabethan society, 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.