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Exploring the development of Romeo and Juliet's relationship in Act 2, Scene 2

Lesson details

Learning outcome

I can explore the intensity and impulsiveness in the development of Romeo and Juliet’s relationship.

Key learning points

  1. Romeo and Juliet’s comparative imagery shows the depth and importance of their feelings.
  2. Potentially, Shakespeare uses so much comparative imagery to show them trying to understand their feelings.
  3. Romeo and Juliet both appear to embrace the impulsiveness of their love.
  4. Romeo’s hamartia is often said to be his impulsive nature.
  5. Arguably, the intensity of Romeo and Juliet’s language may foreshadow their tragic end.

Keywords

  • Impulsive - actions based on sudden desires, whims, or inclinations rather than careful thought

  • Intense - extreme and forceful or (of a feeling) very strong

  • Tragedy - a play dealing with tragic events and often ends with a death

  • Hamartia - a fatal flaw leading to the downfall of a tragic hero or heroine

Common misconception

Romeo is more impulsive than Juliet in Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet'.

Arguably, Juliet's actions are also impulsive.

Teacher tip

It would be useful for pupils to share their responses to the task questions as they are very open questions and it would be helpful for them to see different points of view.

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

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
(Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

6 Questions

Q1.
'A figure of speech that involves comparing two unlike things using the words "like" or "as" is the definition of a .

Correct Answer: simile

Q2.
At the end of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet', Romeo and Juliet's love for each other causes them to ...

run away together
Correct answer: take their own lives
let each other go

Q3.
'A play dealing with tragic events and often ends with a death' is the definition of a play.

Correct Answer: tragedy

Q4.
Which of the following are connotations of the 'sea'?

wisdom
Correct answer: freedom
jealousy

Q5.
'A fatal flaw leading to the downfall of a tragic hero or heroine' is the definition of which of the following?

catharsis
tragic waste
Correct answer: hamartia

Q6.
'A sign of something that will happen in the future' is the definition of which device beginning with 'f'?

Correct Answer: foreshadow, foreshadowing

6 Questions

Q1.
In Act 2, Scene 2 of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet', Romeo compares Juliet to the ...

earth
moon
Correct answer: sun

Q2.
'Actions based on sudden desires, whims, or inclinations rather than careful thought' is the definition of which word beginning with 'i'?

Correct Answer: impulsive, impulse, impulsiveness

Q3.
In Act 2, Scene 2, of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet', Juliet says that Romeo is the " of her idolatry".

Correct Answer: god

Q4.
In Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet', Romeo's hamartia is typically thought to be his ...

ambition
jealousy
Correct answer: impulsiveness

Q5.
'Extreme and forceful or (of a feeling) very strong' is the definition of which word beginning with 'i'?

Correct Answer: intense, intensity

Q6.
In Act 2, Scene 2 of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet', Juliet compares Romeo to a bird that she would like to ...

sing to her
take care of
Correct answer: keep prisoner

To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: Exploring the development of Romeo and Juliet's relationship in Act 2, Scene 2, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...