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Year 11
Edexcel

'Romeo and Juliet': exploring the influence of religion on society

I can explore the influence and presentation of religion through the character of Friar Lawrence in ‘Romeo and Juliet’.

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Year 11
Edexcel

'Romeo and Juliet': exploring the influence of religion on society

I can explore the influence and presentation of religion through the character of Friar Lawrence in ‘Romeo and Juliet’.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Arguably, Friar Lawrence represents religion in 'Romeo and Juliet'.
  2. Throughout the play, we see Friar Lawrence influencing the lives and behaviour of characters.
  3. Potentially, we might see Shakespeare as criticising the influence of religion on society through Friar Lawrence.
  4. Furthermore, we might see Shakespeare as criticising Catholicism through Friar Lawrence.

Keywords

  • Influence - the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behaviour of someone or something

  • Represent - to give a clear understanding or impression of: to describe or present clearly

  • Deceit - the action or practice of deceiving someone by concealing or misrepresenting the truth

  • Catholicism - the faith, practice, and church order of the Roman Catholic Church

Common misconception

That we can only interpret Friar Lawrence as a mentor figure to Romeo.

Though Friar Lawrence offers Romeo advice, we might also see his portrayal in a more negative light.


To help you plan your year 11 english lesson on: 'Romeo and Juliet': exploring the influence of religion on society, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

You could extend the discussion of Act 5, Scene 3 by considernig that Friar Lawrence only explains Romeo and Juliet's marriage because he was apprehended by the Prince's officers.
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Teacher tip
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Equipment

It may be useful to have a copy of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet' for this lesson.

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Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of mental health issues
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Supervision

Adult supervision required

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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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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Put the events of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet' in chronological order.
1 - Romeo and Juliet meet and fall in love.
2 - Friar Lawrence agrees to marry Romeo and Juliet.
3 - Romeo kills Tybalt.
4 - Romeo is banished from Verona.
5 - Friar Lawrence gives Juliet a potion to fake her death.
6 - Romeo and Juliet take their own lives.
Q2.
In Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet', which of the following does Friar Lawrence do?
encourage Juliet to marry Count Paris
Correct answer: offer Juliet a potion to fake her death
tell Lord Capulet why Juliet cannot marry Count Paris
Q3.
Which of the following is true of religion in Elizabethan England?
It wasn't seen as important.
Correct answer: It was seen as integral.
You were free to follow your own beliefs.
Q4.
'To give a clear understanding or impression of: to describe or present clearly' is the definition of which of the following?
Correct answer: represent
replicate
restore
Q5.
'The capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behaviour of someone or something' is the definition of which word beginning with 'i'?
Correct Answer: influence, Influence, influential
Q6.
Which of the following is true of Shakespeare's relationship with the monarchy?
He didn't need the support of the monarchy.
Correct answer: He needed the support of the monarchy.
He wanted to overthrow the monarchy.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
In Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet', which of the following does Friar Lawrence do?
inform Romeo and Juliet's parents of their marriage
Correct answer: keep Romeo and Juliet's marriage a secret
demand that Romeo and Juliet tell their parents of their marriage
Q2.
'The faith, practice, and church order of the Roman Catholic Church' is the definition of which word beginning with 'c'?
Correct Answer: Catholicism, Catholic, catholicism
Q3.
In Act 5, Scene 3 of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet', which of the following does Friar Lawrence do?
Correct answer: leave Juliet alone in the tomb because of a noise
leave Juliet alone in the tomb to get help
leave Romeo alone when he finds Juliet's body
Q4.
'The action or practice of deceiving someone by concealing or misrepresenting the truth' is the definition of which word?
deduce
Correct answer: deceit
delay
Q5.
Complete Friar Lawrence's quotation from Act 3, Scene 3 of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet': "Thy tears are ”.
Correct Answer: womanish, Womanish
Q6.
Which of the following is true of Queen Elizabeth I and Catholicism?
Catholics helped put Queen Elizabeth I on the throne.
Correct answer: Queen Elizabeth I passed laws to minimise Catholicism.
Correct answer: Queen Elizabeth I faced threats from Catholic sympathisers.