'Romeo and Juliet': exploring Juliet's agency in Act 5, Scene 3
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain Juliet’s agency in Act 5, Scene 3 of ‘Romeo and Juliet’.
Key learning points
- Potentially, we might see Friar Lawrence’s offer of a nunnery as representing how limited women’s choices were.
- Arguably, Juliet asking permission to die undermines her agency in the scene.
- We might see Juliet’s death as fulfilling her destiny which could contradict her agency.
- Arguably, Juliet’s posthumous presentation is decided by men.
- This might reveal how ultimately women’s agency is undermined by men.
Keywords
Agency - the capacity of an individual to act independently from others and to make their own free choices
Fate - the development of events outside a person's control, regarded as predetermined by a supernatural power
Posthumous - happening or continuing after one's death
Common misconception
That everyone believes we all have control over our life and decisions.
If you believe in fate, then you believe that our life is predetermined and our decisions ultimately don't matter.
Teacher tip
You might like to extend ideas around fate and agency to consider what Shakespeare might be saying about life and control in general.
Equipment
You may wish to have a copy of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet' for this lesson.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Depiction or discussion of mental health issues
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.The prologue of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet' refers to Romeo and Juliet as " -crossed lovers".
Q2.In Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet', Romeo and Juliet are fated to do which of the following?
Q3.Starting with the first, put the events of Act 5, Scene 3 of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet' in chronological order.
Q4.An imperative word is which of the following?
Q5.To undermine something means which of the following?
Q6.'The capacity of an individual to act independently from others and to make their own free choices' is the definition of which word beginning with 'a'?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.'The development of events outside a person's control, regarded as predetermined by a supernatural power' is the definition of which word beginning with 'f'?
Q2.In Act 5, Scene 3 of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet', Friar Lawrence offers to do which of the following for Juliet?
Q3.Arguably, fate and agency are __________ concepts.
Q4.Complete the quotation from Act 5, Scene 3 of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet': “I will ray her statue in pure ”.
Q5.'Happening or continuing after one's death' is the definition of which word beginning with 'p'?
Q6.Complete the quotation from Act 5, Scene 3 of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet': “O, happy dagger, / This is thy sheath. There rust, and me die.”
To help you plan your 11 English lesson on: 'Romeo and Juliet': exploring Juliet's agency in Act 5, Scene 3, 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 Juliet's agency in Act 5, Scene 3, 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: Juliet and female agency unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.