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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...