Exploring the role of the Nurse and comedy in Act 2, Scene 4
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain the role of the Nurse and comedy in Act 2, Scene 4 of ‘Romeo and Juliet’.
Key learning points
- Shakespeare presents the relationship between the Nurse and Juliet as a close relationship.
- Shakespeare implies that the Nurse is protective of Juliet and that Juliet in turn trusts the Nurse.
- Arguably, the Nurse’s use of malapropisms presents her as uneducated.
- Shakespeare’s use of bawdy humour might have been a way of appealing to the lower classes.
- Alternatively, Shakespeare’s use of bawdy humour might emphasise the youthfulness of the characters.
Keywords
Tragedy - a play dealing with tragic events and often ends with a death
Comedy - a play that has a light or humorous tone that depicts amusing incidents
Bawdy - containing humorous remarks about sex
Malapropism - the mistaken use of a word in place of a similar-sounding one
Witty - using words in a clever and funny way
Common misconception
The role of comedy is merely to make people laugh.
Comedy can be a way of revealing information about characters.
Teacher tip
It would be useful for pupils to share their ideas about the relationship between tragedy and comedy in Task C as it's a difficult question.
Equipment
You may wish to have a copy of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet' for this lesson.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of sexual content
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.'A play dealing with tragic events and often ends with a death' is the definition of a play.
Q2.'A play that has a light or humorous tone that depicts amusing incidents' is the definition of a __________ play.
Q3.Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet' is a play.
Q4.Which of the following is the definition of feeling 'protective'?
Q5.In Act 1, Scene 3 of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet', Lady Capulet asks the Nurse where Juliet is. This implies which of the following?
Q6.To 'ridicule' someone is to __________ them.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.In Act 2, Scene 4 of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet', the Nurse's refusal of money from Romeo for her help implies which of the following?
Q2.In Act 2, Scene 4 of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet', Mercutio says "Now art thou sociable, now art thou / Romeo” - what does this suggest about Romeo's love for Juliet?
Q3.'Using words in a clever and funny way' is the definition of being ...
Q4.'The mistaken use of a word in place of a similar-sounding one' is the definition of which of the following?
Q5.The Nurse's use of malapropisms in Act 2, Scene 4 of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet' suggests which of the following?
Q6.'Containing humorous remarks about sex' is the definition of which word beginning with 'b'?
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: Exploring the role of the Nurse and comedy in Act 2, Scene 4, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: Exploring the role of the Nurse and comedy in Act 2, Scene 4, 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: exploring the role of love and fate unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.