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Year 11
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'Romeo and Juliet': exploring individualism and the status quo

I can explore how Shakespeare represents ideas of individualism and the status quo in ‘Romeo and Juliet’.

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Year 11
Eduqas

'Romeo and Juliet': exploring individualism and the status quo

I can explore how Shakespeare represents ideas of individualism and the status quo in ‘Romeo and Juliet’.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Romeo and Juliet's secret marriage creates a conflict between individual desire and traditional authority.
  2. We also arguably see the rule of law and religion being challenged by individual desire.
  3. Potentially, the feud serves to preserve the status quo that is threatened by individualism.
  4. Shakespeare's depiction of individualism may represent Elizabethan anxiety about the social cost of individualism.

Keywords

  • Individualism - a social theory favouring freedom of action for individuals over collective or state control

  • Autonomy - the ability to make your own decisions about what to do

  • Status quo - the existing state of affairs, especially regarding social or political issue

Common misconception

Individuality is always celebrated in literature.

Arguably, Shakespeare could be seen as demonstrating the consequences of individuality through 'Romeo and Juliet'.


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

You could extend the thinking in the lesson to think broadly about whether the students consider Shakespeare a conservative or progressive writer.
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Teacher tip
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Equipment

You may wish to have a copy of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet' for this lesson.

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Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
  • 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 fall in love and marry in secret.
2 - Tybalt kills Mercutio in a duel.
3 - Romeo is banished from Verona.
4 - Lord Capulet insists that Juliet will marry Count Paris.
5 - Juliet fakes her own death.
6 - Romeo and Juliet take their own lives.
Q2.
In Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet', what is the Prince's reaction to the street fight between the Montagues and Capulets in Act 1, Scene 1?
He calls for his long sword to join in the fight.
Correct answer: He demands that the violence must stop.
He blames the Montagues for the fight and banishes Romeo.
Q3.
In Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet', Romeo and Juliet are doing which of the following by marrying each other in secret?
Correct answer: subverting societal expectations
conforming to societal expectations
Correct answer: following their individual desires
acting in a way to benefit their families
Q4.
'Behave in line with socially acceptable conventions or standards' is the definition of which word beginning with 'c'?
Correct Answer: conform, conform to, Conform
Q5.
In Elizabethan England, which of the following statements are true of how individuality was seen?
individuals were seen as unique
individuals were seen as autonomous
Correct answer: individuals were seen as part of a social network
Q6.
'The ability to make your own decisions about what to do' is the definition of which word beginning with 'a'?
Correct Answer: autonomy, autonomous, autonomously, Autonomy

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
In Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet', which of the following does the Prince arguably represent?
parental control
Correct answer: rule of law
religion
Q2.
'The existing state of affairs, especially regarding social or political issues' is the definition of the quo.
Correct Answer: status, Status
Q3.
In Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet', which of the following does the feud potentially represent?
the influence of religion
the rule of law
Correct answer: the status quo
Q4.
Complete the sentence: 'Shakespeare's plays often __________ the status quo.'
subvert
challenge
Correct answer: maintain
ignore
Q5.
'A social theory favouring freedom of action for individuals over collective or state control' is the definition of which word beginning with 'i'?
Correct Answer: individualism, Individualism
Q6.
Which of the following does the feud arguably do in Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet'?
Correct answer: demonstrate family loyalty
subvert male stereotypes
challenge social hierarchies