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Star-Crossed Love in Romeo and Juliet
Through their reading of Shakespeare's play, students examine the thematic topics of love, family, and fate, making connections between the play and their own lives.
ELA
Alternate Unit 5
9th Grade
Unit Summary
Please Note: In August 2026, this unit and its lesson plans received a round of enhancements. This unit is now 28 instructional days (previously 26 instructional days). The writing projects of the unit have been adjusted significantly and additional assessment options have been added. Teachers should pay close attention as they intellectually prepare to account for the updates.
In Unit 5, students read William Shakespeare's iconic play Romeo and Juliet and watch various adaptations to examine the thematic topics of love, family, and fate. Students consider the development of the romantic relationship between Romeo and Juliet, analyzing how Shakespeare uses diction and figurative language to convey meaning. Students also consider how romantic love is impacted by familial love and expectations. Finally, students consider the influence of fate in the lives of Romeo and Juliet, as well as in their own lives.
Before reading the play, students explore William Shakespeare's background and his language. They apply their learning by creating an infographic about Shakespeare and creating their own Shakespeare-style conversations to become more comfortable with the language. Students then closely analyze the prologue of Romeo and Juliet. They continue to investigate Shakespeare's language with a particular focus on what his figurative language reveals about characterization and Romeo and Juliet's relationship. At the end of Act 1, students write a one-paragraph argumentative essay comparing depictions of teenage love in the play and Taylor Swift's song "Enchanted."
Alongside reading Shakespeare's text, students examine other adaptations, such as Gareth Hinds's graphic novel and Franco Zeffirelli's 1968 film version, to compare and contrast how the choices actors, directors, and authors make impact their understanding of characters and events. Students also consider how modernizing a canonical text to create an inclusive adaptation influences a modern audience's understanding of the play.
As students begin Act 5, they engage in a Socratic Seminar about the role of fate and free will in both the play and their own lives. The unit concludes with a class debate in which students decide whether Romeo and Juliet are responsible for their own deaths or whether other influences, such as their parents' feud or fate, more heavily impact their tragic endings.
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Texts and Materials
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Core Texts
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Play: Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare (Folger Shakespeare Library)
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Graphic Novel: Romeo and Juliet by Gareth Hinds (Candlewick) (teacher copy)
Supporting Texts
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Video: “Romeo and Juliet (1968) | Act 1, Scene 5 | Clip 1” by Franco Zeffirelli (director)
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Video: “Romeo and Juliet (1968) | Act 1, Scene 5 | Clip 2” by Franco Zeffirelli (director)
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Video: “Romeo + Juliet (1996) | Act 1, Scene 5” by Baz Luhrmann (director)
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Video: “Romeo and Juliet (1968) | Act 2, Scene 2” by Franco Zeffirelli (director)
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Video: “Romeo + Juliet (1996) | Act 2, Scene 2” by Baz Luhrmann (director)
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Video: “Romeo & Juliet (2009) | Act 2, Scene 2” by Shakespeare's Globe
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Video: “Romeo and Juliet (2018) | Act 2, Scene 2” by the Royal Shakespeare Company
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Video: “Pizza My Heart (2005) | Act 2, Scene 2” by Andy Wolk (director)
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Video: “Gnomeo & Juliet (2011) | Act 2, Scene 2” by Kelly Asbury (director)
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Video: “West Side Story (1961) | The gangs fight scene” by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins (directors)
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Video: “West Side Story (2021) | La Borinqueña (Sharks Version)” by Steven Spielberg (director)
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Song: “Enchanted”
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Article: “Steven Spielberg Refused to Subtitle the Spanish in West Side Story For This Important Reason” by Emma Dibdin (Town & Country)
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Video: “Rosaline (2022) | Official Trailer” by Karen Maine (director)
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Podcast: “Steve McQueen, Erica Whyman on Romeo and Juliet, Gender-swapped theatre” by Front Row (BBC)
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Video: “Romeo and Juliet—importance of a female Mercutio” by the Royal Shakespeare Company
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Video: “& Juliet (2022) | Official Trailer” by Broadway
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Book: Teach the Torches to Burn: A Romeo & Juliet Remix by Caleb Roehrig (Feiwel & Friends)
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Video: “Redefining Juliet (2016): Retelling Shakespeare like never before” by BBC Four
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Article: “What Is Fatalism?” by Alan Cuncic
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Article: “What is Free Will?” by Fishtank Staff
- Recommended Texts for Independent Reading
Rubrics
Resources for Lessons and Projects
Assessment
The following assessments accompany Alternate Unit 5. For more guidance, see the Summative Assessments Teacher Tool.
Authentic Assessments
The Socratic Seminar measures students' ability to think critically, engage meaningfully in discussion about key unit content, and support their ideas with evidence.
The Performance Task is the culminating assessment of the unit in which students have the opportunity to demonstrate the skills and content they have learned through an authentic task.
Optional Assessments
The Warm Read Assessment measures students' ability to apply the core reading standards and their knowledge from the unit to comprehend new, topically or thematically aligned texts. It includes multiple choice and an optional on-demand essay.
The Vocabulary Assessment measures students' acquisition of text-based vocabulary words from the unit.
Unit Prep
Intellectual Prep
Before you teach this unit, unpack the texts, themes, and core standards through our guided intellectual preparation process. Each Unit Launch includes a series of short videos, targeted readings, and opportunities for action planning to ensure you're prepared to support every student.
Essential Questions
- How does a person balance their own desires with expectations from family members?
- How does love impact a person's actions and decisions in life? Are some types of love more powerful than others?
- To what extent is a person's life dictated by fate or free will?
Vocabulary
Text-based
augmentchideentreatenduregallantpredominantquarrelvaliantvilevice
Literary Terms
anaphoraartistic choicesasideblank versecounterclaimdramatic ironyextended metaphorhyperboleiambic pentametermonologueopponentoxymoronproponentrebuttalsoliloquysonnetstage directionstragic flaw
To see all the vocabulary for Unit 5, view our 9th Grade Vocabulary Glossary.
Notes to the Teacher
- Shakespeare's plays were meant to be performed by actors and enjoyed by audiences! Consider having students read aloud in class or perform particular scenes throughout the unit.
- While a majority of Romeo and Juliet is assigned in the lesson plans, some scenes (Act 1, Scene 4; Act 2, Scene 1; Act 2, Scene 5; Act 3, Scene 4; Act 4, Scene 2; and Act 4, Scene 4), as well as some sections of scenes, are skipped due to the length of the play. When scenes are cut, a brief summary is provided, and often a video clip of the scene is provided for students to view as well. Teachers could still choose to assign these scenes as Opportunities for Enrichment to enhance students' reading and understanding of the play.
- Gareth Hinds's graphic novel version of Romeo and Juliet is listed as a core text for teachers, as it is used in conjunction with the original text three times in the unit (Act 1, Scene 1; Act 3, Scenes 2 and 3; and the inclusivity supplemental lesson). The graphic novel closely follows Shakespeare's work regarding plot and language, but the Lexile level is 730L as compared to 1260L for the original text. Teachers may wish to obtain additional copies of the graphic novel for students who are reading significantly below grade level or who would benefit from the combination of illustrations and text. Teachers may even wish to teach the graphic novel instead of the original text. While the graphic novel follows Shakespeare's text closely, teachers should preview lesson content and make adjustments where the original text and the graphic novel differ.
- While Romeo and Juliet is one of Shakespeare's most popular plays and widely read, it also contains mature content. By line 6 of the prologue, students are aware that "a pair of star-crossed lovers [will] take their life." It is essential that students discuss the topic of suicide with sensitivity, as it should never be spoken of lightly. Throughout the unit, ensure that students are aware of the resources available to them at school, such as a school counselor or other trusted adult in the building. In addition, three characters are murdered in sword fights. This content might be triggering for some students. As always, be mindful of the knowledge and diverse experiences your students bring with them to your classroom as you prepare to teach this unit.
Lesson Map
Write a one-paragraph response that compares depictions of teenage love in Taylor Swift's "Enchanted" and William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.
Brainstorm by comparing ideas about depictions of teenage love in Taylor Swift's "Enchanted" and William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.
- "Enchanted" and Romeo and Juliet Brainstorm (G9, Alt U5, L10)
Standards
RL.9-10.1RL.9-10.2W.9-10.5
Draft a paragraph using a Point-by-Point structure to compare two texts.
- Point-by-Point Paragraph Outline (G9, Alt U5, L10)
- Point-by-Point Structure Comparison Paragraph Mentor Text (G9, Alt U5, L10)
- Self/Peer Feedback Form (G9, Alt U5, L10)
Standards
W.9-10.1.aW.9-10.1.bW.9-10.1.e
Revise a paragraph by using a dependent clause that begins with a subordinating conjunction to show cause or comparison.
- Dependent Clauses and Subordinating Conjunctions Practice (G9, Alt U5, L10)
Standards
L.9-10.1.bW.9-10.5
Engage in a class debate on who or what is to blame for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet.
Prepare for a class debate on who or what is to blame for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet by collaboratively planning position statements supported by strong evidence.
- Debate Planning Sheet (G9, Alt U5, L23)
- Debate Planning Sheet for the Alternate Prompt (G9, Alt U5, L23)
Standards
RL.9-10.1SL.9-10.1W.9-10.1.aW.9-10.1.bW.9-10.5
Prepare for a class debate on who or what is to blame for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet by collaboratively planning rebuttals.
- Debate Planning Sheet (G9, Alt U5, L23)
- Debate Planning Sheet for the Alternate Prompt (G9, Alt U5, L23)
Standards
RL.9-10.1W.9-10.1.bW.9-10.1.eW.9-10.5
Prepare for a class debate on who or what is to blame for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet by drafting a script for the opening statement, arguments, rebuttals, and closing statement.
- Team Debate Script (G9, Alt U5, L23)
Standards
W.9-10.1W.9-10.1.cW.9-10.1.d
Engage in a class debate on who or what is to blame for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet.
- Debate Judge Checklist (G9, Alt U5, L23)
- Debate Self-Reflection (G9, Alt U5, L23)
Standards
SL.9-10.1SL.9-10.4SL.9-10.6
Projects
These projects are optional and serve as a great way to enrich students' experience and deepen their content knowledge in this unit. If teachers have flex days in their schedules, we strongly recommend any of the below options.