Lesson 16 | Romeo and Juliet | 9th Grade English

Objective

Analyze Juliet’s actions and motivations for her actions in act 4, scenes 1–3.

Analyze how Shakespeare develops the theme of young love in act 4, scenes 1-3.

Readings and Materials

Play: Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare — Act 4, Scenes 1–3 (pp. 177–191)

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Target Task

Tasks that represents the peak thinking of the lesson - mastery will indicate whether or not objective was achieved

Multiple Choice

What is Juliet’s motivation for visiting Friar Lawrence’s cell?

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Juliet tells the Friar that if he can’t help her, she will kill herself. Which of the following phrases best expresses the motivation she indicates for killing herself?

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Writing Prompt

Romeo and Juliet’s love is a forbidden love. How does Shakespeare use the forbidden nature of their love to develop the theme of love in these scenes? (Consider what risks they take, what they each sacrifice, etc.) Explain using evidence from the text.

Key Questions

Questions about the text that will help guide the students understanding

Why does Juliet go to Friar Lawrence?
How would you describe Paris’s treatment of Juliet in scene 1? How does she treat him? Explain.
Shakespeare again ties love and death in this scene. How does he do it this time? Trace throughout the scene.
What does Friar Lawrence give Juliet? What is the plan? How does this plan make you feel? Why?
What does Juliet ask the nurse for help with in scene 2? When she last saw the nurse, what did she decide? How does knowing her decision impact how you read her interactions with the nurse now?
How do you think the decision to move the wedding might impact Juliet’s plans with the vial?
In act 4, scene 3, Juliet is filled with fear and suspicion prior to taking the potion. What is she afraid of? List at least two separate things.
How does Shakespeare develop Juliet’s character in this scene?
How does Shakespeare use this scene to develop his message about love and sacrifice? About the power of young love?

Lesson 15

Lesson 17

Lesson Map

Romeo and Juliet — Prologue (p. 7); Act 1, Scene 1 (pp. 9–15)
Romeo and Juliet — Prologue
Street Love — Prologue

Explain the function of the prologue in Romeo and Juliet.

Analyze the conflict in act 1, scene 1.

Romeo and Juliet — Act 1, Scene 1 (pp. 17–25)
“If No Love Is, Oh God, What Fele I So”
“Petrarch”

Analyze Shakespeare’s characterizations of Romeo and Benvolio.

Romeo and Juliet — Act 1, Scene 2 (pp. 27–33)

Analyze how Shakespeare continues to develop the theme of fate in act 1, scene 2.

Romeo and Juliet — Act 1, Scene 3 (pp. 33–41)

Analyze Shakespeare’s characterization of the three female characters introduced in act 1, scene 3.

Romeo and Juliet — Act 1, Scene 4 (pp. 41–49)

Analyze Shakespeare’s characterization of Mercutio and describe his relationship with Romeo.

Romeo and Juliet — Act 1, Scene 5 (pp. 51–61)

Analyze Shakespeare’s characterization of Romeo.

Romeo and Juliet — Act 1, Scene 5

Explain in a well-crafted essay how Shakespeare and Luhrmann each create mood in act 1, scene 5.

Romeo and Juliet — Act 2, Scenes 1–2 (pp. 65–83)

Explain how the interactions between Romeo and Juliet develop the themes of the play.

Romeo and Juliet — Act 2, Scene 3 (pp. 83–91)

Analyze how the interactions between Romeo and Friar Lawrence develop the conflict of the play.

Romeo and Juliet — Act 2, Scene 4 (pp. 91–103)

Examine the differences between Romeo the lover and Romeo the friend.

Romeo and Juliet — Act 2, Scenes 5–6 (pp. 103–111)

Analyze how Shakespeare develops the theme of young love in act 2, scenes 5-6.

Identify instances of foreshadowing in act 2, scenes 5-6.

Romeo and Juliet — Act 3, Scene 1 (pp. 115–129)

Analyze how the events of act 3, scene 1 further communicate the theme of fate.

Romeo and Juliet — Act 3, Scene 2 (pp. 129–139)

Analyze the events of act 3, scene 2 and the impact they have on the plot development.

Romeo and Juliet — Act 3, Scene 3 (pp. 139–153)

Compare Romeo’s and Juliet’s reactions to his banishment and analyze what these reactions reveal about character and theme.

Romeo and Juliet — Act 3, Scenes 4–5 (pp. 153–173)

Analyze the connections drawn between love and death in act 3, scene 5.

Analyze Juliet’s character development in act 3, scene 5.

Romeo and Juliet — Act 4, Scenes 1–3 (pp. 177–191)

Analyze Juliet’s actions and motivations for her actions in act 4, scenes 1–3.

Analyze how Shakespeare develops the theme of young love in act 4, scenes 1-3.

Street Love — pp. 112–116

Explain how Myers draws on and transforms ideas from Romeo and Juliet to develop the themes, characters, and/or conflict of Street Love.

Romeo and Juliet — Act 4, Scenes 4–5 (pp. 195–207)

Analyze the individual characters’ reactions to Juliet’s death.

Identify how the tone shifts in act 4, scene 5.

Romeo and Juliet — Act 5, Scenes 1–2 (pp. 211–219)

Analyze how Shakespeare uses the plot to develop the theme of fate in act 5, scenes 1–2.

Romeo and Juliet — Act 5, Scene 3 (pp. 219–231)

Analyze the degree to which fate shaped the deaths of the protagonists.

Romeo and Juliet — Act 5, Scene 3 (pp. 231–243)

Develop an opinion about the significance of the final scene and its relationship to earlier scenes.

Discussion & Writing

Discuss and debate the essential thematic questions of the unit.

Assessment

Romeo and Juliet

Objective

Readings and Materials

Target Task

Multiple Choice

Writing Prompt

Key Questions

Lesson Map

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