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Lesson 5

We will read Act 4, Scenes 1–3 of Romeo and Juliet. We will examine the motivation and actions of Juliet as the events of the play worsen around her.

Lesson Goals

  • Can I recognize and interpret important relationships among characters within Romeo and Juliet?

  • Can I summarize the main events of Act 4, Scenes 1–3 of Romeo and Juliet?

  • Can I determine and explain how a theme is being developed in Act 4, Scenes 1–3 of Romeo and Juliet?

Texts

Core

  • Tradebook
    • Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare, Folger Shakespeare Library, Simon and Schuster, 2004
  • Multimedia
    • Romeo and Juliet: The Fully Dramatized Audio Edition, William Shakespeare, Folger Shakespeare Library, Simon and Schuster, 2014

Materials

Tools

Reference Guides

Question Sets

Editable Google Docs

Activity 1: Read – Write

We will read lines 1–44 of Act 4, Scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet and examine shakesepare’s use of dramatic irony.

As you read and annotate Lines 1-44 of Act 4, Scene 1, pay attention to the presence of dramatic irony in the scene.

Independently, respond to the following questions about Act 4, Scene 1 in your Learning Log:

  1. Why has Lord Capulet changed the wedding date for Juliet and Paris?

  2. What does the audience know that Lord Capulet does not?

  3. What does the audience know that Paris does not?

  4. What effect does Shakespeare’s use of dramatic irony create in this scene?

Activity 2: Read – Discuss – Write

We will read lines 45–128 of Act 4, Scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet and examine how juliet’s motivation and actions further develop a theme in the play.

As you read and annotate Lines 45-128 of Act 4, Scene 1, pay attention to Juliet’s state of mind and the Friar’s potential solution to the situation.

As a class, respond to the following questions about Act 4, Scene 1:

  1. What does Juliet threaten to do in Friar Laurence’s chambers?

  2. What does this reveal about her state of mind?

  3. How do her thoughts and behaviors develop a theme in the play?

  4. What lines from the play support this conclusion?

  5. What is Friar Laurence’s solution to their problem?

  6. What complications do you predict could occur when carrying out this plan?

Capture the discussion in your Character Note-Taking Tool for Juliet and your Text-Theme Note-Taking Tool for Act 4, Scene 1.

Activity 3: Read – Write

We will read a summary of Act 4, Scene 2 in Romeo and Juliet.

Read the following summary of Act 4, Scene 2 in Romeo and Juliet.

Following the Friar’s instructions, Juliet returns to her father and asks for forgiveness for her previous disobedient behavior, which pleases Lord Capulet.

In your Learning Log, explain the dramatic irony found in this scene.

Activity 4: Read – Discuss – Write

We will read Act 4, Scene 3 of Romeo and Juliet and examine juliet’s thoughts and actions.

As you read Act 4, Scene 3, pay attention to the fears Juliet shares in her soliloquy.

Read and annotate Act 4, Scene 3.

In groups, discuss and respond to the following questions about Act 4, Scene 3 in your Learning Log:

  1. What fears does Juliet have about taking the potion?

  2. What precaution does Juliet take if one of her fears comes true?

  3. How does the soliloquy further develop the character of Juliet?

  4. How does the soliloquy further develop a theme in the play? What lines from the play support this conclusion?

  5. What effect does the pacing of Act 4 have on the mood of the play?

Capture the discussion in the Character Note-Taking Tool for Juliet and the Text-Theme Note-Taking Tool for Act 4, Scene 3.