Year 11 - English
'Romeo and Juliet': honour, violence and masculinity in Act 5, Scene 3
Romeo and Juliet: the integral role of violence and honour to masculinity
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils look at the interplay between violence, honour, and masculinity in 'Romeo and Juliet'. They look at key scenes, and what they reveal about key male characters, before finally looking at how to use context and quotations effectively in an analytical essay.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to explain how honour, violence and masculinity are presented in Act 5, Scene 3 of 'Romeo and Juliet'.
Key Notes
- Potentially, Paris' defense of Juliet's honour may show that men's honour was affected by the women in their life.
- Arguably, both Paris and Romeo show a reluctance to engage in violence.
- Through their reluctance, perhaps Shakespeare is criticising societal expectations on men.
- Throughout 'Romeo and Juliet', it's been suggested that male honour comes from defending it through violence.
- However, at the end of the play, Lord Capulet and Lord Montague's actions suggest that honour now comes from civility.
Vocabulary To Learn
- cessation: the fact of something ending or stopping
- dishonourable: bringing shame or disgrace on someone or something
- civil: polite, respectful, or considerate in manner
- generous: showing a readiness to give more of something, especially money, than is necessary or expected
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- That the male characters in Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet' are always keen to fight.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
Potentially, Paris' defense of Juliet's honour may show that men's honour was affected by the women in their life. Arguably, both Paris and Romeo show a reluctance to engage in violence.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'cessation'
the fact of something ending or stopping.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: That the male characters in Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet' are always keen to fight. Correction: In Act 5, Scene 3, Romeo and Paris both seem reluctant to fight.
More Lessons In This Unit
- 'Romeo and Juliet': contextualising violence and honour in Elizabethan society Study Guide
- 'Romeo and Juliet': selecting effective quotations and using context effectively Study Guide
- 'Romeo and Juliet': violence, honour and social hierarchy in Act 1, Scene 5 Study Guide
- 'Romeo and Juliet': violence, masculinity and society in Act 1, Scene 1 Study Guide
- Analysing ideas of violence and honour in Act 3, Scene 1 of 'Romeo and Juliet' Study Guide
- Lord Capulet's honour and violence in Act 3, Scene 5 of 'Romeo and Juliet' Study Guide
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