Year 6 - English
Understanding themes, characters and plot in 'Romeo and Juliet'
Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet': diary and narrative writing
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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 learn to empathise with and understand different characters in one of Shakespeare's iconic plays. They write a diary entry from Juliet's perspective, a climactic narrative scene based on the duel scene and begin to debate around a key question raised from the play.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to explain how Shakespeare demonstrates key themes through character and plot action.
Key Notes
- 'Romeo and Juliet' is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare in the 1590s and it is based on an Italian story.
- The plot tells of two young lovers, Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet, who belong to feuding families.
- A theme of a play is a central idea that the writer intends the audience to engage deeply with.
- Key themes in 'Romeo and Juliet' are love, chance, conflict, youth and death.
Vocabulary To Learn
- play: a dramatic work originally intended for the stage
- feud: a long-lasting conflict
- tragedy: a type of play in which terrible or sorrowful things happen to the main character(s)
- theme: a central idea that the writer intends the audience to engage deeply with
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Pupils may struggle to understand why the characters take such drastic action in the play.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
'Romeo and Juliet' is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare in the 1590s and it is based on an Italian story. The plot tells of two young lovers, Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet, who belong to feuding families.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'play'
a dramatic work originally intended for the stage.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: Pupils may struggle to understand why the characters take such drastic action in the play. Correction: Explain the importance of familial obligations at the time the play is set; use analogies to describe the feud between the houses. Note also the difficulties around communication - there was no easy way to send messages!
More Lessons In This Unit
- Debating a question raised by Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet' Study Guide
- Exploring Act III Scene 1 in 'Romeo and Juliet' Study Guide
- Exploring Juliet's emotions after meeting Romeo Study Guide
- Exploring vocabulary relating to the duel scene Study Guide
- Generating vocabulary for Juliet's diary entry Study Guide
- Planning Juliet's diary entries Study Guide
- Planning the duel scene Study Guide
- Writing the first half of Juliet's diary entry Study Guide
- Writing the first half of the duel scene Study Guide
- Writing the second half of Juliet's diary entry Study Guide
- Writing the second half of the duel scene Study Guide
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