🎠Year 11 English Lesson: Romeo and Juliet
🟥 Warm-Up – Speaking Practice
Discuss with a partner:
-
What do you already know about Romeo and Juliet?
-
Why do you think Shakespeare’s plays are still taught in modern schools?
-
Do you think a story written over 400 years ago can still be relevant today? Why?
-
Have you ever watched a Shakespeare play or film? What was your impression?
🟧 Vocabulary and Reading 🌱 Key Terms
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| tragedy | a dramatic work where the protagonist suffers downfall or death |
| foreshadowing | hints the author gives about future events |
| feud | a long-running and bitter conflict between groups |
| banishment | being forced to leave and not return |
| dramatic irony | when the audience knows more than the characters |
| fate | the belief that events are predetermined |
📚 Reading: Summary of Romeo and Juliet
Read this short summary:
Romeo and Juliet, written by William Shakespeare, is a tragedy set in Verona, Italy. It follows the intense and forbidden love between Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet, whose families are locked in a violent feud. After meeting at a party, the two secretly marry with the help of Friar Laurence, believing their love can overcome the hatred around them.
However, escalating tensions lead to Mercutio’s death and Romeo’s banishment. A failed plan involving a sleeping potion results in the lovers taking their own lives. Their deaths finally force both families to face the consequences of their feud.
🟨 Comprehension Questions – Answer in Full Sentences
-
Why is Romeo and Juliet’s love considered “forbidden”?
-
How does the feud between the families influence the plot?
-
What key event leads to Romeo’s banishment?
-
Why does Friar Laurence give Juliet the potion?
-
What message does the ending of the play communicate about conflict?
🟩 Grammar / Vocabulary Application – Gap Fill
Use the words: tragedy – banishment – feud – fate – dramatic irony – foreshadowing
-
Shakespeare uses __________ to hint at the deaths of the lovers.
-
The long-standing __________ between the families drives the main conflict.
-
The play is considered a __________ because it ends in the death of the protagonists.
-
Romeo’s __________ after the duel drastically changes the story.
-
The audience experiences __________ because they know Juliet isn’t really dead.
-
Many characters believe __________ controls their lives.
Drama Activity
(Teacher may choose a short dramatic reading, or a reenactment of a scene.)
🟦 Listening Task
Teacher plays a short video or audio on:
-
Shakespeare’s life
-
The Globe Theatre
-
The themes of Romeo and Juliet
-
How Elizabethan theatre worked
✍️ Task: Write down any words related to Shakespearean theatre
🟪 Creative Activity: Rewrite a Scene in Modern NZ English
Choose a short scene (balcony scene, party scene, or fight scene).
Rewrite it using modern New Zealand English and contemporary tone.
Example:
“Wherefore art thou Romeo?” → “Why do you have to be Romeo?”
Steps:
-
Choose a moment.
-
Rewrite 5–10 lines in your own words.
-
Perform or read it with a partner.
✍️ Gap Fill – Modernised Scene Summary
Word bank: conflict – Verona – loyalty – message – love – consequences – duel – secret
-
Romeo and Juliet must keep their ______ relationship hidden.
-
A ______ leads to Romeo’s punishment.
-
The story is set in ______.
-
The play explores themes of ______ and revenge.
-
Friar Laurence sends an important ______ that never arrives.
-
Their families’ ______ creates danger.
-
The lovers face tragic ______.
-
Juliet shows strong ______ to Romeo throughout the play.
⬛ Writing Task – 5–6 Sentences
Write 5–6 sentences summarising Romeo and Juliet, using the words:
tragedy, conflict, families, fate, consequences
⬛ Class Review: I Write – We Write – You Write
Word: Tragedy
I Write
-
A tragedy usually focuses on the downfall of the main character.
-
In Romeo and Juliet, the tragedy is driven by a mixture of love and conflict.
-
Shakespeare uses tragedy to highlight the destructive nature of hate.
We Write
1.
2.
3.
You Write
1.
2.
3.
Word: Feud
I Write
-
The feud between the families destroys any chance of peace.
-
The younger generation suffers most because of the feud.
-
Shakespeare uses the feud to show how hatred can spread.
We Write
1.
2.
3.
You Write
1.
2.
3.
Word: Fate
I Write
-
Fate is mentioned repeatedly throughout the play.
-
Romeo blames fate when things go wrong.
-
Shakespeare leaves the audience wondering whether fate or choice caused the tragedy.
We Write
1.
2.
3.
You Write
1.
2.
3.
🎠Romeo and Juliet – Balcony Scene Worksheet
Act 2, Scene 2 – Original Text + Rewrite Lines
Student Version — Rewrite into Modern NZ English
Romeo:
But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks?
It is the east, and Juliet is the sun!
Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon,
Who is already sick and pale with grief
That thou her maid art far more fair than she.
Juliet:
O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?
Deny thy father and refuse thy name;
Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,
And I'll no longer be a Capulet.
Romeo (aside):
Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this?
Juliet:
'Tis but thy name that is my enemy;
Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.
What's Montague? It is nor hand, nor foot,
Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part
Belonging to a man. O, be some other name!
Romeo:
I take thee at thy word:
Call me but love, and I'll be new baptized;
Henceforth I never will be Romeo.
✅ Answer Key – Modern New Zealand English Version
(One possible translation — students’ answers can differ as long as meaning is accurate.)
Romeo:
But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks?
→ Wait — what's that light coming from the window over there?
It is the east, and Juliet is the sun!
→ It’s like the sun is rising, and it’s Juliet.
Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon,
→ Rise up, beautiful sun, and outshine the jealous moon.
Who is already sick and pale with grief
→ The moon looks weak and sad already
That thou her maid art far more fair than she.
→ Because you’re way more beautiful than she is.
Juliet:
O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?
→ Oh Romeo, why do you have to be Romeo?
Deny thy father and refuse thy name;
→ Give up your family name.
Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,
→ Or, if you can’t, just promise that you love me,
And I'll no longer be a Capulet.
→ And I’ll stop being a Capulet.
Romeo (aside):
Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this?
→ Should I keep listening, or should I say something now?
Juliet:
'Tis but thy name that is my enemy;
→ It’s only your last name that’s the problem.
Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.
→ You’re still you, whether you’re a Montague or not.
What's Montague? It is nor hand, nor foot,
→ What even is a “Montague”? It’s not your hand or foot,
Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part
→ Not your arm, your face, or any part of you.
Belonging to a man. O, be some other name!
→ It’s just a label. I wish you had another name!
Romeo:
I take thee at thy word:
→ I’ll take you at your word.
Call me but love, and I'll be new baptized;
→ Just call me your love and I’ll become a new person.
Henceforth I never will be Romeo.
→ From now on, I won’t be “Romeo” anymore.