The document provides context and analysis for studying Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet. It includes the prologue to the play, questions for students to consider about key themes and imagery in the prologue, and guidance on using the historical present tense when writing and talking about texts. Students are asked to identify images from the prologue that reveal themes of the play such as the feud between the two families and the love between Romeo and Juliet. The document emphasizes analyzing the language of the prologue rather than just describing it.

1. Year 9
Studying Shakespeare
(and Academic Writing)
Romeo and Juliet

2. Assessment Objectives
AF2 understand, describe, select or retrieve information,
events or ideas from texts and use quotation and reference
to text
AF3 deduce, infer or interpret information, events or ideas
from texts
AF5 explain and comment on writers' uses of language,
including grammatical and literary features at word and
sentence level

3. Lessons 1 & 2 – The Prologue
Lesson Objective:
Can I closely explore language and imagery
to understand key themes in the play?

4. What do we already know?

5. Two households, both alike in dignity,
In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.
From forth the fatal loins of these two foes
A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life;
Whole misadventured piteous overthrows
Do with their death bury their parents' strife.
The fearful passage of their death-mark'd love,
And the continuance of their parents' rage,
Which, but their children's end, nought could remove,
Is now the two hours' traffic of our stage;
The which if you with patient ears attend,
What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.
The Prologue Of equal
status
A city in
Italy
Fresh
hatred
Civilised
Fated
Misguided
But = except
R and J’s
deaths
end the
feud
The play!
Listen
carefully
Can you identify key themes in the prologue?
Baz Luhrmann's Romeo and Juliet: Trailer

6. Two households, both alike in dignity,
In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.
From forth the fatal loins of these two foes
A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life;
Whole misadventured piteous overthrows
Do with their death bury their parents' strife.
The fearful passage of their death-mark'd love,
And the continuance of their parents' rage,
Which, but their children's end, nought could remove,
Is now the two hours' traffic of our stage;
The which if you with patient ears attend,
What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.
The Prologue
Pick out key images and draw them…

7. “In fair Verona, where we lay our scene”

8. We use the historical present tense when writing
about a text. Why do you think this is?
• When you write about a text, you write about it in the
present:
• “In this scene, Juliet is a calm and level-headed
girl.”
• At this moment, you also know what has happened in the past:
• “In this scene Juliet is a calm and level-headed girl. Paris has shown an
interest in marrying her, but she will not be rushed.”
• You also know what happens in the future!
“Compared to how she is portrayed just hours later, in this scene Juliet is a
calm and level-headed girl. Paris has shown an interest in marrying her, but
she will not be rushed.”
LO: Can I use the historical present tense when talking and writing about texts?

9. Which images in the prologue of Romeo and
Juliet reveal the key themes of the play?
• Usually, refer to the play in the present
tense. “Romeo and Juliet is…”
• Where might you use the past? “It is
clear that the feud has been…”
• Or the future? “The audience will
bear witness to…”
• When analysing the language of the
prologue, use present tense verbs,
such as “tells”, “highlights”, “reveals”,
“suggests”, “symbolises”, “refers to…”
LO: Can I use the historical present tense when talking and writing about texts?

10. Which images in the prologue of Romeo and
Juliet reveal the key themes of the play?
'Two households, both alike in dignity,
In fair Verona, where we lay our scene...'
LO: Can I write analytically, rather than descriptively?
‘Here, Shakespeare is saying that the play is set in Verona where there are two
dignified families.’
‘The opening lines of the Prologue are important because they paint a picture
for the audience of what could and should be - fairness and dignity. These
words highlight a powerful contrast to what is: the violence, hatred and
bloodshed shown in the coming scene. It will be against this violent backdrop
that the pure love of Romeo and Juliet will have to struggle.’
Here are two students’ responses to just the opening lines of the prologue.
It’s fairly clear which one is stronger, but why?

11. Homework
• Complete your response to the question… Which
images in the prologue of Romeo and Juliet
reveal the key themes of the play?
• Research:
• The Elizabethan era
• Shakespeare’s London
and the Globe Theatre
• Verona