Lesson 7 | Romeo and Juliet | 9th Grade English

Objective

Explain in a well-crafted essay how Shakespeare and Luhrmann each create mood in act 1, scene 5.

Readings and Materials

Movie: Romeo and Juliet (Directed by Baz Luhrmann, 1996) — Act 1, Scene 5

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Target Task

Tasks that represents the peak thinking of the lesson - mastery will indicate whether or not objective was achieved

Discussion Prompt

During the film: How does Luhrmann create the mood of the scene? (music, costumes, actions, dream-like feel, dancing)

Writing Prompt

After viewing and discussing: Both Shakespeare and Luhrmann create a dream-like/surreal mood for this scene. Explain how each achieves this in his medium. Use evidence from both the film and the play.

Key Questions

Questions about the text that will help guide the students understanding

What is the mood in the opening moments of the scene in the film? How does the director use music to create the mood? What else does he use?
In what ways does the film’s portrayal of the scene match the mood you felt in the text? In what ways is it different? Use specific evidence.
In the text, we see Romeo say, “I ne’er saw true beauty til this night,” indicating to the reader that he has fallen instantly in love with Juliet. How does the filmmaker communicate this same sentiment?
What liberties does the director take with Shakespeare’s original depiction of this scene?
How does this film portrayal impact your opinion of Romeo from yesterday?

Notes

Suggestions for teachers to help them teach this lesson

The writing prompt could also be, “Explain how Luhrmann draws on and transforms Shakespeare’s original version in order to create the mood in this scene of the film.” (This prompt is slightly more rigorous but is also more aligned to the writing prompt on the end-of-unit exam.)

Lesson 6

Lesson 8

Lesson Map

Romeo and Juliet — Prologue (p. 7); Act 1, Scene 1 (pp. 9–15)
Romeo and Juliet — Prologue
Street Love — Prologue

Explain the function of the prologue in Romeo and Juliet.

Analyze the conflict in act 1, scene 1.

Romeo and Juliet — Act 1, Scene 1 (pp. 17–25)
“If No Love Is, Oh God, What Fele I So”
“Petrarch”

Analyze Shakespeare’s characterizations of Romeo and Benvolio.

Romeo and Juliet — Act 1, Scene 2 (pp. 27–33)

Analyze how Shakespeare continues to develop the theme of fate in act 1, scene 2.

Romeo and Juliet — Act 1, Scene 3 (pp. 33–41)

Analyze Shakespeare’s characterization of the three female characters introduced in act 1, scene 3.

Romeo and Juliet — Act 1, Scene 4 (pp. 41–49)

Analyze Shakespeare’s characterization of Mercutio and describe his relationship with Romeo.

Romeo and Juliet — Act 1, Scene 5 (pp. 51–61)

Analyze Shakespeare’s characterization of Romeo.

Romeo and Juliet — Act 1, Scene 5

Explain in a well-crafted essay how Shakespeare and Luhrmann each create mood in act 1, scene 5.

Romeo and Juliet — Act 2, Scenes 1–2 (pp. 65–83)

Explain how the interactions between Romeo and Juliet develop the themes of the play.

Romeo and Juliet — Act 2, Scene 3 (pp. 83–91)

Analyze how the interactions between Romeo and Friar Lawrence develop the conflict of the play.

Romeo and Juliet — Act 2, Scene 4 (pp. 91–103)

Examine the differences between Romeo the lover and Romeo the friend.

Romeo and Juliet — Act 2, Scenes 5–6 (pp. 103–111)

Analyze how Shakespeare develops the theme of young love in act 2, scenes 5-6.

Identify instances of foreshadowing in act 2, scenes 5-6.

Romeo and Juliet — Act 3, Scene 1 (pp. 115–129)

Analyze how the events of act 3, scene 1 further communicate the theme of fate.

Romeo and Juliet — Act 3, Scene 2 (pp. 129–139)

Analyze the events of act 3, scene 2 and the impact they have on the plot development.

Romeo and Juliet — Act 3, Scene 3 (pp. 139–153)

Compare Romeo’s and Juliet’s reactions to his banishment and analyze what these reactions reveal about character and theme.

Romeo and Juliet — Act 3, Scenes 4–5 (pp. 153–173)

Analyze the connections drawn between love and death in act 3, scene 5.

Analyze Juliet’s character development in act 3, scene 5.

Romeo and Juliet — Act 4, Scenes 1–3 (pp. 177–191)

Analyze Juliet’s actions and motivations for her actions in act 4, scenes 1–3.

Analyze how Shakespeare develops the theme of young love in act 4, scenes 1-3.

Street Love — pp. 112–116

Explain how Myers draws on and transforms ideas from Romeo and Juliet to develop the themes, characters, and/or conflict of Street Love.

Romeo and Juliet — Act 4, Scenes 4–5 (pp. 195–207)

Analyze the individual characters’ reactions to Juliet’s death.

Identify how the tone shifts in act 4, scene 5.

Romeo and Juliet — Act 5, Scenes 1–2 (pp. 211–219)

Analyze how Shakespeare uses the plot to develop the theme of fate in act 5, scenes 1–2.

Romeo and Juliet — Act 5, Scene 3 (pp. 219–231)

Analyze the degree to which fate shaped the deaths of the protagonists.

Romeo and Juliet — Act 5, Scene 3 (pp. 231–243)

Develop an opinion about the significance of the final scene and its relationship to earlier scenes.

Discussion & Writing

Discuss and debate the essential thematic questions of the unit.

Assessment

Romeo and Juliet

Objective

Readings and Materials

Target Task

Discussion Prompt

Writing Prompt

Key Questions

Notes

Lesson Map

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