Hello everyone, it's lovely to see you here today.

My name's Dr.

Clayton and I'm here to guide you through Learning Journey today.

Today's lesson is called Exploring the Development of Romeo and Juliet's relationship in Act 2, Scene 2.

Now, this scene is commonly referred to as the balcony scene.

We're going to analyse the language that both Romeo and Juliet use, and what it might tell us about the development and progression of their relationship and their feelings.

So if you're ready, grab your pen, laptop, whatever you use for this lesson, and let's get started.

So by the end of the lesson, you'll have explored the intensity and impulsiveness in the development of Romeo and Juliet's relationship.

So we have four words today we're going to be using as our keywords for this lesson.

They're identified in bold throughout the lesson material, and I've try to point them out as well so can see them being used in context.

So our first word is impulsive, which means action based on sudden desires, whims, or inclinations rather than careful thought.

Romeo is often said to be impulsive in his emotions.

We're going to be thinking about how we can see this in his language, but also whether or not we can see Juliet as also being impulsive.

Our second keyword is intense, which means extreme or forceful, of a feeling very strong.

We're going to be looking at the intensity of Romeo and Juliet's language and what it might suggest about the development of their relationship.

Our third keyword is tragedy, which means a play dealing with tragic events and often ends in a death.

When we're looking at Romeo and Juliet's relationship, it's always usual to keep in mind that "Romeo and Juliet" is a tragedy.

Their love has a tragic ending.

Our final keyword is hamartia, which is the fatal flaw leading to the downfall of a tragic hero or heroine.

Romeo's hamartia is often said to be his impulsive, emotional nature.

We're going to see whether we can see evidence of that in his language.

So I'll just give you a moment to write down those keywords and the definitions.

So pause the video, write them down now.

Fantastic, let's get started with the lesson.

So we have three learning cycles in our lesson today.

For our first learning cycle, we're going to look at the metaphors and similes that Romeo and Juliet use to describe their feelings, and analyse the connotations of that as well as what the use of comparative language might suggest.

For our second learning cycle, we're going to be exploring the impulsiveness in Romeo and Juliet's language that might relate to the concept of harmatia, a fatal flaw.

For our third learning cycle, we're going to be exploring the intensity in Romeo and Juliet's relationship and what that might reveal about their feelings towards each other and to love.

Now Romeo and Juliet first meet at the Capulet ball in Act 1, Scene 5 of "Romeo and Juliet".

Now, some of you may know that Romeo and Juliet have one conversation at the ball before she's called away by her mother.

After leaving the ball, Romeo declares, "Can I go forward when my heart is here? Turn back, dull earth, and find thy centre out".

Now here, dull earth refers to Romeo's body.

So what I'd like you to think about is what the significance of Romeo suggesting that Romeo's the heart and centre of his body.

Pause the video, take a few moments to consider.

Welcome back, everyone.

Some great ideas there.

Let's talk through some of the things you might have said.

They might have thought that referring to Juliet as his heart and his centre.

that suggests that Romeo sees Juliet as the core of his being.

He exists because of her, and therefore we might suggest that Romeo feels if he can't live without her.

Again, I want to remind you that Romeo and Juliet had one conversation at this point.

It really suggests he's completely fallen head over heels in love at first sight.

Now after claiming that Juliet is his heart and his centre, Romeo decides to return to the Capulet garden to find her.

Once there, Romeo sees Juliet appear from above.

Now, although it's never actually said in the play that Juliet is on a balcony, the scene is almost always staged that she is, and therefore that's why it's called the balcony scene.

Now at the beginning of the scene, Romeo can see Juliet, but he can't hear her.

Juliet is unaware of Romeo's presence.

Romeo then hears Juliet profess her love for him whilst she's still unaware of his presence.

Now when he sees Juliet, Romeo declares that "Juliet is the sun".

This is possibly one of the most well known lines from the play.

I think it's so rich in its connotations.

What I'd like you to think about is what do you think the significance of this metaphor might be? Pause the video.

Take a few moments to consider.

Welcome back everyone, some great ideas there.

Now, as Laura says, "The sun not only brings us light, but it also allows life to flourish.

It suggest that Juliet gives life to Romeo and sustains him." Now, some of you may have thought, potentially this metaphor could also suggest that Romeo's dazzled and blinded by Juliet, or perhaps even that it foreshadows the potentially destructive nature of Romeo's relationship with Juliet, since the sun can destroy as well as sustain life.

Now, after hearing her speak, Romeo wishes that she would, "Speak again, bright angel".

So what I'd like you to think about now is what might the comparison of Juliet to an angel suggest? Pause the video, take a few moments to consider.

Welcome back, everyone, some great ideas there.

Now, as Alex says, "The image of an angel conveys a sense of kindness and goodness onto Juliet, but also implies he sees her as providing a form of safety and protection, perhaps from the isolation he's been feeling." Now, if you see a production of "Romeo and Juliet", or perhaps even the Baz Luhrmann film, Juliet's often dressed in white in this scene, which I think emphasised the idea we're supposed to see her as someone who epitomises goodness and purity.

So now for a quick check for understanding.

What I'd like you to tell me is which interpretation of Romeo's comparison of Juliet to the sun is the most relevant.

Is it A, it implies that not only is Juliet a beacon of hope and positivity, but that she also, in a sense, gives life to Romeo.

Or B, it's just that Romeo sees Juliet as a far away object from which he is separated by great distance.

So pause the video, take a few moments to consider.

Welcome back everyone.

Now the correct answer is A, it implies that not only is Juliet a beacon of hope and positivity, but that she also, in a sense, gives life to Romeo.

Now, I'd like you to tell me why that's the most relevant.

So pause the video, take a few moments to consider.

Welcome back everyone.

You might have said that Romeo's language about Juliet implies positivity and hope rather than separation.

So very well done if you got those right.

So we've looked at Romeo's language.

Now let's have a look at Juliet's.

Similarly to Romeo, Juliet also uses comparative imagery.

She declares that Romeo's, "The God of my idolatry." Now idolatry means the worship of someone or something other than God, as though it were God.

So what I'd like you to think about is what could the significance of Juliet's comparison of Romeo to God be? Pause the video.

Take a few moments to consider.

Welcome back everyone, some great ideas there.

Let's talk through some of the things you might have said.

Now, just as Romeo said that Juliet was his heart and centre, Juliet's language also suggests she sees him as her centre of her sense of self.

By saying he's her God, Juliet implies he offers her a sense of purpose and he guides how she lives her life.

Now, as well as the comparison of Juliet to an angel, Juliet's language also implies she sees Romeo as someone who's perfect and good.

Now, Juliet also subscribes her feelings for Romeo as, "As boundless as the sea." Boundless means something infinite or unlimited.

So what I'd like you to think about is what are the connotations of the sea? What ideas or emotions do we get from the image of the sea? What might it suggest about Juliet's feelings? Pause the video.

Take a few moments to consider.

Welcome back everyone, some great ideas there.

Let's talk through some of the things you might have said.

Now, we typically associate the idea of the sea with ideas of freedom.

The sea is expansive and that's a way of removing yourself from society.

So potentially we might say that Juliet sees Romeo as freedom from the path society has laid out for her.

Some of you may remember that in Act 1, Scene 3, Lady Capulet suggests that Juliet might marry Count Paris and implies a woman's role in marriage is to bear children and add value to her husband.

So maybe Juliet sees Romeo as freedom from that.

Now you also might have thought that, because the sea is deep and expansive, maybe Shakespeare is suggesting that Juliet's feelings seemingly have no end.

So now for a quick check for understanding, what I'd like you to do is tell me whether the following statement is true or false.

So is it true or false that Juliet's use of comparative language conveys a sense of perfection onto Romeo? Pause the video, take a few moments to consider.

Now the correct answer is true.

Now I'd like to tell me why it's true.

So pause the video, take a few moments to consider.

Welcome back everyone.

You might have said that by suggesting that Romeo is her God, Juliet conveys a sense of perfection and goodness onto Romeo.

So very well done if you've got those right.

Fantastic work, everyone.

We're now on to the first task of the lesson.

Now throughout Act 2, Scene 2, Romeo and Juliet use many examples of comparative language.

So what I'd like you to discuss is what do you think Romeo and Juliet's use of comparative language might suggest about their love? Why do you think Shakespeare writes in metaphors and similes? And you might consider that similes and metaphors can be a way of offering a way to understand an image or an emotion.

So pause the video, discuss the question now.

Welcome back everyone, some great discussions there.

What I'd like you to do is think about Lucas and Izzy's ideas and think about how well they align with your ideas.

So Lucas said, "Maybe Shakespeare's trying to convey how Romeo and Juliet have never felt this way before." And Izzy said, "Yes, maybe the comparative imagery is a way for them to try to understand their own feelings." So pause the video, take a few minutes to think about how well their ideas align with your ideas.

Welcome back everyone.

Now hopefully these ideas will be helpful to not only your study of "Romeo and Juliet", but also a study of literature in general.

Perhaps when someone's using metaphors or similes, they're trying to convey the emotions of something new and unique.

They're trying to understand them, also they desperately want the audience or reader to understand.

Amazing work, everyone.

We're now on to the second learning cycle, where we're going to explore the impulsiveness in Romeo and Juliet's language.

Now, as we said earlier, at this point in the play, Romeo and Juliet have had one conversation.

During Act 1, Scene 5, Romeo and Juliet have one conversation that lasts for 19 lines.

Yet in Act 2, Scene 2, they declare their love for each other.

Juliet tells Romeo she's "Too fond", of him, so she thinks she likes him too much, but she asks him to "Pronounce" his love her.

So tell her that he loves her.

So what I'd like you to think about is the fact that Juliet is aware their feelings are too fond, yet continues with the exchange.

What do you think that reveals about her? Pause the video.

Take a few moments to consider.

Welcome back everyone, some great ideas there.

Let's talk through some of the things you might have said.

They might have thought that Juliet here is recognising she's being impulsive.

So she recognised her actions are based on certain desires, whims or inclinations rather than careful thought.

Now the fact she continues their exchange and asks Romeo to swear his love, says that she embraces the impulsiveness of their relationship.

Now, as Romeo attempts to swear his love, Juliet declares their exchange is "Too rash, too unadvised, too sudden, too like the lightning".

So she's suggesting things are moving too quickly.

What I'd like you to think about is what might the comparison to lightning suggest about their love? Pause the video.

Take a few moments to consider.

Welcome back, everyone, some great ideas there.

As Aisha says, "Lightning could be symbolic of divine power.

We associate lightning with the Gods because of Zeus and his thunderbolt, and maybe this suggests their love is connected to the divine." So connected to ideas of godliness and holiness.

"But it's destined to only be a flash", because lightning only appears as a flash in the sky, which could link to the idea that Romeo and Juliet's relationship is tragically cut short.

Now, despite saying their exchange is "Too rash and too sudden", Juliet tells Romeo, "If that thy bent of love be honourable, thy purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow." So here Juliet's telling Romeo he needs to tell her if he intends to marry her.

So what I'd like you to think about is why do you think Juliet might be talking of marriage despite thinking their exchange is too rash? Pause the video.

Take a few moments to consider.

Welcome back everyone, some great ideas there.

As Alex says, "Maybe it's showing acceptance that marriage is a necessary part of relationships." In Elizabethan times people were not supposed to have a relationship unless they were married.

So maybe Julie's reflecting that social expectation.

Or maybe it's her way of wanting to add permanence to their relationship.

She wants to have Romeo with her forever.

So now for a quick check for understanding.

Which of the following statements is true? A, Juliet is the one who broaches the subject of marriage first.

B, Romeo is the one who broached the subject of marriage first.

Or C, Romeo suggests they're being too rash.

Pause the video, take a few moments to consider.

Welcome back everyone.

Now, Juliet is the one who suggests they're being too rash, yet she's also the one who mentions marriage first.

So very well done if you got that right.

Amazing work everyone.

We're now on to the second task of the lesson.

Now "Romeo and Juliet" is a tragedy and one of the conventions of a tragedy is that the tragic hero has hamartia, a fatal flaw.

In terms of "Romeo and Juliet", Romeo's hamartia is often said to be his impulsiveness.

Given what we discussed in learning cycles one and two, who do you think is more impulsive out of Romeo and Juliet? I'd like you to write a short answer to explain your reasoning.

So pause the video, write your answer now.

Welcome back everyone, some amazing work there.

What I'd like you to do is read back over your answer and reflect on the following ideas.

So did you consider that Romeo returns to the Capulet garden to find Juliet? Did you think about the fact that Romeo implies that Juliet is the reason for his existence? Did you consider Juliet's acknowledgement that their exchange is too rash? And did you think about the fact that Juliet is the one who brings up the subject of marriage? So pause the video, reflect on your answer now.

Welcome back everyone.

Now there is no right answer to this question, but I think it's a really important question to consider.

We often talk about Romeo's fatal flaw being his emotional, impulsive nature.

But is Juliet the same? Is Shakespeare suggesting they're kindred spirits because they share the same emotional reactions? Fantastic work, everyone.

Now in the third learning cycle, we're going to look at the intensity of Romeo and Juliet's language.

Now during their conversation, after Juliet says his name, Romeo responds, "It is my soul that calls upon my name." So what I'd like you to think about is how does Romeo calling Juliet his soul suggest a sense of intensity? Now, intensity is one of our key words.

It means extreme or forceful of a feeling, very strong.

So pause the video.

Take a few moments to consider.

Welcome back, everyone, some great ideas there.

As Lucas says, "It's just that Romeo sees himself and Juliet as a single entity.

They're no longer separate individuals because they share the same soul.

They cannot live without each other." Now at the end of their conversation, Juliet says, "Tis almost morning, I would have thee gone, yet no farther than a wanton's bird that lets it hop a little from his hand, like a poor prisoner in his twisted gyves with a silken thread plucks it back again.

So loving-jealous of his liberty." So here Juliet saying she wants Romeo to be a bird that's tied to her.

And what I'd like you to think about is how does this image suggest a sense of intensity? Pause the video.

Take a few moments to consider.

Welcome back everyone.

Now, I think this image is actually quite jarring in a way because we think of "Romeo and Juliet" as showing us soulmates who are truly in love.

But this actually is just a very toxic form of relationship.

As Izzy says, "It's just that Juliet seeks to control Romeo and keep him always close to her." She wants to tie him to her so he cannot leave.

Now, Romeo responds to Juliet's speech by suggesting he desires to be Juliet's bird.

And Juliet says, "I should kill thee with much cherishing." So she's saying she'd kill him through her attention.

So what I'd like you to think about is what might Shakespeare be foreshadowing through this intense image? So what might he be hinting that will happen in the future? Pause the video.

Take a few moments to consider.

Welcome back everyone.

Now, as Laura says, "Perhaps Shakespeare's foreshadowing the fact that Rome and Juliet's love for each other will lead to their tragic deaths." We might say that Juliet's love does lead to Romeo's death because he believes he cannot live without her.

And that's why he decides to buy the poison and kill himself.

So now for a quick check for understanding.

What I'd like you to do is tell me whether the following statement is true or false.

So is it true or false? The intensity of Romeo and Juliet's language could be seen as foreshadowing their tragic deaths.

Pause the video.

Take a few moments to consider.

Now the correct answer is true.

Now I'd like to tell me why it's true.

So pause the video, take a few moments to consider.

Welcome back everyone.

You might have said that not only does Juliet suggest her love will kill Romeo, Romeo implies he sees himself and Juliet as a single entity.

They cannot survive without each other.

So very well done if you've got those right.

Fantastic work everyone.

Now to the final task of the lesson.

So what I'd like you to do is think about the following information.

So "Romeo and Juliet" is widely considered to be one of the greatest love stories of all time.

"Romeo and Juliet" is also a tragedy that results in the deaths of Romeo and Juliet.

While expressing their love, Romeo and Juliet arguably use very intense language such as Romeo declaring that Juliet is his soul.

I'd like to discuss the following question.

Do you think the intensity of their love is something we should look for in romantic relationships? Why or why not? Pause the video.

Take a few minutes to discuss.

Welcome back everyone, some amazing discussions there.

What I'd like you to think about are Laura and Alex's ideas, and think about whose ideas align more closely with your ideas.

So Laura says, "I don't think we should.

The intensity of their language doesn't leave any room in their lives for anything or anyone else, and that's not healthy." And Alex says, "I think we should.

The intensity of Romeo and Juliet's language, suggests they found meaning and purpose in life through each other.

And I think that's something that love should do." So pause the video.

Think about whose ideas align most closely with your ideas.

Welcome back everyone.

Now I think talking about these types of questions the text might raise is so important.

Literature provides us a window into someone else's life.

It can reveal information about who we are as people.

It's up to us to think about what lessons we want to take from texts.

You all did amazingly well today, everyone.

Here's a summary of what we covered.

Romeo and Juliet's comparative imagery shows the depth and importance of their feelings.

Potentially, Shakespeare uses so much comparative imagery to show them trying to understand their feelings.

Romeo and Juliet both appear to embrace the impulsiveness of their love.

Romeo's hamartia is often said to be his impulsive nature.

Arguably, the intensity of Romeo and Juliet's language may foreshadow their tragic end.

I really hope you enjoyed the lesson everyone.

I hope to see you for another lesson soon.

Goodbye.