Hello, everyone.

It's lovely to see you here today.

My name's Dr.

Clayton.

I'm gonna guide you through learning journey today.

Now, today's lesson's called exploring the role of the nurse and comedy in Act 2, Scene 4.

We're going to be thinking about what this scene tells us about the nurse relationship with Juliet, as well as why Shakespeare presents her as a comic character.

And then we're going to think about why Shakespeare might have included elements of comedy in a play that is a tragedy.

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 be able to explain the role of the nurse and comedy in Act 2, Scene 4 of "Romeo and Juliet." So we have five words today we're going to be using as our key words.

They'll be identified in bold throughout the lesson, and I'll try to point out, succeed be used in context.

So our first keyword is tragedy, which means a play dealing with tragic events and often ends with a death.

Our second key word is comedy, which means a play that has light or humorous tone that depicts amusing instance.

Now, "Romeo and Julie" is a tragedy, however, it's elements of comedy, particularly through the characters of the nurse and Mercutio.

we're going to be thinking about why Shakespeare might include these comic elements in a tragedy play.

Our third keyword is bawdy, which means containing humorous remarks about sex.

Now, a lot of the humour in "Romeo and Juliet" is bawdy humour.

Again, particularly through Mercutio and the nurse's characters.

We're going to be thinking about why Shakespeare might include sexual humour in the play.

Our fourth keyword is malapropism, which means the mistaken use of a word in place of a similar sounding one.

Now, the nurse uses several malapropisms within Act 2, Scene 4.

We're going to be thinking about what Shakespeare might want the audience to think about our character through these mistaken words.

Our fun key word is witty, which means using words in a clever and funny way.

Now, Mercutio and Rome's conversations specifically involve wit.

And again, we're going to be thinking about what Shakespeare might be telling us about the characters through this.

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 be thinking about what the nurse's exchange with Romeo in Act 2, Scene 4, might reveal about a relationship with Juliet and what Shakespeare might be saying more broadly about parent and child relationships through this.

For our second learning cycle, we're going to look at the nurse malapropisms in Act 2, Scene 4 and think about what Shakespeare might want us to think about the nurse through these.

For our third learning cycle, we're going to look at the role of comedy, particularly bawdy sexual humour in "Romeo and Juliet", and why Shakespeare might have chosen to use these comic elements in a tragedy play.

So we're going to begin by looking at the nurse relationship with Juliet.

Now, Act 1, Scene 3 already gave an indication.

The nurse has a close relationship with Juliet.

So she talked about Juliet as a baby, and Lady Capulet suggested she wasn't as close to Juliet as the nurse was.

Now, Act 2, Scene 4 offers a greater insight into the nurse relationship with Juliet.

So for context, the nurse was sent by Juliet to find Romeo and ask about their marriage plans.

Now, what I'd like you to think about is what does this suggest about the relationship between Juliet and the nurse? Remember, Juliet is a Capulet and Romeo is a Montague.

They're from feuding families.

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

Welcome back, everyone.

Some great ideas there.

Now, as Alex says, "I think it shows how much Juliet trusts the nurse.

' She trusts her with a secret that she knows we looked on very poorly by her family, as well as how much the nurse is willing to do for Juliet, she's risking her job to help Juliet.

So now, let's think about what the nurse specifically says in the scene.

So before delivering her message from Juliet to Romeo, the nurse says, "But first, let me tell you, if you should lead her in a fool's paradise, as they say, in a very gross kind of behaviour." So here, the nurse is telling Romeo that he's behaving very dishonourably if his feelings for Juliet are not true.

So what I'd like you to think about is what does this suggest about how the nurse feels about Juliet? Pause the video.

Take a few moments to consider.

Welcome back over on some great ideas there.

And you might have said, it shows the nurse protective of Juliet.

You might even have thought the nurse sounds like a parent, warning a potential suitor to be careful around their child and not hurt them.

Now, after delivering her message from Juliet, the nurse goes on to say, "I anger her sometimes and tell her that Paris is the proper man, but that Juliet sees Paris as a toad." So here, the nurse is saying she teases Juliet and tells that Paris would be a more appropriate choice for husband, but that Juliet calls Paris a toad.

So what I'd like you to think about is how does this show the closeness of the nurse and Juliet's relationship? Pause the video, take a few moments to consider.

Welcome back.

Having some great ideas there.

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

And you might have thought it shows the nurse feels close enough to tease Juliet, potentially, that it isn't your typical servant to noble woman relationship.

You also might have thought it's just that Julia feels able to share her true feelings with a nurse because she's sharing how she truly feels about Romeo and Paris.

Now, at the end of their exchange, Romeo offers the nurse money for her pains as would be traditionally expected to a noble man and a servant.

However, the nurse refuses the money and says, "No, truly sir, not a penny." So what I'd like you to think about is what does that suggest about how the nurse sees her relationship with Juliet? Pause the video, take a few moments to consider.

Welcome back, having some great ideas there.

They might have thought that the nurse refuses the money, implies the nurse doesn't see her relationship with Juliet as that of an employee.

She sees 'em as close than that.

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 Shakespeare implies the nurse and Julie have a close relationship? 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.

And you might have said that Shakespeare suggest the nurse is not only protective of Juliet, but also Juliet shares her true emotions with the nurse.

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

Amazing work, everyone.

Well, now, the first task of the lesson.

Now, arguably, Shakespeare presents Juliet as having a closer relationship with the nurse than her mother.

We also see Romeo as having an arguably close relationship with Friar Lawrence than his own father.

Now, we've seen Act 2, Scene 3 that Friar Lawrence knows more about Romeo's life and emotions than his father does.

We see Friar Lawrence as being a mentor figure to Romeo.

So what I'd like you to discuss is what do you think Shakespeare might be suggesting about parent and child relationships in "Romeo and Juliet?" Are they close or not close? Pause the video.

Take a few minutes to discuss.

Welcome back, everyone.

Some great discussions there.

So what I'd like you to know is think about Sam and Jacob's ideas.

Think about how well they align with your ideas.

So Sam said, "I think Shakespeare might be suggesting that parents and children don't have a particularly close relationship in the play." And Jacob say, "Yes.

I think maybe saying that parents and children didn't share as much information about their lives as perhaps we do now in modern times." So pause the video, think about how well Sam and Jacob's ideas align with your ideas.

Welcome back, everyone.

Now, I think for Shakespeare, this topic is particularly poignant.

Now, Shakespeare's son, Hamlet, died in 1596.

So one year before "Romeo and Juliet" was first published.

He also had two daughters who he spent much of his time away from 'cause his job took him to London.

So perhaps Shakespeare's reflected on his own relationship with his children, acknowledging he doesn't have the relationship he wanted with them.

Amazing work, everyone.

We're now to the second learning cycle.

We're going to look at the nurse's speech and the use of malapropisms and what that might reveal about how Shakespeare wants to see her as a character.

So let's start by looking at the nurse's language.

Now, during the nurse's exchange with Mercutio, Benvolio, Romeo in Act 2, Scene 4.

She makes several malapropisms. Now, malapropism is one of our keywords.

It's mistaken use of a word in place of a similar sounding one.

So for example, the nurse says she desires some confidence with Romeo.

What she actually needs to say, she desires some confidence with Romeo.

So she's using words of similar sounds, but they're very different meanings.

So now, let's look at how the other characters react.

Now, after the nurse mistaken use of confidence, Benvolio makes fun of her.

He intentionally commits another malapropism.

He says the nurse is going to indict Romeo to suffer rather than inviting him to suffer.

So what I'd like you to think about is if Shakespeare has Benvolio making fun of the nurse for her malapropism, what does that suggest about how we as the audience should see the nurse and this exchange? Pause the video.

Take a few moments to consider.

Welcome back, everyone.

Some great ideas there.

Now, as Izzy says, "I think it suggests that we're supposed to see the nurse as a figure of ridicule, Benvolio's reaction suggests that we too are supposed to laugh at the nurse and her mistake." It sets the nurse up as a comic character, someone's designed to create laugh for the audience.

So now, for a quick check for understanding.

What I'd like you to do is think about which of the following interpretations of the nurse malapropisms seems the most relevant? Is A, the malapropisms imply that Shakespeare wants the audience to laugh at the nurse.

Or B, the malapropisms imply that Shakespeare wants the audience to think the nurse is nervous.

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

Now, the correct answer is A.

The malapropisms apply that Shakespeare wants the audience to laugh at the nurse.

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

Pause the video, take a few moments to consider.

Welcome back, everyone.

Now, saying the incorrect word when speaking could be a sign of nervous.

However, then Benvolio's reaction to the nurse, it's just the audience are meant to see the nurse as a figure of ridicule.

So very well done if you got those right.

Fantastic work, everyone.

Now, the second task of the lesson.

Now, typically, the nurse's malapropisms are seen as a way of highlighting the nurse's low social status and her lack of formal education in the play.

So what I'd like you to think about is why do you think Shakespeare might want to characterise the nurse as uneducated? I'd like you to write a few sentences explaining your ideas.

And you might consider the nurse keeping Juliet secret.

She's helping her to marry someone without her parents' permission.

So what do you think Shakespeare might be suggesting about this course of action through the presentation of the nurse? So pause the video, write your answer now.

Welcome back, everyone.

Some great work there.

Now, what I'd like you to do is think about Sophia's ideas.

Think about how well they align with your ideas.

So Sophia said, "Maybe Shakespeare characterises the nurse uneducated because he wants to communicate to the audience that her actions regarding Juliet are unwise.

The nurse disrupting the social order by helping Juliet marry without her parent's permission.

So perhaps Shakespeare suggesting that those with intelligence wouldn't try to disrupt the social order.

So pause the video, think about how well Sophia's ideas align with your ideas.

Welcome back, everyone.

Now, as I said, the nurse malapropisms are often said to reveal she's lower class, and I think there's some truth in that.

However, I always want to try and think a little deeper than that.

I think, well, what Shakespeare really wants to understand about a character rather than just what class they are, because Shakespeare often plays with class stereotypes throughout his text.

So character's class alone doesn't really mean anything.

Amazing work, everyone.

We're now the third learning cycle.

We're going to think more broadly about why Shakespeare might include comic elements in a play that's a tragedy.

Now, as well as the nurses malapropisms, there are many other comedic moments in Act 2, Scene 4.

For example, Mercutio and Romeo engage in a witty exchange at the start of Act 2, Scene 4.

Mercutio exclaims, "Why, is not this better now than groaning for love? Now art thou sociable, now art thou Romeo? When talking about Romeo's love for Juliet." So what I'd like you to think about is why might Shakespeare include this exchange? What does it suggest about Romeo's love for Juliet in comparison to Rosaline? Pauses 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, perhaps groaning reflects the despair that Romeo felt over Rosaline.

If you remember from Act 1, Scene 1, Romeo felt desperately heavy and sad because of his love for Rosaline and he isolated himself from his friends.

Now, sociable might suggest that Romeo's nearly got his identity back.

He's nearly himself again.

And this might suggest to us that this love for Juliet seems more real for Romeo.

So here, we can see that Shakespeare's using comedy to reveal something about the character's emotional state.

Now, Act 2, Scene 4 in "Romeo and Juliet" in general contains a great deal of bawdy humour.

Now, bawdy is one of our keywords.

It means containing humorous remarks about sex.

Now, the role of bawdy humour in "Romeo and Juliet" has been subject to much critical debate.

So some critics suggest it's designed to appeal to the lower class masses who went to see the plays.

And other critics suggest it's a way of emphasising the youth and playfulness of the characters.

So now, for a quick check for understanding.

So 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 Shakespeare's comedic elements in "Romeo and Juliet" serve no purpose? Pause the video.

Take a few moments to consider.

Now, the correct answer is false.

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

So pause the video.

Take a few members to consider.

Welcome back, everyone.

You might have said, the comedic elements arguably reveal information about the character's emotional states and the nature of the characters.

So well done if you've got those right.

Fantastic work, everyone.

We're now at the final task of the lesson.

Now, Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" is a tragedy.

So it's a play about tragic events that often ends with the death.

However, Shakespeare adds elements of comedy into the play through the nurse and scenes such as Act 2, scene 4.

So Shakespeare adds lighthearted, humorous elements into the play.

Now, for me, I think there's something that stands out as unique about "Romeo and Juliet." And we think of "Othello", "Titus Andronicus", "Macbeth." We don't think of them as containing comedy elements.

Potentially, we might see "Hamlet" as having comedic elements, but they're mostly there to show character's unstable emotional states.

So it's not something the audience feels they can laugh at.

Now, I know that when you read the play, it can be hard to understand the comedy sometimes, but if you get to see a live production or even the Baz Luhrmann's film version, you'll see there's humour and comedy throughout "Romeo and Juliet." So what I'd like you to do is answer the following questions to consider the relationship between the comedy elements and tragedy.

So question one.

Why do you think Shakespeare might want to emphasise the youthfulness of the characters in a tragedy? And question two.

Do you think the comedic elements take away from the tragic nature of "Romeo and Juliet?" Why or why not? So pause the video, answer the questions now.

Welcome back, everyone.

Some great work there.

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

So question one, why do you think Shakespeare might want to emphasise the youthfulness of the characters in a tragedy? And Laura said, "maybe he wants to heighten the sympathy of the audience.

He might have wanted to emphasise the impulsive nature of the characters." And question two, do you think the comedic elements take away from the tragic nature of "Romeo and Juliet?" Why or why not? And Laura says, "I think the comedy heightens the tragedy because we know Romeo and Juliet's fate from the beginning.

So to see them experiencing happiness and knowing it;ll taken away adds the tragedy.

I also think this means we need to the comedy.

We need moments of lightness to relieve the tension of knowing exactly what the tragic ending will be.

So pause the video, think about how well Laura's ideas align with your ideas.

Welcome back, everyone.

Now, I think these elements are really important to consider.

I think "Romeo and Juliet" is a play.

They're really challenge the ideas of what tragedy is.

Does the fact we know the ending at the beginning make it more or less tragic? Do the comedic elements make it more or less tragic? I think we really see here how Shakespeare's considering human emotions and how to manipulate the emotions of the audience.

You all did amazingly well today, everyone.

Here's a summary of what we covered.

Shakespeare presents a relationship between the nurse and Juliet as a close relationship.

Shakespeare implies the nurse is protective of Juliet, that Juliet in turn trust the nurse.

Arguably, the nurse use of malapropisms presents her as uneducated.

Shakespeare's use of bawdy humour might have been a way of appealing the lower classes.

Alternatively, Shakespeare's use of bawdy humour might emphasise the youthfulness of the characters.

I really hope you enjoyed the lesson, everyone.

I hope to see you for another lesson soon.

Goodbye.