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

My name's Dr.

Clayton.

I'm here to guide you through your learning journey today.

Now, today's lesson is called, "Exploring Love, Masculinity and Fate in Act Three, Scene One of Romeo and Juliet".

Now, act three, scene one is one of the most important scenes in the play and we're going to focus on what it might reveal to us about the importance that men placed on love, as well as how it might link to ideas of fate.

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 how Shakespeare presents the concepts love, masculinity and fate in act three, scene one of "Romeo and Juliet".

So we have five words today we're gonna be focusing on as our keywords.

They'll be identified in bold throughout the learning material and I'll try to point them out to you as well, so you can see them being used in context.

So our first keyword is fate, which means the development of events outside of a person's control, regarded as predetermined by a supernatural power.

We're going to be thinking about how Shakespeare presents fate in act three, scene one and what it might reveal about Romeo's sense of control over his own life.

Our second keyword is tragedy, which means it's a play dealing with tragic events and often ends with a death.

We're going to be thinking about how act three, scene one sets the tragic events of "Romeo and Juliet" in motion.

Our third keyword is climax, which means the most intense, exciting or important part of something.

We're going to be thinking about how act three, scene one is the climax of the play and what that might reveal to us about what's important in society.

Our fourth keyword is antagonistic, which means sharing or feeling active opposition or hostility towards someone or something.

We're going to be thinking about how Tybalt as a character is presented as antagonistic.

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

We're going to be thinking about what Shakespeare might be saying about Romeo's hamartia through act three, scene one.

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

So pause the video, write them down.

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 act three, scene one as the tragic climax of the play.

So we're going to summarise the scene and think about what it might reveal about society.

For our second learning cycle, we're going to look at how love is presented in act three, scene one and what it might suggest about the importance of love in society.

For our third learning cycle, we're going to be thinking about the role of fate in act three, scene one and how it might link to Romeo's hamartia.

So let's start of by thinking about how the play is structured.

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

So a play dealing with tragic events and often ending in death.

A Shakespearean tragedy traditionally follows the Freytag pyramid of dramatic structure which consists of five parts.

So it starts with the exposition.

It's where we're given background information on the plot and characters.

We then have the rising action.

So where we build the centre of conflict, so an antagonist might be introduced or a problem might surface.

We then have the climax, which means the most intense, exciting or important part of something.

We then have the falling action, which often foreshadows the final outcome of the plot.

Finally, we have the resolution, which is the end of the story and in a tragedy, often results in death.

Now, as I said earlier, act three, scene one the climax of "Romeo and Juliet".

It's the most important scene.

Now, one of the central characters in the scene is Tybalt, Juliet's cousin.

And I just wanna take a few moments to think about how Shakespeare presents Tybalt to us and what his introduction might foreshadow about the climax of the play.

So we're first introduced to Tybalt in act one, scene one during the fight between the Montagues and the Capulets.

After Benvolio tries to call for peace, Tybalt declares, "What, drawn and talk of peace? I hate the word.

As I hate hell, all Montagues and thee." Now, I think the first line of a character is so important, because it really gives us an idea of how Shakespeare wants the audience to see the character.

So what I'd like you to think about is what does this introduction to Tybalt suggest about his character? Pause the video, take a few moments to consider.

Welcome back, everyone, some great ideas there.

Now, Tybalt continually uses the word hate.

It's just he hates peace and he hates all of the Montagues as much as he hates hell.

So as Jacob says, "I think it portrays him as an antagonistic." Now, antagonistic means showing or feeling active opposition or hostility towards someone or something.

So Tybalt is presented as a very hostile character, particulary towards the Montagues and perhaps foreshadows his violent role.

So now for a quick check for understanding.

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

So is it true or false? Our introduction to Tybalt implies that his role within the play will be that of a peacekeeper.

Pause the video, take a few moments to consider.

Now, the correct answer is false.

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

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

Welcome back, everyone.

Now, you might've said that Tybalt declares he hates peace and the Montagues.

It sets him up as an antagonistic character and foreshadows his violence.

So very well done if you got those right.

So now let's take a look at act three, scene one specifically.

Now, a summary of act three, scene one might be.

Mercutio and Benvolio encounter Tybalt on the street.

As soon as Romeo arrives, Tybalt tries to provoke him into a fight.

When Romeo refuses, Mercutio answers Tybalt's challenge as he sees Romeo's refusal as dishonourable.

Mercutio and Tybalt fight and Mercutio is killed.

Romeo then avenges Mercutio's death by killing Tybalt.

As a consequence, Romeo is banished from Verona.

So what I'd like you to think about is how does this scene add to the idea that Romeo's hamartia, so his fatal flaw, is his impulsiveness? So he acts without thinking of the consequences.

Pause the video, take a few moments to consider.

Welcome back, everyone.

Now, I think we can say that is does add to Romeo's impulsiveness.

He acts on pure emotion when he kills Tybalt.

He doesn't think of the consequences that may happen to not only killing someone, but specifically killing Juliet's cousin.

So now for a quick check for understanding.

So which of the following is true of act three, scene one? Is it A, Romeo tries to provoke Tybalt into a fight, B, Romeo accidentally kills Tybalt or C, Mercutio is killed in a fight with Tybalt? So pause the video, take a few moments to consider.

Now, in act three, scene one, Tybalt tries to provoke Romeo into a fight and when Romeo refuses, Mercutio steps in and is killed in the fight.

Romeo then kills Tybalt as revenge.

So the correct answer is, Mercutio is killed in a fight with Tybalt.

So very well done if you got that right.

Fantastic work, everyone.

We now on to the first task of the lesson.

Now, the climax is the most intense, exciting or important moment in the story.

I'd like you to consider that and answer the following questions.

So question one.

What might it say about Elizabethan society that the most important moment in the story is a conflict about the idea of honour? So what do you think Shakespeare might be suggesting about honour, is it important or not? Number two.

Specifically, what might it suggest about society that only male characters are involved in the most important moment? What might it suggest about society and they viewed men and women if we think that men are the only ones appearing in the most important scene in the play? So pause the video, answer the questions now.

Welcome back, everyone, some great work there.

What I'd like you do now is think about Alex's answers.

Think about how well they align with your ideas.

So number one.

What might it say about Elizabethan society that the most important moment in the story is a conflict? And Alex said, "I think it demonstrates how important honour and violence were to society.

They are central themes to the play and to society in general." Question two.

Specifically, what might it suggest about society that only male characters are involved in the most important moment? And Alex said, "I think it emphasises the patriarchal nature of society, men are in control.

Their actions are the most important part of the play and their actions determine the outcome." So pause the video, think about how well Alex's ideas align with your ideas.

Welcome back, everyone.

Now, I think looking at where certain moments or ideas appear in the structure of a play is so important, because it might reveal which ideas of characters are given more importance than others.

In this case, Shakespeare might be suggesting that men and honour are the most important aspects of society.

Amazing work, everyone.

We're now moving on to the second learning cycle where we're going to think about how love is presented in act three, scene one and what it might suggest about the perceived importance of love.

Now typically, we think of act three, scene one as presenting the themes of violence and honour, but the idea of love is also present throughout.

So Romeo tries to avoid Tybalt's challenge by saying he loves him.

Now, though Romeo doesn't explain further, we are the audience know that he has to love Tybalt since Romeo and Juliet are now married.

So Tybalt is part of Romeo's family now, however, Tybalt responds, "This shall not excuse the injuries that thou hast done me." So Tybalt is saying that Romeo's talk of love isn't enough to make up for what the thinks Romeo's done to him.

So what I'd like you to think about is what might this suggest about how love was seen? Pause the video, take a few moments to consider.

Welcome back, everyone, some great ideas there.

Now, Tybalt is saying that love is not enough to excuse Romeo.

So therefor is might suggest that love is not as important as honour.

Love is not as valued.

So now for a quick check for understanding.

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

So is it true or false that Romeo's and Tybalt's exchange about love in act three, scene one implies that love is unimportant? Pause the video, take a few moments to consider.

Now, the correct answer is true.

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

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

Welcome back, everyone.

Now, you might've said that Romeo tries to diffuse the situation by stating his love for Tybalt, and Tybalt rejects this.

He states that love cannot solve their problems. So very well done if you got those right.

Now, following Mercutio's death, Romeo says, "Oh, sweet Juliet, thy beauty hath made me effeminate." Now, effeminate means having characteristics and ways of behaving traditionally associated with women.

So here, Romeo's saying that loving Juliet is making him behave in a way that's traditionally associated with women.

So what I'd like you to think about is what does this suggest about love and masculinity? Pause the video, take a few moments to consider.

Welcome back, everyone, some great ideas there.

Now, Romeo's saying that being in love makes him behave like a woman.

So you might've thought he's suggesting that showing emotion, particulary love, is sometimes considered feminine rather than masculine.

Now, Shakespeare wrote "Romeo and Juliet" over 400 years ago, yet this view that showing emotion is sometimes more feminine than masculine is unfortunately still a view that persists today for some people, which can be incredibly damaging, because feeling emotions is part of our human nature.

Now, as well as making him effeminate, Romeo also says his love for Juliet has softened valor's steel.

So what I'd like you think about is what is Romeo suggesting about love here? If it softened his resolve and his bravery? Pause the video, take a few moments to consider.

Welcome back, everyone, some great ideas there.

As Sam says, "I think it suggests that he feels as if love has made him weak.

It's made him too sensitive rather than strong." Again, this is something Shakespeare wrote 400 years ago, but unfortunately still exists today.

The idea that men can no show no sign of weakness, which means they feel obliged to keep everything inside, which can be very damaging.

So now for a quick check for understanding.

Which of the following statement represents what Romeo's suggesting about love in act three, scene one? Is it A, expressing your love and emotions is deeply masculine, B, feeling love and emotion makes your courageous or C, feeling love and emotions makes you weak? So pause the video, take a few moments to consider.

Welcome back, everyone.

Now, Romeo says that love makes him effeminate and takes away his bravery and that means he's saying that feeling love and emotions makes you weak.

So very well done if you got that right.

Amazing work, everyone.

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

So what I'd like you to do, is think about the following quotations, "Love shall not excuse the injuries that thou hast done me," "thy beauty hath made me effeminate," "love has softened valor's steel," and I'd like you to write a short answer to the question, how does Shakespeare present the concept of love in act three, scene one of "Romeo and Juliet"? So pause the video, write your answer now.

Welcome back, everyone, some great work there.

So what I'd like you to do is think about Izzy's answer and think about how she could extend it by considering the quotation, "love has softened valor's steel." So Izzy wrote, "Shakespeare presents love as inconsequential and unimportant through Tybalt's declaration that love shall not excuse the injuries that thou hast done me, as it implies that love cannot solve their problems as well as violence can.

Furthermore, Romeo's suggestion that love for Juliet has made him effeminate, creating the impression that feeling emotion, specifically love, is feminine rather than masculine." So pause the video, think about how we could extend Izzy's answer.

Welcome back, everyone.

Now, you might've said that Izzy could extend her answer by saying, "Additionally, by saying that love has softened valor's steel, Romeo creates the impression that love makes men weak and takes away their courage." Fantastic work, everyone.

Now, in the third learning cycle, we're going to explore how fate is presented in act three, scene one.

Now, as well as the themes of love and violence, act three, scene one also considered the role of fate.

So as Mercutio is dying, he curses both the Montagues and the Capulets with this famous line, "A plague o' both your houses!" Now, I think there's so many layers to this quotation, because Mercutio's name links him to the concept of divination, the act of saying what will happen in the future, and we as the audience know that Mercutio's curse will come true.

Mercutio's name is also linked to the Roman god Mercury, who guides the souls of the dead to the underworld.

So Mercutio is in effect guiding Romeo and Tybalt's souls to the underworld by cursing them.

So what I'd like you to think about, is what might the significance of Mercutio's line be? Pause the video, take a few moments to consider.

Welcome back, everyone, some great ideas there.

Now, you might've thought about the fact that Romeo's curse coming true enhances the idea that someone or something is controlling Romeo and Juliet's life.

Their lives are perhaps predetermined.

Fate is controlling what happens to them and their destinies.

Now, following Mercutio's death, Romeo says, "This day's black fate on more days doth depend.

This but begins the woe others must end." So here, Romeo appears to be suggesting the actions of today will influence future events.

So what I'd like you to think about, is do you think this fits with the concept of fate and the idea that everything is predetermined? Now, this is a tricky question.

So think about the fact that believing in fate suggests everything is already laid out before us.

Does this fit with the idea that our actions today will influence the future? Pause the video, take a few moments to consider.

Welcome back, everyone, some great ideas there.

As I said, that was a tricky question, so really well done for having a go.

Let's take a look at what a couple of our Oak pupils said.

So Laura said, "I'm not sure it does, because I think it suggests that your actions affect the future rather than everything already being set out." And Andeep said, "I think it does, because Romeo acknowledges fate.

So I think it's him understanding that what will happen next is predetermined." It's set out for him.

Now, there's no right answer to this question.

We're never told an answer in the play, but Shakespeare invites us to think about ideas of fate, destiny and control throughout it, and that's something we can take away to think about for ourselves.

Do we think we have control over our own lives? Now, following Tybalt's death, Romeo declares, "O, I am Fortune's fool!" Now, a fool is a person who acts unwisely or imprudently.

Now, this is one of the most famous lines from the play and it's such an important line in terms of the theme of fate.

So what I'd like you to do, is think about what the significance of the line might be.

What is Romeo saying about the ideas of control and of fate? Pause the video, take a few moments to think about them.

Welcome back, everyone, some great ideas there.

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

Now, Romeo's saying he's fortune's fool.

It implies that Romeo is acknowledging he is controlled by fate, because he's suggesting he belongs to fate.

The fact he says he's the fool of fortune, perhaps Romeo is suggesting his unwise actions are caused by fate.

So he's a fool, because fate has made him a fool.

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 when Romeo says, "I am fortune's fool," it links to the concept of fate? Pause the video, take a few moments to consider.

Now, the correct answer is true.

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

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

Welcome back, everyone.

Now, you might've said that by saying his fortune's fool, Romeo implies that his life and actions are being controlled by fate.

Fate causes him to act and behave in the way he does.

So very well done if you got those right.

Fantastic work, everyone.

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

Now, arguably, Romeo's actions in act three, scene one are impulsive.

He acts without thinking of the consequences.

So what I'd like you to discuss, is whether you think the role of fate in act three, scene one excuses Romeo's behaviour, why or why not? Now, you might consider whether Romeo and Juliet's tragic deaths would've happened without act three, scene one, whether his initial inaction at the start of the scene causes Mercutio to die and thereby causes Romeo's impulsive killing of Tybalt and whether you think fate controls every aspect of our life or just the outcome of our life.

So pause the video, take a minutes to discuss.

Welcome back, everyone, that was fantastic discussions there.

So what I'd like you to do, is think about Lucas and Sofia's ideas.

Think of how well they align with your ideas.

So Lucas said, "I think it does excuse his actions, because I think he is fated to act that way, he's not in control of his action." Sofia said, "I don't think it does excuse his actions.

I think their deaths would've happened anyway, so Romeo's actions are his own rather than being down to fate." So pause the video, think about how well their ideas align with your ideas.

Welcome back, everyone.

Now, I think this question of whether or not fate excuses Romeo's action is so important, because it really cuts to the heart of whether we can be held responsible and accountable for our own actions.

If we're not in control of our lives, is anything ever truly our own fault? You all did amazingly well today, everyone.

Here's a summary of what we covered.

The climax of Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" is act three, scene one.

Arguably, the climactic act three, scene one conveys the central role of violence and honour in society.

Romeo's language in act three, scene one implies that expressing love and emotions makes men weak.

Mercutio curses the Montagues and the Capulets.

This could show how someone else controls their lives.

Romeo acknowledges that fate is controlling his life and his actions in act three, scene one.

I really hope you enjoyed the lesson, everyone.

I hope to see you for another lesson soon.

Goodbye.