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

My name's Dr.

Clayton and I'm going to guide you through learning journey today.

So today's lesson is called Romeo and Juliet, exploring the influence of religion on society.

So we're going to be focusing on the character of Friar Lawrence and how he and his influence are portrayed by Shakespeare.

Then we're going to think more broadly about what Shakespeare might be suggesting about religion and Catholicism specifically.

Now I think this is such a fascinating subject because it was a time when new ideas about religion and God were circulating among society and I think we really see Shakespeare responding to that in Romeo and Juliet through Friar Lawrence.

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

So by the end of the lesson, you'll be able to explore the influence and presentation of religion through the character of Friar Lawrence in Romeo and Juliet.

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

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

So our first keyword is influence, which means the capacity to have an effect on a character, development or behaviour of someone or something.

We're going to be thinking about how Shakespeare portrays Friar Lawrence and the influence he has on the events in Romeo and Juliet and his influence on the characters.

Our second keyword is represent, which means to give a clear understanding or impression of, to describe or present clearly.

So when we talk about Friar Lawrence representing religion, we mean we have a clear understanding about religion through Shakespeare's characterisation of Friar Lawrence.

Our third keyword is deceit, which means the action or practise of deceiving someone by concealing or misrepresenting the truth.

Now we're gonna specifically be thinking about how we can interpret Friar Lawrence's character as someone who is deceitful and what this might mean for Shakespeare's portrayal of Catholicism specifically.

Our final keyword is Catholicism, which is the faith, practise and church order of the Roman Catholic Church.

We're going to be thinking about some contextual information around Catholicism in the Elizabethan period towards the end of the lesson and why Shakespeare might be presenting it in the way that he does.

So, I'll just give you a moment to write down those keywords and their 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 think about how Shakespeare represents Friar Lawrence and his influence on the events in the play, as well as the influence on the characters themselves.

For our second learning cycle, we're going to think about how Shakespeare portrays Friar Lawrence.

We're gonna move away from reading him as a mental figure and instead think about how we might see his characterisation in a more negative light, and what this might mean for Catholicism.

For our third learning cycle, we're going to think about some contextual information around Catholicism and why Shakespeare might want to portray it in a negative way.

So, let's start by thinking broadly about Friar Lawrence and his influence in Romeo and Juliet.

Now, Friar Lawrence is an incredibly influential character.

So influence is one of our keywords.

It means a capacity to have an effect on the character, development or behaviour of someone or something.

So Friar Lawrence has a capacity to affect the characters and their behaviours.

So what I'd like to start off by thinking about is how does Friar Lawrence influence the events in Romeo and Juliet.

Pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back everyone.

You might have thought about the fact that Friar Lawrence is the one who facilitates the marriage between Romeo and Juliet.

He agrees to the marriage and he officially marries them.

He also counsels Romeo to go to Mantua following Romeo's banishment and agrees to send him news of Verona.

And he provides Juliet with the potion that allows her to fake her own death.

So he's very involved in the events of Romeo and Juliet.

So now let's think about Friar Lawrence and his role in the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet.

So I'd like to think about the following information.

That Friar Lawrence facilitates the marriage between Romeo and Juliet.

That Friar Lawrence tries to hide the marriage by assisting Juliet in faking her own death.

That Friar Lawrence tells Romeo he'll send him news of Verona.

And what I'd like you to think about is to what extent do you think Friar Lawrence is responsible for the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet.

Pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back everyone.

Some great ideas there.

Now one of our Oak Pupils Sam said, I think we could say he is responsible for the tragedy.

He facilitates the marriage and creates the chain of events leading to the tragic ending.

If he'd not agreed to marry Romeo and Juliet, arguably their love story would have ended after the Capulet ball.

So what I'd like you to do is think about whether or not you agree with Sam's ideas.

Why or why not? Pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back everyone.

It was great to see people thinking about the different scenarios that might have happened if Friar Lawrence hadn't influenced the events and characters in the way that he did.

Perhaps if he hadn't given Juliet the potion, she would have confessed her marriage to her father.

Perhaps if he had hidden Romeo, rather encouraged him to leave, then Romeo would have been aware of Juliet's fake death.

Now these are all hypotheticals, but think it shows us how much of an influence Friar Lawrence had on the tragic events.

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 Friar Lawrence does not influence the events of Romeo and Juliet.

Pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

The correct answer is false.

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

So pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back everyone.

You might have said, he not only facilitates the marriage between Romeo and Juliet, he also creates the plan for Romeo to wait in Mantua and gives Juliet the potion that allows her to fake her own death.

So very well done if you got those right.

Now, let's think about Friar Lawrence's motivation behind his influence.

So when agreeing to marry Romeo and Juliet, Friar Lawrence says, "For this alliance may so happy prove, to turn your household's rancour to pure love." So what I'd like you to think about, is what is Friar Lawrence trying to achieve through his influence? Pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back everyone, some fantastic ideas there.

You might have said, Friar Lawrence is trying to provide a solution to a social problem.

He's trying to end the feud between the Montagues and Capulets.

And we know from the Prince's speech in Act 1, Scene 1, the feud is negatively impacting society because of the fights that keep breaking out.

So you might say that Friar Lawrence tried to help society through this marriage.

So, now for a quick check for understanding.

So which of the following is Friar Lawrence trying to achieve through agreeing to marry Romeo and Juliet? Is it A, Romeo and Juliet's happiness? B, improvement to a social standing? Or C, providing a solution to a social problem? So pause the video, make your selection now.

Welcome back everyone.

Now, Friar Lawrence is trying to end the feud.

So he's trying to provide a solution to a social problem.

So very well done if you got that right.

Amazing work everyone.

And now the first task of the lesson.

Now we might think of Friar Lawrence as representing religion in Romeo and Juliet.

So you might think of Friar Lawrence's character as giving us a clear understanding of religion at the time.

Now if we accept he represents religion, what do you think Shakespeare might have been trying to say about religious influence on society through Friar Lawrence? I'd like to write a short answer to explain your ideas.

Now you might consider, Friar Lawrence's influence on the events in Romeo and Juliet.

Friar Lawrence's motivation behind his influence.

So, pause the video, write your answer now.

Welcome back everyone.

Some great work there.

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

So Laura said, I think perhaps Shakespeare might be trying to show religion was able to exert great influence over people's lives and the course their lives took.

You might even have been suggesting religious figures attempt to provide solutions to societal problems, but that these solutions don't always have people's best interests at heart.

Although the feud is solved by the marriage, Romeo and Juliet's lives are the price paid for peace, which could represent how religious influence focuses on the big picture rather than concerns of individuals.

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

Welcome back everyone.

Now I think these ideas are so interesting, because religion was at the very heart of government in Elizabethan England.

So I think it's a real representation of the social realities.

Think about how Friar Lawrence might represent a religion that has so much influence on society and individuals.

Amazing work everyone.

Now onto our second learning cycle.

We're going to think about how Shakespeare portrays Friar Lawrence in Romeo and Juliet.

Now, as I said at the beginning of the lesson, Friar Lawrence is often seen as a mentor and father figure to Romeo, because Romeo confides in him and seeks his advice.

However, I want us to think about how we might also see his portrayal in a more negative light.

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

Friar Lawrence is aware of Romeo and Juliet's marriage, but doesn't say anything to their parents.

Friar Lawrence allows Juliet to fake her own death, rather than admit she cannot marry Count Paris because he married her to Romeo.

I'd like you to think about what this might suggest about Friar Lawrence's character.

Pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back everyone, some great ideas there.

Now one of our people's Alex said, I think it suggests that Friar Lawrence is capable of being deceitful and secretive.

Furthermore, it suggests that Friar Lawrence is willing to put his own interests before the interests of others.

He could have admitted to the Lord Capulet that Juliet is already married, but he does not do so.

So, what I'd like you to do now is think about whether or not you agree with Alex's ideas.

Why or why not? Pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back everyone.

Now if it's a general agreement, we can see if Friar Lawrence is concealing the truth.

We typically interpret that in a negative light.

So now for a quick check for understanding around the nature of Friar Lawrence's character.

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? We might interpret Friar Lawrence's character as being deceitful.

Remember that deceit is one of our key words.

It means the actual practise of deceiving someone by concealing or misrepresenting the truth.

So, pause the video, make your selection now.

The correct answer is true.

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

So, pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back everyone.

You might have said, though Friar Lawrence is aware of the marriage between Romeo and Juliet, he does not share this information with their parents, even when it would have been useful to do so.

He allows Juliet to fake her own death, rather than revealing to Lord Capulet that he cannot marry her to Count Paris because he already married her to Romeo.

So, very well done if you got those right.

Now, let's take a look at another moment in the play and think about Friar Lawrence's actions in Act 5, Scene 3.

So, despite finding Romeo dead, Friar Lawrence abandons Juliet in the tomb because "a noise did scare me from the tomb." So what I'd like you to think about, is what does this suggest about Friar Lawrence's character.

Pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back everyone.

Fantastic ideas there.

As our Oak Pupils Izzy says, I think it could create the perception that Friar Lawrence is cowardly.

It adds to the idea that he places his own self-interest before the interest of others.

He doesn't stay to help Juliet, but instead runs away when he thinks they're about to be discovered.

So, now for another quick check for understanding around the nature of Friar Lawrence's character and how Shakespeare is presenting him.

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? We might interpret Friar Lawrence's character as being brave.

Pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

The correct answer is false.

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

So, pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back everyone.

You might have said, arguably, by leaving Juliet alone in the tomb in Act 5, Scene 3, Friar Lawrence is behaving in a cowardly manner because he leaves because he hears a noise and he places his own self-interest above the interest of others.

So, very well done if you got those right.

So, now let's think about some of the advice that Friar Lawrence offers Romeo.

So, when consoling Romeo after his banishment, Friar Lawrence says, "Art thou a man? Thy form cries out thou art.

Thy tears are womanish" So, what I'd like you to think about is what's the importance of this advice in terms of gender stereotypes.

Pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back everyone.

Some great ideas there.

You might have thought, by asking if he's a man, it's questioning Romeo's masculinity.

By suggesting he should not be crying because he's a man, that implies religious influence on societal pressure of gender stereotypes.

Friar Lawrence is telling Romeo how he should behave and act because he's a man.

So, now for a quick check for understanding.

So, which interpretation of "Art Though a Man?" is most effective? Is it A, it's just that Friar Lawrence is questioning Romeo's masculinity.

Or B, it's just that Friar Lawrence is questioning Romeo's identity.

So, pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Now, the correct answer is A.

Now, I'd like to know why it's A.

So, pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back everyone.

You might have said, by asking if Romeo is a man, Friar Lawrence is implying his actions suggest he's not one.

Thus, Friar Lawrence is questioning his masculinity.

So, very well done if you got those right.

Amazing work everyone.

Now, the second task of the lesson.

Now, though never explicitly stated, we can arguably see Friar Lawrence as representing Catholicism because a "Friar" is a man belonging to any of the Roman Catholic religious orders.

Romeo and Juliet are set in Verona and the predominant religion of Italy in the Elizabethan era was Catholicism.

So, what I'd like you to think about is what might Shakespeare be saying about Catholicism through his portrayal of Friar Lawrence.

Pause the video, take a few minutes to discuss.

Welcome back everyone.

Some amazing discussions there.

What I'd like you to do is reflect on your discussions.

Did you consider the following ideas? That Shakespeare may have been presenting Catholicism as acting in his own self-interest, allowing others to suffer the consequences of its actions.

That Shakespeare may have been presenting Catholicism as adding to societal expectations of gender through Friar Lawrence's presentation of Romeo's masculinity.

So, pause the video and reflect on your discussions now.

Welcome back everyone.

Now, we're going to move on to the third learning cycle.

We're going to think about why Shakespeare might be portraying Catholicism in this way.

Fantastic work everyone.

Now, the third learning cycle.

We're going to think about some of the context of Catholicism and how it might relate to Shakespeare's intentions.

Now, as I said earlier, religion was undergoing a time of real upheaval during this period due to the Reformation.

In 1517, Martin Luther began challenging the Catholic Church's teachings and Protestant religious reform swept through Europe.

Now, this fundamentally changed the world because the Catholic Church was so wealthy and powerful and suddenly, there was a chance it really created some strong religious divides between countries and between people.

Now, in terms of England, Queen Elizabeth I was Protestant.

However, her predecessor, Queen Mary I, was Catholic.

So, she brought about many changes when she became Queen in order to minimise the Catholic influence.

So, for example, she passed law that gave officials the power to execute someone for trying to convert someone else to Catholicism.

However, there were continual threats throughout her reign from those who wished to replace her with a Catholic monarch such as Mary, Queen of Scots.

So, what I'd like you to think about is how do you think Queen Elizabeth I might have wanted Catholics represented in literature? Pause the video.

Take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back, everyone.

Some fantastic ideas there.

Now, one of our Oak Pupils, Jacob, said, I think she would have wanted them represented negatively as this would have helped her minimise the influence of Catholicism and possibly convert people from Catholicism to Protestantism.

So, what I'd like you to think about is whether or not you agree with Jacob.

Why or why not? Pause the video.

Take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back, everyone.

Now, I think there's a strong consensus in agreeing with Jacob.

We're going to end the lesson in a few minutes by thinking about how Shakespeare's intentions might link to this.

So, now for a quick check for understanding around the contextual information around Catholicism and Queen Elizabeth.

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 arguably Queen Elizabeth I would have wanted Catholicism to be represented negatively in literature? Pause the video.

Take a few moments to think about it.

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 think about it.

Welcome back, everyone.

You might have said that Queen Elizabeth I faced constant threats to her person and her throne throughout her reign from Catholic sympathisers, and she tried to minimise their influence in England by passing certain laws.

And representing it negatively in literature could have been part of that way of minimising their influence.

So, very well done if you got those right.

Amazing work, everyone.

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

Now, arguably, we might consider Shakespeare to have represented Catholicism in a way that Queen Elizabeth I would have approved of through Friar Lawrence.

So, what I'd like you to think about is what do you think the implications of this are? And you might think about what it might suggest about Shakespeare's intentions.

What it might mean for how we see Shakespeare as a writer.

Was he trying to criticise society or have it stay the same? So, pause the video.

Take a few minutes to discuss.

Welcome back, everyone.

Some great discussions there.

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

How well they align with your ideas.

So, Lucas said, I think it suggests Shakespeare's intentions may have been to produce literature that the monarch approved of to continue to have their favour.

And Sophia said, perhaps it means that Shakespeare was writing in a way to preserve the status quo.

A monarch wouldn't want society to desire change.

So, pause the video.

Think about how well their ideas align with your ideas.

Welcome back, everyone.

Now, I think this is such an important discussion to have.

We often think about writers' intentions as reflecting their own personal view of the world.

What they want to say.

But actually, they're so often influenced by external factors.

And I think about how their writing could be perceived by powerful people.

It's absolutely a factor.

And this is something you might like to take forward, and think about in relation to Shakespeare's other plays.

How might we see them as trying to appease the monarch at the time? Whether that was Queen Elizabeth I or King James I.

And what might this mean for how we interpret Shakespeare's plays? You all did amazingly well today, everyone.

Here's a summary of what we covered.

Arguably, Friar Lawrence represents religion in Romeo and Juliet.

So, Friar Lawrence's character gives an understanding of religion and how it was seen in Elizabethan England.

Throughout the play, we see Friar Lawrence influencing the lives and behaviour of characters.

So we see Friar Lawrence influencing the events of the play through facilitating Romeo and Juliet's marriage by keeping their marriage a secret and by giving Juliet the potion that allows her to fake her own death.

We also might see Friar Lawrence as influencing the behaviour of characters by telling Romeo he should conform to masculine stereotypes.

Potentially, we might see Shakespeare's criticising the influence of religion on society through Friar Lawrence.

So we might interpret Friar Lawrence as acting deceitfully in his own self-interest through hiding Romeo and Juliet's marriage from their parents and through leaving Juliet alone in the tomb in Act 5, Scene 3.

Through this, we might see Shakespeare suggesting that religious influence in society didn't always have people's best interests at heart.

Furthermore, we might see Shakespeare's criticising Catholicism through Friar Lawrence.

Queen Elizabeth I was Protestant and therefore we might see Shakespeare's criticism of Catholicism as a means of pleasing the monarch and maintaining the status quo.

I really hope you enjoyed the lesson everyone.

I hope to see you for another lesson soon.

Goodbye.