New
New
Year 6

Exploring vocabulary relating to the duel scene

I can explore a wide range of rich vocabulary that can be used to add descriptive detail to a retelling of the duel scene from Act III Scene 1 in ‘Romeo and Juliet’.

New
New
Year 6

Exploring vocabulary relating to the duel scene

I can explore a wide range of rich vocabulary that can be used to add descriptive detail to a retelling of the duel scene from Act III Scene 1 in ‘Romeo and Juliet’.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The duel scene in Act III Scene 1 has a tense, pacy atmosphere.
  2. When we write, we can choose vocabulary that will build this specific atmosphere.
  3. We will need to know vocabulary specific to duelling in order to describe it in a tense, pacy manner.
  4. We can also select specific vocabulary to show the characters' emotions during the duel.
  5. Using drama to explore vocabulary can help pupils to understand it more deeply.

Keywords

  • Duel - a contest with deadly weapons between two people, used to settle an argument

  • Vocabulary - words and phrases we choose to communicate details to the reader

  • Atmosphere - the feeling or mood created in a section or whole of a text

  • Emotions - strong feelings that result from a person's circumstances, mood or relationships with others

Common misconception

Pupils may find it challenging to understand the duelling terms.

Model each to pupils - it does not matter if it is technically perfect - and have them practise acting them out repeatedly.

Make sure you record and display a wide range of the vocabulary explored in this lesson so that pupils can use it easily in planning and writing.
Teacher tip

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of serious crime
  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of these statements about the duel in Act III Scene 1 are true?
Romeo kills Mercutio.
Correct answer: Tybalt kills Mercutio.
Correct answer: Romeo kills Tybalt.
Tybalt kills Romeo.
Q2.
What is the best Modern English 'translation' of the following line? 'The Prince expressly hath forbid this bandying in Verona streets.'
The Prince has forbidden bands to play in Verona's streets.
Correct answer: The Prince has forbidden the families from duelling in Verona's streets.
The Prince is forbidden from duelling in Verona's streets.
Q3.
Who does Mercutio say the following line to? 'O calm, dishonourable, vile submission!'
Correct answer: Romeo
Tybalt
the Prince
Benvolio
Q4.
Who speaks the following line in Act III Scene 1? 'Ay, ay, a scratch, a scratch.'
Romeo
Tybalt
Benvolio
Correct answer: Mercutio
Q5.
Put these lines in the order they appear in Act III Scene 1.
1 - Romeo, thou art a villain.
2 - Therefore turn and draw.
3 - What, art thou hurt?
4 - They have made worms' meat of me.
5 - Fire-eyed fury be my conduct now.
Q6.
Which of the following can help us to understand Shakespeare's plays?
Correct answer: seeing them performed
Correct answer: learning some important Early Modern English words and phrases
Correct answer: knowing the plot and characters
worrying about the meaning of every single word

6 Questions

Q1.
Where in the story structure would we place the duel scene in 'Romeo and Juliet'?
opening
build-up
Correct answer: climax
resolution
Q2.
Which of these events is not part of the duel scene in 'Romeo and Juliet'?
Mercutio dies.
Correct answer: Romeo and Juliet marry in secret.
Romeo runs away.
Tybalt dies.
Q3.
Match each of these words to the correct meaning.
Correct Answer:stagger,move unsteadily

move unsteadily

Correct Answer:skulk,keep out of sight

keep out of sight

Correct Answer:swagger,walk in a confident manner

walk in a confident manner

Correct Answer:scurry,move with short, quick steps

move with short, quick steps

Q4.
Which of the following duelling moves are attacking moves?
Correct answer: lunge
Correct answer: slash
parry
feint
Correct answer: thrust
Q5.
Which of these descriptions show anger?
Full of fatigue, Tybalt panted and flailed his rapier wildly at Romeo.
Correct answer: Tybalt, who was incensed by Romeo's behaviour, clenched his fists.
Grimacing with pain, Mercutio screamed in anguish.
Correct answer: Flushing scarlet, Romeo felt his body fill with rage.
Q6.
Which of these words best fills the gap in the following line? 'Tybalt parried the blow and he thrust his __________ at Romeo once more.'
scabbard
Correct answer: rapier
feint
lunge

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