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Year 11
AQA

Lord Capulet's honour and violence in Act 3, Scene 5 of 'Romeo and Juliet'

I can explain Lord Capulet’s language around honour and violence in Act 3, Scene 5.

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Year 11
AQA

Lord Capulet's honour and violence in Act 3, Scene 5 of 'Romeo and Juliet'

I can explain Lord Capulet’s language around honour and violence in Act 3, Scene 5.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The implication that Juliet’s refusal makes her dishonourable suggests that women’s honour came from obedience.
  2. Lord Capulet implies that Juliet’s refusal is specifically dishonourable to him.
  3. Through that, Shakespeare may be suggesting that a man’s honour comes from his ability to control his family.
  4. Lord Capulet’s violent response to Juliet’s refusal could suggest that men saw violence as a solution.

Keywords

  • Patriarchal - relating to or denoting a system of society or government controlled by men

  • Disobedience - failure or refusal to obey rules or someone in authority

  • Dishonourable - bringing shame or disgrace on someone or something

Common misconception

Lord Capulet only considers Juliet to have dishonoured herself through her refusal of the marriage to Paris.

Arguably, Lord Capulet also thinks he and the Capulet family are also dishonoured by Juliet's refusal.


To help you plan your year 11 english lesson on: Lord Capulet's honour and violence in Act 3, Scene 5 of 'Romeo and Juliet', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

It would be useful to remind pupils of Lord Capulet's words about Juliet and marriage in Act 1, Scene 2 - he initially said she would need to agree to the marriage.
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Teacher tip
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Equipment

There is a copy of Lord Capulet's exchange with Juliet in Act 3, Scene 5 in the additional materials.

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Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sexual violence
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Supervision

Adult supervision required

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Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), 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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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following is the definition of 'dishonourable'?
Correct answer: bringing shame or disgrace on someone or something
failure or refusal to obey rules or someone in authority
honest and fair, or deserving praise and respect
Q2.
'Relating to or denoting a system of society or government controlled by men' is the definition of which word beginning with 'p'?
Correct Answer: patriarchal, patriarchy
Q3.
In Act 3, Scene 5 of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet', what is the status of Romeo and Juliet's relationship?
They are engaged.
Correct answer: They are married.
They are divorced.
Q4.
In a patriarchal society, fathers had which of the following over their daughters' marriages?
little control
Correct answer: great control
no say at all
Q5.
In Act 1, Scene 2 of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet', Lord Capulet says: "But woo her, gentle Paris, get her heart; / My will to her consent is but a part." What does this mean?
Juliet will have no say over her choice of husband.
Correct answer: Juliet's consent is necessary for the marriage to Paris to go ahead.
Lord Capulet has no say over Juliet's choice of husband.
Q6.
'Consonants, such as 'p', 'b', and 't', produced by stopping the airflow using the lips or teeth' is the definition of which consonant sound?
euphonic
fricative
Correct answer: plosive

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
'Failure or refusal to obey rules or someone in authority' is the definition of which word beginning with 'd'?
Correct Answer: disobedient, disobey, disobedience
Q2.
In Act 3, Scene 5 of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet', what does Juliet do that angers Lord Capulet?
She marries Romeo in secret.
Correct answer: She refuses to marry Paris.
She calls him a 'wretch'.
Q3.
Starting with the first, put the events of Act 3, Scene 5 of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet' in order.
1 - Romeo and Juliet meet for the last time.
2 - Lady Capulet tells Juliet that she is to marry Paris.
3 - Juliet refuses to marry Paris.
4 - Lord Capulet threatens to disown Juliet.
5 - Juliet says she will go to Friar Lawrence.
Q4.
Complete the quotation from Act 3, Scene 5 of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet': "I will thee on a hurdle thither”
Correct Answer: drag
Q5.
When Lord Capulet says "drag" and "thither” in Act 3, Scene 5 of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet', which of the following consonant sounds is he using?
euphonic
fricative
Correct answer: plosive
Q6.
Complete the quotation from Act 3, Scene 5 of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet': "my itch".
Correct Answer: fingers

Additional material

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