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Year 11
AQA

'Romeo and Juliet': selecting effective quotations and using context effectively

I can use context and quotations to write an effective analytical paragraph about honour and violence in ‘Romeo and Juliet’.

icon-background-square
New
New
Year 11
AQA

'Romeo and Juliet': selecting effective quotations and using context effectively

I can use context and quotations to write an effective analytical paragraph about honour and violence in ‘Romeo and Juliet’.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Always remember to select the most relevant quotation to your point.
  2. Try to choose quotations that will allow you the best opportunity to develop nuanced ideas.
  3. Try to avoid generalisations when talking about context.
  4. Ensure that the contextual information develops the point you are making.
  5. An effective answer considers how the context helps us to better understand the ideas in the text.

Keywords

  • Context - the circumstances in which a text is written and also the circumstances in which the text is read

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

  • Generalisation - a written or spoken statement in which you say or write that something is true all of the time

  • Nuanced - has subtle details that make it complex and interesting

Common misconception

Any quotation from the text adds weight to your argument.

For a quotation to be effective, it has to be relevant to the point you are making.

The quotations and examples are taken from Act 3, Scene 1 of 'Romeo and Juliet', so it might be useful to remind pupils what happens in that scene.
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Teacher tip
equipment-required

Equipment

You may wish to have a copy of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet' for this lesson.

content-guidance

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
supervision-level

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

copyright

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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6 Questions

Q1.
'A quality that combines respect, being proud, and honesty' is the definition of which word beginning with 'h'?
Correct Answer: honour
Q2.
'Qualities or attributes regarded as characteristic of men or boys' is the definition of which word beginning with 'm'?
Correct Answer: masculinity, masculine
Q3.
'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
Q4.
Which of the following are characteristics of a 'villain'?
someone virtuous and honourable
Correct answer: someone dishonourable and wicked
someone courageous and brave
someone intelligent and quick-witted
Q5.
Starting with the first, put the events of Act 3, Scene 1 of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet' in chronological order.
1 - Mercutio and Benvolio encounter Tybalt on the street.
2 - Tybalt challenges Romeo to a duel.
3 - Romeo refuses to duel Tybalt.
4 - Mercutio duels Tybalt instead and is killed.
5 - Romeo kills Tybalt as revenge.
6 - Romeo is banished from Verona.
Q6.
'A set idea that people have about what someone or something is like' is the definition of which word beginning with 's'?
Correct Answer: stereotype, stereotypical, stereo-type

6 Questions

Q1.
'The circumstances in which a text is written and also the circumstances in which the text is read' is the definition of which word beginning with 'c'?
Correct Answer: context
Q2.
When selecting a quotation you need to make sure of which of the following?
it is long
Correct answer: it is relevant
it includes impressive words
Q3.
'A written or spoken statement in which you say or write that something is true all of the time' is the definition of which word beginning with 'g'?
Correct Answer: generalisation, generalization
Q4.
Which two of the following quotations would be most relevant to a question on honour and masculinity in Act 3, Scene 1 of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet'?
“the day is hot” (Benvolio, line 2)
“the mad blood stirring” (Benvolio, line 4)
Correct answer: “thou art a villain” (Tybalt, line 62)
Correct answer: “Boy, this shall not excuse the injuries” (Tybalt, 67)
Q5.
When Tybalt calls Romeo a "boy" in Act 3, Scene 1 of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet', he is arguably questioning Romeo's ...
integrity
Correct answer: masculinity
nobility
Q6.
'Has subtle details that make it complex and interesting' is the definition of which word beginning with 'n'?
Correct Answer: nuanced, nuance