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Year 11
AQA

'Romeo and Juliet': violence, honour and social hierarchy in Act 1, Scene 5

I can explain how violence, honour and social hierarchy are presented in Act 1, Scene 5 of ‘Romeo and Juliet’.

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Year 11
AQA

'Romeo and Juliet': violence, honour and social hierarchy in Act 1, Scene 5

I can explain how violence, honour and social hierarchy are presented in Act 1, Scene 5 of ‘Romeo and Juliet’.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Shakespeare presents Tybalt as seeing violence as a solution to problems.
  2. Arguably, Tybalt’s use of rhyming words could indicate he feels in control when committing violent acts.
  3. Tybalt's repeated reference to Romeo as a “villain” suggests he sees Romeo’s actions as dishonourable.
  4. Potentially, the fricative sounds in Tybalt’s speech could suggest he’s consumed by his views on honour.
  5. Lord Capulet establishes his dominance and authority over Tybalt in Act 1, Scene 5.

Keywords

  • Honour - a quality that combines respect, being proud, and honesty

  • Dishonour - a state of shame or disgrace

  • Hierarchy - a system in which people or things are arranged according to their importance

  • Belittle - dismiss (someone or something) as unimportant

Common misconception

Lord Capulet and Tybalt share the same views on all the Montagues.

While Lord Capulet wishes to join the fight in Act 1, Scene 1, he encourages Tybalt to leave Romeo alone at the Caplulet ball.


To help you plan your year 11 english lesson on: 'Romeo and Juliet': violence, honour and social hierarchy in Act 1, Scene 5, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

You might like to explore why Lord Capulet wanted to engage in a fight with the Montagues in Act 1, Scene 1 but calls for peace now - is he afraid of the Prince's threat? Or does he feel secure because he is in his own house?
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Teacher tip
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Equipment

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

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Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
supervision-level

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

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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.
Calling someone a 'villain' implies which of the following?
They have high morals
Correct answer: They are highly immoral.
They are honourable.
Correct answer: They are dishonourable.
Q2.
'A quality that combines respect, being proud, and honesty' is the definition of which of the following?
bravery
intelligence
Correct answer: honour
Q3.
To "scorn" something means which of the following?
Correct answer: to express contempt for it
to celebrate it
to express admiration for it
Q4.
To be 'dominant' means which of the following?
to have no control over others
Correct answer: to have power and control
Correct answer: to have influence over others
Q5.
In Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet', Tybalt says: "What, drawn and talk of peace? I hate the word". What impression does this give us of his character?
He will be a peacekeeper in the play.
Correct answer: He will be an antagonistic character.
He will be a comic character.
Q6.
'Sounds usually associated with letters such as 'f', 's', 'v' and 'z', in which the air passes through a narrow constriction' is the definition of which of the following?
euphonic sounds
plosive sounds
Correct answer: fricative sounds

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
In Act 1, Scene 5 of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet', Tybalt first action when seeing "a Montague" is to do which of the following?
ask security to escort him out
tell his uncle, Lord Capulet
Correct answer: call for his sword
Q2.
'A system in which people or things are arranged according to their importance' is the definition of which word beginning with 'h'?
Correct Answer: hierarchy, hierarchical, a hierarchy
Q3.
In Act 1, Scene 5 of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet', Lord Capulet asks Tybalt to do which of the following?
Correct answer: leave Romeo alone
challenge Romeo to a duel
find out how Romeo entered the party
Q4.
'To dismiss (someone or something) as unimportant' is the definition of which word beginning with 'b'?
Correct Answer: belittle, belittling
Q5.
In Act 1, Scene 5 of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet', Lord Capulet establishes his authority over Tybalt by repeatedly calling him a .
Correct Answer: boy, "boy"
Q6.
In Act 1, Scene 5 of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet', Tybalt's use of rhyme when talking about violence might suggest which of the following?
He feels violence is chaotic.
Correct answer: Violence makes him feel in control.
Violence feels monotonous and boring to him.