Exploring Romeo's unrequited love for Rosaline in 'Romeo and Juliet'
I can explain how Romeo’s attitude towards love is presented in Act 1, Scene 1 of ‘Romeo and Juliet’.
Exploring Romeo's unrequited love for Rosaline in 'Romeo and Juliet'
I can explain how Romeo’s attitude towards love is presented in Act 1, Scene 1 of ‘Romeo and Juliet’.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- At the beginning of ‘Romeo and Juliet’, Romeo is in love with Rosaline but it is unrequited.
- Romeo is melancholic at the beginning of the play - he is isolating himself and uncertain.
- Romeo’s depiction of Rosaline implies that his love for her is more lust than love.
- The oxymorons within Romeo’s speech could represent his unrequited love for Rosaline.
- The oxymorons could also foreshadow the inescapable connection between love and violence.
Keywords
Unrequited - (of a feeling, especially love) not returned
Objectification - the act or an instance of treating a person as an object or thing
Melancholy - sadness that lasts for a long period of time
Lust - an intense desire for something, particularly sexual desire
Oxymoron - two words or phrases used together that have, or seem to have, opposite meanings
Common misconception
That Juliet is Romeo's only love in 'Romeo and Juliet'.
Before meeting Juliet, Romeo was in love with Rosaline.
To help you plan your year 10 english lesson on: Exploring Romeo's unrequited love for Rosaline in 'Romeo and Juliet', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 10 english lesson on: Exploring Romeo's unrequited love for Rosaline in 'Romeo and Juliet', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
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The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
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Explore more key stage 4 english lessons from the Romeo and Juliet: exploring the role of love and fate unit, dive into the full secondary english curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
You may wish to have a copy of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet' for this lesson.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of sexual content
- Depiction or discussion of mental health issues
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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