Learning Objective:
• To explore the theme of
FATE in Rome and Juliet
in more detail.
• Where does Romeo
mention stars in Act 5?
Extra Thinking
• Who reads their horoscope regularly?
• Why do you think people read them?
• From the beginning of the play what would Romeo’s
stars say?
http://www.youtube.com/watch
?v=MK6VUSBiM2Y
Task: From the above clip, what do
you think is meant by the term fate?
Fate
• Destiny or fate is a predetermined course of
events.
Read the prologue
• What events are predetermined for Romeo and
Juliet?
• Extra thinking: Why is it ironic when Romeo says,
“I will defy thee stars?”
Two households, both alike in dignity,
In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.
From forth the fatal loins of these two foes
A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life;
Whose misadventured piteous overthrows
Do with their death bury their parents' strife.
The fearful passage of their death-mark'd love,
And the continuance of their parents' rage,
Which, but their children's end, nought could remove,
Is now the two hours' traffic of our stage;
The which if you with patient ears attend,
What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.
Tough One: Where do we see fate in
the play?
Remember, fate is where something
happens that we can not control; it is
“written in the stars”
In Act 5 Scene 3 the Friar
protests his innocence by
explaining the course of events.
• Task: Shout buzz every time you hear
something happen that wasn’t planned by the
characters in the play.
• Extra thinking: After reading this do you
believe the Friar or fate is to blame for the
course of events?
The Friar’s Speech
• What different events does the Friar mention?
• What examples does he give of the plan going
wrong?
How do these quotes link to fate?
• “untimely death”
• “Friar John was stay’d by accident”
• “She too desperate would not go with me”
Example Answer
The candidate has identifi ed an appropriate scene in the play: 'When Mercutio
and Tybalt are arguing and about to fi ght'.
There follows a selective (discriminating) account of what happens which is not
simply narrative but which offers interpretations of the characters' behaviour:
'Mercutio's childish and immature behaviour'
'Tybalt despises Romeo'
'Mercutio pushes Tybalt too far'
'Mercutio is having too much fun'.....etc
The answer goes on to comment that Romeo's secret marriage to Juliet is an
important factor and then shows understanding of the consequences of the
scene: 'Romeo is banished' and 'they were all punished'.
The answer might have referred to Romeo's part in the death of Mercutio and
might have said more about the chain of cause and effect but there is enough
perceptive understanding of the theme and discriminating reference to the scene
to merit a mark in Band three.
Essentially, what important things happen and
what does it teach you?
Where do we see fate in Romeo
and Juliet?
•
•
•
•
•
Say where you see fate.
Say what happens.
Say what characters are involved.
Say how much impact it has on the plot
Say how it reflects characters’ beliefs in the play
eg. The Friar and Romeo thought they could defy
fate-could they?
• Provide quotes to support your ideas. In order to
gain a high mark, the more good quotes, the
better.
How well did you do?
1 Tick:
• Said what the event is and the different things that
happen.
• Said who is involved.
• Said where you see evidence of fate
2 Ticks:
• Said HOW the way that character uses FATE shows
us something about them.
• Said HOW FATE here links/ affects the rest of the
play.
• Said what it shows you about life at the time of the
play.
Learning Objective:
• To explore the theme of FATE in Rome and Juliet in
more detail.
Starter:
On a scale of 1- 5 (5 being very good), how well would you say you could
answer a 10 mark question.
• Where does Romeo mention stars in Act 5?
PLENARY