Romeo & Juliet Lesson 7: Love and Hate - PowerPoint

The seventh lesson in a series on Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" delves into the prominent themes of love and hate that are woven throughout the tragic play. This lesson, specifically titled "Love and Hate," aims to develop students' knowledge and understanding of the theme of violence as depicted in the narrative. It begins with an exploration of the very first scene of Act 1, where the audience is introduced to the enduring enmity and violence that characterises the setting of Verona and the lives of the play's characters.

Students are tasked with reading up to line 64 of Act 1 Scene 1 and then answering a series of questions designed to deepen their comprehension of the text. These questions prompt learners to consider the location of the scene, the significance of props brought on stage by characters Sampson and Gregory, and the roles and actions of those involved in the initial altercation. The exercise also encourages students to analyse the behaviour of Tybalt and Benvolio, as well as the Lords Capulet and Montague, while considering the consequences of the fight and the subsequent warning issued to the feuding family heads. In a creative twist, the lesson concludes with an activity where students imagine themselves as journalists for "The Verona Chronicle," writing a sensational front-page story in the style of a tabloid newspaper, recounting the dramatic events of the opening scene.