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Banishment & Betrayal – Act 3, Scenes 3-4 Analysis

How do stories shape our understanding of the world and ourselves?

This lesson explores Act 3, Scenes 3-4 of Romeo and Juliet, focusing on Romeo’s reaction to his banishment and Capulet’s decision about Juliet’s future. Through discussion and textual analysis, students will examine themes of fate, power, and societal expectations, while considering how Romeo’s loss of control and Juliet’s diminishing agency set up the play’s tragic conclusion.

What’s Included?

• Full Lesson Plan – A structured guide with clear objectives and activities.
• Starter Task: Stay or Go? – Students discuss a scenario where they must choose between:
  • Facing the consequences of their actions, even if it means danger
  • Leaving everything behind forever and starting over
  • This helps students relate personally to Romeo’s dilemma.
• Act 3, Scenes 3-4 Video Viewing – A performance of the scene to support comprehension.
• Close Reading Task – A 10-minute text analysis, followed by a written summary of key events.
• Creative Scene Rewriting Activity – Students rewrite a key moment from the scene, considering:
  • What if Romeo reacted differently to his banishment?
  • What if Juliet openly refused to marry Paris?
  • What if the marriage discussion took place in a public setting rather than at home?
  • What if Romeo and Juliet arranged a secret meeting before he left?
• Exit Task – Students complete the sentence:
  • “Romeo’s banishment is more than a punishment—it is a shift in ______ and ______.”

Key Skills Developed:

• Analysing power shifts and character development
• Exploring themes of fate, choice, and control in Shakespearean tragedy
• Engaging in structured discussion and literary analysis
• Developing creative writing skills through scene adaptation

This lesson is ideal for GCSE English teachers looking to help students explore how the consequences of Romeo’s actions and Juliet’s lack of agency drive the play forward.

Reminder: This lesson follows the Socratic Circle Workbook, available in Lesson 1. Find Lesson 1 and the full bundle in my TES resources for a structured approach to Romeo and Juliet.

Download now to help students analyse how fate, choice, and power shape the tragic events in Act 3.

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