51����

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

This lesson explores Act 5, Scenes 1-3 of Romeo and Juliet, focusing on Romeo’s return to Verona, the final events of the play, and how choices shape the outcome. Through discussion, analysis, and creative writing, students will examine how different actions could have changed events and whether Shakespeare presents fate as unavoidable.

What’s Included?
Full Lesson Plan – A structured guide with clear objectives and activities.
Starter Task: What If? – Students consider alternative possibilities and discuss how they might have influenced the story:
What if Romeo had received Friar Laurence’s letter?
What if Juliet had woken up earlier?
What if Romeo had waited before making his final decision?
What if the Friar had reached the tomb in time?
What if Paris and Romeo had worked together instead of fighting?
Act 5, Scene 1-3 Video Viewing – A performance of the scene to aid comprehension.
Creative Scene Rewriting Activity – Students rewrite a moment from the scene with a key change, exploring how small decisions impact the larger narrative. They can choose to write in:
Shakespearean language (for a challenge!)
Modern adaptation (text messages, news reports, diary entries)
Script format (staging an alternative ending)
Socratic Circle Discussion – A guided discussion exploring:
Does Shakespeare suggest that fate is inescapable, or do characters shape their own outcomes?
How do small miscommunications influence major events?
Would a different choice have led to a different conclusion?
Exit Task – Students complete the sentence:
“Romeo and Juliet’s ending was shaped by ______ rather than ______.”
Key Skills Developed:
Analysing Shakespeare’s use of fate and dramatic structure
Exploring alternative outcomes through creative writing
Engaging in structured discussion and literary analysis
Developing critical thinking by considering cause-and-effect relationships
This lesson is ideal for GCSE English teachers looking to help students engage with Shakespeare’s exploration of fate, choice, and miscommunication.

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 critically examine the final events of Shakespeare’s iconic tragedy.

If you found this resource helpful, please leave a review. Your feedback supports the creation of more high-quality resources.

51���� Notice: This resource is for personal classroom use only. Redistribution, resale, or uploading to shared platforms (including school drives and VLEs not for personal classroom use) is strictly prohibited. If you need additional licences, please purchase them separately. © 2024. Revolutionary Education. All rights reserved.