fate lesson 4 - St James School

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