Romeo and Juliet

These prompts can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before or after reading the play.

Pre-Reading “Icebreaker”

Imagine a person of authority (like a parent or teacher) expects you to complete an errand or chore because they think it is in your best interest to do so, but you have what feels to you like a valid and important reason for refusing the task. How do you convince the authority figure that you should be excused? Now imagine you must keep your reason a secret—but your need to refuse remains strong. How might your behavior and consequently the reaction of the authority figure change?

Teaching Suggestion: Use this prompt to guide students to think about authority and control, especially with regard to conflict that might result from dichotomies and misunderstandings between young and old. After students write or discuss, connect to the play by alerting students to the fact that marrying for love and not simply by parental arrangement was a novel, somewhat shocking idea in Romeo’s and Juliet’s time.

Post-Reading Analysis

Despite their attempts to control, counsel, or help young Romeo and Juliet, what adult characters sometimes behave or react in an immature, unhelpful way? What motivates their childish behavior—jealousy, fear, anger, or some other emotion? When are Romeo’s and Juliet’s lives impacted by these adults’ stubbornness, pride, or inability to empathize?

Teaching Suggestion: Guide students to make connections between situational ironies in the play and the role reversals of young and old that become apparent as conflict over feuds and control and authority deepen. This brief 2017 Psychology Today article lists signs of “emotional childishness” students may find in characters like Lord Capulet, Friar Lawrence, and Juliet’s Nurse. You might also extend your discussion to connect with present day: How do celebrities or other public figures sometimes demonstrate immaturity in the public eye?