Romeo and Juliet is set in 16th century Verona, Italy during the Renaissance. The play is based on a real Italian story from the 3rd century involving the Capulet and Montague families. Shakespeare wrote the version in 1594 based on Arthur Brooke's poem from 1562. Society in Renaissance times was very different than today - marriages were often arranged, women had few rights, and children were seen as property that could be given for political or financial gain. Juliet, as a girl of this time, would have had little freedom or agency over her own life.

1. Friday 16th March 2012
Today’s Lesson Objective:
To understand the social and historical context of “Romeo and
Juliet”, so that I can analyse it contextually.
If you were to give the following characters personalised number plates,
what would they be? For example, Prince could have “Chief 1”
Tybalt Romeo The Nurse
Extension:
List anything that you think you already know about the
time period that “Romeo and Juliet” is set in.

2. The Setting: re-arrange the letters
to form the correct words
• It is generally believed that the play is based on a
real Italian veol story from the 3rd tyruenc. The ‘real
families’ are the Capeletti and the Montecci families.
• Shakespeare wrote his version in 1594 which was
based on Arthur Brooke’s oepm of 1562.
• This period was ‘The Elizabethan arE’ which was also
known as ‘The Renaissance’. A time of significant
change in the fields of giirelon, politics, science,
language and the stra.

3. The Setting
• It is generally believed that the play is based on a real
Italian love story from the 3rd Century. The ‘real
families’ are the Capeletti and the Montecci families.
• Shakespeare wrote his version in 1594 which was based
on Arthur Brooke’s poem of 1562.
• This period was ‘The Elizabethan Era’ which was also
known as ‘The Renaissance’. A time of significant
change in the fields of religion, politics, science,
language and the arts.

4. Romeo and Juliet’s Society Was Very
Different to our own!
• All Write Round Table:
• In answer to the task, person number 1 writes down one
response and , if you all agree, you all write it down in
your own book.
• Person number 2 writes down one response and if you all
agree, you all write it down in your own book.
• Person number 3 writes down one response and, if you
all agree, you all write it down in your own book.
• and on... and on....
• Why was Renaissance Society so different?

5. Checking Following:
Question:
Answer:
Could a girl get married at 12?
If her mother and father
agreed to the marriage, then
yes she could!
• When I’ve finished
talking you through the
next section, I’d like you
to note down a question
that you could ask to
someone else about
what we have learnt.
• Write the answer too.

6. The Court
The King and Queen
Princes, Princesses
Dukes and Duchesses
Knights and Ladies
In the tradition
of Renaissance
Society, men
were higher
than women!

7. The monarchs on the
thrown at this time
were Elizabeth the 1st
from 1558 to 1603.
Then, James the 1st
from 1603 to 1625.
Monarchs Of This Period

8. Love
• Love and Relationships were not “conducted” in the way
that we expect today!
• For those in the Court, Love was something that was
subject to rules and traditions.
• Marriages were arranged by parents.
• Children were chaperoned at all times.
• Children did not always have the freedom to choose
who they would spend their life with and have children
with.
• Plus, marriage happened at a much younger age – as
young as 12 (for girls) was totally acceptable!

9. Religion
• Romeo & Juliet was set in a ‘_________’ society
with a strong belief in damnation for mortal sin.
It was a very _____________ period.
• _________ and bigamy were both considered to
be ___________ sins.
• _______________ was writing following ‘The
Reformation’. This was when England became a
protestant ________, having broken away from
from papal control by _________ VIII.
• Going against your family was seen as ________
God!
Suicide Shakespeare nation mortal
religious catholic Henry betraying

10. Family
• Many Shakespeare plays show conflict
between parents and children.
• The father was the undisputed head of
the household.
• Women had no rights or authority in
law. They could not own property or
money, but could influence their
husbands.
• Children were regarded as ‘property’ –
and could be given in marriage to a
suitable partner. Often a political or
financial transaction, to secure and
retain wealth.
• It was not unusual to be married very
young.
• In high society, children were often
raised by a ‘wet nurse’ and did not have
a strong bond with parents.
How do we
see this
evidence of
this in the
play?

11. Turn each of these into ideas:
• Many Shakespeare plays show conflict
between parents and children.
• The father was the undisputed head of
the household.
• Women had no rights or authority in
law. They could not own property or
money, but could influence their
husbands.
• Children were regarded as ‘property’ –
and could be given in marriage to a
suitable partner. Often a political or
financial transaction, to secure and
retain wealth.
• It was not unusual to be married very
young.
• In high society, children were often
raised by a ‘wet nurse’ and did not have
a strong bond with parents.
conflict

12. Turn each of these into ideas:
• The father was the
undisputed head of the
household.
Father – head Of
House

13. Turn each of these into ideas:
• Women had no rights or authority
in law. They could not own
property or money, but could
influence their husbands.
• Children were regarded as
‘property’ – and could be given in
marriage to a suitable partner.
Often a political or financial
transaction, to secure and retain
wealth.
• It was not unusual to be married
very young.
• In high society, children were
often raised by a ‘wet nurse’ and
did not have a strong bond with
parents.
Women’s
rights

14. Quiz Quiz Trade
• Steps:
• 1st we’ll: “stand up, hand up, pair
up”.
• Partner A quizzes B with their card.
• Partner B answers if they can.
• Partner A praises if correct – but
coaches, if not.
• Partners switch roles and repeat the
process.
• So:
• Partner B quizzes A with their card.
• Partner A answers if they can.
• Partner B praises if correct – but
coaches, if not.
• Partners trade cards and thank each
other.
• Place your hand in the air to let the
room know that you’re ready to Quiz
Quiz Trade again.
• Repeat all of the above again
Question:
Answer:

15. In your controlled Assessment, you
have to bring all of these ideas in:

16. How is Juliet treated by all of the people
around her? Is she treated as an individual
in her own right?
• Your whole essay needs to focus on this
question.
• Everything you write MUST link back to this
idea.
• So – is she?
Absolutely not –
even Romeo
treats her as an
object
Some people
do / some
don’t.
Of course she’s an
individual, despite
society’s restraints,
she does whatever
she wants!

17. Using everything you have learnt today,
write a sample introduction
• What is the play? Who Wrote it and when? (D/C)
• When is it set? What is it based on? (B/A)
• What was society like in Renaissance times and how is it
different for children today? (D/C)
• Especially in relation to what was expected of Juliet (B/A)

18. Resources:

19. • It is generally believed
that the play is based
on a real Italian veol
story from the 3rd
tyruenc. The ‘real
families’ are the
Capeletti and the
Montecci families.
• Shakespeare wrote his
version in 1594 which
was based on Arthur
Brooke’s oepm of 1562.
• This period was ‘The
Elizabethan arE’ which
was also known as ‘The
Renaissance’. A time of
significant change in
the fields of giirelon,
politics, science,
language and the stra.
Romeo & Juliet was set in a
‘_________’ society with a strong
belief in damnation for mortal sin.
It was a very _____________
period.
_________ and bigamy were both
considered to be ___________
sins.
_______________ was writing
following ‘The Reformation’. This
was when England became a
protestant ________, having
broken away from from papal
control by _________ VIII.
Going against your family was seen as
________ God!
Suicide Shakespeare nation
mortal religious catholic
Henry betraying

20. Question:
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