The following standards are addressed in the Romeo and Juliet unit. Section 1: Lessons 1-4RL.9-10.1, RL.9-10.2, RL.9-10.3, RL.9-10.4, RL.9-10.9, L.9-10.1b, L.9-10.4a, L.9-10.5a-b, L.9-10.6, SL.9-10.1a/c/d, SL.9-10.4, W.9-10.1, W.9-10.5, W.9-10.9a, W.9-10.10
Students explore how patterns and contrasts in language (diction, imagery, figurative language) reveal central ideas in texts and develop various motifs (light vs. dark, dreams vs. reality, high vs. low, etc.) in Romeo and Juliet.
They come to understand how those motifs emphasize internal and external conflicts that result from love, hate, loyalty, and friendship.
Students examine the extent to which characters’ reactions to conflict and opposition dictate the outcomes of a situation and learn about the science and psychology behind the way teenagers think about choice, conflict, and consequence.
Unit Goals:
Students read The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet and various literary and informational texts about choices and consequences.
Students understand and express their understanding of how the motivations, decisions, and actions of complex characters propel the action of a story and how patterns and contrasts in language develop various motifs that reveal central ideas.
Students will also apply their understanding of the teenage brain to Romeo and Juliet.
Text Use: Analysis of author’s language and motifs, development of complex characters and external and internal conflicts and themes