Literary conflicts are another major element often taught during ELA units. Building on prior knowledge to achieve mastery level with our students is important. An excellent way to focus on the various types of literary conflict is through storyboarding. Having students choose an example of each Literary conflict and depict it using the storyboard creator is a great way to reinforce your lesson!
In Romeo and Juliet, conflict is not only present, but also an important recurring element. Much of the conflict arises from the haste of love-struck Romeo and his rash decisions. Other conflicts arise from hidden secrets, most notably the Friar's concealment of Romeo and Juliet's marriage. Notice the examples from the storyboard above:
Romeo is at war within himself over rejected feelings of deep love. His words, "Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health, Still-waking sleep, that not what it is!" shows his conflicted state.
Mercutio is a contrast to Romeo. Unlike his friend, he laughs at society's notion of love. In his "Queen Mab" speech, he constructs a satire of Romeo's love and dreams. The quote, "O, then, I see Queen Mab hath been with you. she gallops night by night. Through lovers’ brains, and then they dream of love!” exemplifies Mercutio's sarcastic nature. It is aimed at the love-struck Romeo, who is acting naive, rash, and impatient.
Romeo kills Tybalt out of revenge. The quote, "Curse you Romeo!" has multiple interpretations. It primarily illustrates this Man vs. Man conflict; however, it also foreshadows Romeo’s cursed fate solidifies Romeo as a tragic hero.
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Student Instructions
Create a storyboard that shows three forms of literary conflict in Romeo and Juliet.
Grade Level 9-10
Difficulty Level 3 (Developing to Mastery)
Type of Assignment Individual or Partner
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
Types of Literary Conflict Rubric Conflict Identification Understanding OutcomeStudent clearly shows the outcome of the conflict and its effects on the protagonist with evidence from the text.
Student shows the outcome of the conflict and its effect on the protagonist, but some evidence is unclear.
Student shows the outcome of the conflict, but does not examine its effect on the protagonist and uses some vague textual evidence.
Student does not clearly show the outcome of the conflict or use textual evidence.Student includes at least one quote, with proper punctuation and page #, from the text that deals directly with the events presented in the storyboard.
Student includes at least one quote, but it is not directly relevant to the events presented in the storyboard, or has an error in punctuation, page #, etc.
Student includes quote, but it contains errors or is not at all related to events presented in the storyboard.
Student does not include a quote.Storyboard includes all required characters and clearly names them. Goes above and beyond by adding details or names of additional characters.
Storyboard includes all required characters, clearly named. Storyboard includes protagonist and antagonist but leaves out other required characters. Storyboard does not include the names of required characters. Storyboard Student clearly shows effort to convey the setting the scene of the book Student attempts to convey setting and scene of the book, but lacks some clarity. Student does not clearly convey the setting and scene. Student makes little or no attempt to convey the setting or scene. Spelling and Grammar Student uses exemplary spelling and grammar. There are no errors. Student makes a minor error in spelling and grammar. Student makes several minor errors in spelling and grammar. Student makes many errors in spelling and grammar; little attempt at spellchecking.Start by defining the concept of literary conflict and its role in storytelling. Explain that literary conflict often drives character development by presenting challenges and choices. Provide examples of different types of conflicts (e.g., internal, external, character vs. character) and their potential impact on characters.
Select a passage from "Romeo and Juliet" that features significant conflicts impacting character development. Read and analyze the passage with the class, highlighting the conflicts and their effects on the characters. Encourage students to explore how the characters respond to these conflicts.
Introduce the concept of storyboarding as a visual tool for representing literary conflicts and character development. Explain the assignment: students will select a character from "Romeo and Juliet," choose a conflict that significantly influences that character, and create a storyboard depicting the conflict and its impact on character development. Provide examples of storyboards or use a digital storyboard creator to demonstrate the process.
Organize a presentation session where students share their storyboards with the class. Encourage students to explain their choices, the conflict's impact on character development, and the significance of the scenes depicted. Lead class discussions on each presentation, analyzing the various conflicts and character responses.
The primary types of conflict in "Romeo and Juliet" are external and internal conflicts. The external conflict is the feud between the Montagues and Capulets, driving the narrative's tension and tragedy. Internal conflicts involve the characters' inner struggles, like Romeo and Juliet's love conflicting with their loyalty to their families. These conflicts shape the characters' decisions, intensify the plot's drama, and ultimately lead to the tragic resolution.
The conflict of fate vs. free will is a central theme in the play. Characters often believe they are subject to destiny, and their decisions are influenced by this belief. Romeo and Juliet's actions are driven by their passionate love and the belief that they are meant to be together. The tension between fate and free will creates a sense of inevitability and adds to the tragic nature of the story.
The conflict between individual desires and societal expectations is evident in characters like Juliet, who defies her family's expectations to be with Romeo, and Romeo, who challenges the norms of their society. These conflicts lead to secret marriages, disobedience, and a series of tragic misunderstandings. The clash between personal desires and societal constraints underscores the play's themes of love and rebellion.
For exploring the internal conflicts of characters like Romeo and Juliet, storyboard templates with sections for identifying the conflict, providing textual evidence, illustrating the emotional state, and explaining the significance work well. Worksheets with tables or graphic organizers can also facilitate analysis. These formats help students visually represent and discuss the characters' inner struggles, encouraging in-depth classroom discussions about character development and conflict in the play.
