Question

name
directions

• identify which definitions match each bolded word and write them underneath
• make annotations on the side about the setting’s descriptions
• make annotations on the side about the foreshadowing of famous events
• answer the questions at the end

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 - crossed lovers take their life,
whose misadventured piteous overthrows
death, with their death, bury their parents’ strife.
the fearful passage of their death - marked 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.
citing the excerpt, explain what you can predict about the play from the prologue

Explanation:

From the prologue of "Romeo and Juliet" (the excerpt provided), we can predict several things about the play:

1. Conflict between Families: The lines "From ancient grudge break to new mutiny" and "Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean" indicate that there is a long - standing feud between two families (the "two households" mentioned) that has now flared up into new violence. This feud will be a central conflict in the play.
2. Tragic End for Lovers: The lines "A pair of star - crossed lovers take their life" and "Whose misadventured piteous overthrows / Doth, with their death, bury their parents' strife" tell us that the play will end tragically for the two lovers. Their deaths will be the result of the misfortunes (misadventured) that come from the family feud, and their deaths will also end the feud between their parents.
3. Setting and Context: The line "In fair Verona where we lay our scene" tells us that the play is set in Verona, and the prologue sets the stage for the events that will unfold in this city, with the family feud and the lovers' story taking place there.

Answer:

From the prologue, we can predict:

• There is a long - standing, violent feud between two families in Verona.
• Two lovers from these feuding families will die tragically, and their deaths will end the family feud.
• The play is set in Verona, and the story of the feud and the lovers will unfold there.