Transcript Romeo and Juliet The Prologue

Romeo and Juliet
Presented By: Jennifer Theakston
Romeo and Juliet
What is a Prologue?
In this case, a prologue is a general
overview of the story to come.
Interesting Fact:
The prologue is written in Iambic
Pentameter, a popular form of
poetry in Shakespeare's time.
http://www.theatrehistory.com/british/romeoandjuliet.jpg
Basic Romeo and Juliet
Information
http://www.bojan.net/img/citta/verona.gif
http://smartmuseum.uchicago.edu/education/shakespeare/images/detail
_IV_V.jpg
Location:
Main Characters:
Verona, Italy
Romeo Montegue
Juliet Capulet
http://www.michrenfest.com/weekends.htm
Themes in the text:
Enduring Love
Fueding Familys
Defying Parents
Predetermined Fate
Why Bother With A Prologue?
Modern taste prefers not to be told right at the
beginning of a play how it will end; but many in
Shakespeare's audience already knew the story
and were looking to enjoy how well it was told,
not seeking to be surprised by original plot turns.
http://www.romeo-juliet.newmail.ru/art.files/nuptials.jpg
Classwork
Prologue: So What Does It
Mean?
Shakespearean Text
Modern Translation
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-cross'd lovers take their life;
Whose misadventur'd piteous overthrows
Doth with their death bury their parents' strife.
The fearful passage of their death-mark'd love,
And the continuance of their parents' rage,
Which but their children's end naught 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.
Two families, the same in almost every respect,
In the town of Verona, Italy, where this play is set,
Continue an old feud with new breakouts of violence,
Involving and killing citizens outside the families.
The son of one family and the daughter of the other,
Having become lovers, commit suicide,
Following a series of events that keep them apart.
Their deaths cause the families to end the feud.
The events that lead to their suicide,
As well as the continuing feud between the families,
(which nothing but their children’s death could end),
Will now be performed on this stage for two hours.
If you listen to the play attentively, any details you
Missed in this introduction, will be explained as you
watch the play.
Translation and original text from enotes.com