1. Objectives Students will use prior knowledge to define and identify the elements of plot in Romeo and Juliet as outlined in the prologue. (knowledge, comprehension, application) Students will apply reading strategies by connecting the play to their prior knowledge and to author and historical background and paraphrasing the prologue (knowledge, application) Students will analyze the purpose and effectiveness of the play’s prologue by discussing foreshadowing, suspense, and dramatic irony. (analysis, synthesis) Students will participate effectively in small and large group discussion. Students will compare and contrast across media and genres to draw conclusions about the purpose and effect of the prologue. (analysis, synthesis)

2. Warm-Up In your Introducing Romeo and Juliet packets, brainstorm what you already know about the play. Create a web with topics, feelings, emotions, themes, people, pop-culture, music, movies, etc. that you associate with this Shakespearean Tragedy Romeo and Juliet

3. The Prologue: Literally “before speaking” Introduces the play to the audience before they see the action unfold.

4. Tackling Shakespeare Relate to the play by finding similarities between modern events and the events of the play. Use what you know including author and historical background info. Paraphrase, or put the language of Shakespeare into your words, to help translate the play into contemporary language. Practice using all of these strategies with Prologue.

5. Prologue

6. 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 misadventured piteous overthrows Do 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, 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. [Exit.]

7. Exposition Original Text: Two households, both alike in dignity, In fair Verona, where we lay our scene, Paraphrase: The scene opens in Verona, Italy with two noble families

8. Characters: TWO HOUSEHOLDS Capulets (Juliet’s Family) – Represented by a red lion – Based on political family from the 13 th century “Capuleti” – Characteristics: impressed by status relies on tradition and is very loyal to its name. They attempt to support all of their decisions with reason. Montagues (Romeo’s Family) – Represented by a blue bee – Based on political family from the 13 th century “Montecchi” – Characteristics: impressed by charisma relies on instinct Members have emotional connection to their name. They attempt to support all of their decisions with emotions

9. Setting Verona, Italy

10. Rising Action Original Text: From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean. Paraphrase: These families, who have been feuding for generations, will experience new rebellion and new uprising. This civil war will end in more guilt and bloodshed.

11. Conflict Montague vs. Capulet EMOTION VS. REASON Think about how this relates to our overall question of what motivates the play’s characters to act they way they do

12. Climax Original Text: From forth the fatal loins of these two foes A pair of star- cross'd lovers take their life; Paraphrase: Romeo and Juliet are destined to fall in love with each other. “Star-cross’d” suggests that their love is fate, but also ill- fated. They take their lives in that they take control by rebelling against their family through their marriage, but they literally commit suicide in the end.

13. Falling Action Original Text: Whose misadventured piteous overthrows Do with their death bury their parents' strife. Paraphrase: Their suicides result from unfortunate mishaps, but their death puts an end to the feuding as well.

14. Resolution Original Text: The fearful passage of their death-mark'd 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; Paraphrase: Chorus wraps everything up by saying that Romeo and Juliet’s tragic story of fateful love and feuding families, which is only brought to an end by their death, is about to unfold on the stage.

15. Couplet Original Text: The which if you with patient ears attend, What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend. Paraphrase: If you listen and watch carefully as you watch to play, you will be able to fill in what you missed during the prologue.

16. Why a Prologue?  What is the purpose of the Prologue? How does it achieve this effect? Foreshadowing – clues given to the reader about what’s to come in the story Dramatic Irony – When we know something that the characters don’t know Suspense – a feeling of anticipation or dread Remember, Shakespeare encourages us to ask: 1.What motivates people to act the way they do 2.What is the difference between good and evil? (What defines someone’s actions as good or evil?)

17. Exit Slip As we mentioned, the couplet encourages the audience to think of questions they have and watch (or read) carefully in order to catch what they’ve missed. List two questions you have about the play. One question should be a “why” question. The other should be a “how” (HINT: Shakespeare often encourages us to think about why people act the way they do ) 1.______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ 2.______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________