Romeo and Juliet

Two households…

Both alike in dignity…

Line 1 Two households both alike in dignity, Modern: Two families of equal rank (Montagues and Capulets)

In fair Verona, where we lay our scene…

Line 2 In fair Verona where we lay our scene Modern: The play takes place in Verona

From ancient grudge break to new mutiny…

Line 3 From ancient grudge, break new mutiny These two families have a long standing hatred, which is starting up again

makes civil hands unclean. Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.

Line 4 Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean Modern: Citizens stain their hands with blood of other citizens

From forth the fatal loins of these two foes,

Line 5 From forth the fatal loins of these two foes Modern: The children of these mortal enemies

A pair of star-cross’d lovers take their life.

Line 6 A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life: Modern: Two children fall in love and commit suicide

Line 7 Whose misadventured piteous overthrows Modern: their tragic deaths end

Line 8 Doth with their death bury their parents’ strife Modern: their tragic deaths end their parents’ feud

Line 9 The fearful passage of their death-marked love, Modern: The story of their fatal love affair

Line 10 And the continuance of their parents’ rage, Modern: their parents anger

Line 11 Which but their children’s end nought could remove Modern: only their children’s death could stop the feud

Line 12 Is now the two hours traffic of our stage Modern: is the subject of our two-hour play

Line 13 The which if you with patient ears attend Modern: If you will give us your patient attention and listen

Line 14 What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend Modern: we will make up for anything we left out of the prologue on stage

Facts Written by William Shakespeare in about 1591 Based on Arthur Brooke's The Tragicall History of Romeus and Juliet

Montagues

Capulets

Others

Look for… Puns Allusions Metaphor Personification Oxymorons Paradoxes Foreshadowing

Puns A pun is a humorous play on words. Mercutio – “Nay, gentle Romeo, we must have you dance.” Romeo – “Not I, believe me. You have dancing shoes / With nimble soles; I have a soul of lead…” (Act I Sc. 4)

Allusions An allusion is a reference to a well known work of art, music, literature, or history. “At lovers’ perjuries, they say Jove laughs.” (Act II, Sc. 2) Jove is another name for Jupiter, the Roman King of the Gods.

Metaphor A metaphor is a direct comparison between two unlike things. Romeo – “But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks? / It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.” (Act II Sc. 2)

Personification Personification occurs when an inanimate object or concept is given the qualities of a person or animal. Juliet— “For thou wilt lie upon the wings of night / Whiter than new snow on a raven’s back. / Come, gentle night, come, loving, black-brow’d night” (Act III Sc. 2)

Oxymorons An oxymoron describes when two juxtaposed words have opposing or very diverse meanings. Juliet – “Beautiful tyrant! fiend angelical!” (Act III Sc.2)

Paradoxes A paradox is statement or situation with seemingly contradictory or incompatible components. Juliet – “O serpent heart, hid with a flowering face!” (Act III Sc. 2)

Foreshadowing Foreshadowing is a reference to something that will happen later in the story. Juliet – “Give me my Romeo; and, when he shall die, Take him and cut him out in little stars, And he will make the face of heaven so fine That all the world will be in love with night And pay no worship to the garish sun.” (Act III Sc. 2)

Themes Light and dark Time Fate

Light and Dark Look for references to light and dark: References to “light” words, such as “torches,” “the sun,” adjectives that describe light (“bright”) References to “dark” words, such as “night” and “gloom”

Time Look for references to time: References to “time” words, such as “hours” References to the passage of time, especially if it seems “rushed”

Fate Look for references to fate: Look for instances where events are blamed on “fate,” “destiny,” or “the stars”

The End