1. Key Word: Dramatic Irony
Analysing the Prologue
Key Word: Dramatic Irony
Learning Objective
Learning Outcome
Examine the prologue
Understand and apply the term ‘dramatic irony’ in relation to Shakespeare’s use of language
So that I can...
Today I will :

2. What is Dramatic Irony?
Definition: Dramatic irony occurs when the audience knows something that the characters don’t.

3. “A PAIR OF STAR-CROSSED LOVERS TAKE THEIR LIFE.”
Spoiler Alert!
“A PAIR OF STAR-CROSSED LOVERS TAKE THEIR LIFE.”

4. Dramatic Irony in the Prologue
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.
Identify the elements of dramatic irony in the prologue

5. A little help, if needed…
In the beautiful city of Verona, where our story takes place, a long-standing hatred between two families erupts into new violence, and citizens stain their hands with the blood of their fellow citizens. Two unlucky children of these enemy families become lovers and commit suicide. Their unfortunate deaths put an end to their parents' feud. For the next two hours, we will watch the story of their doomed love and their parents' anger, which nothing but the children’s deaths could stop. If you listen to us patiently, we’ll make up for everything we’ve left out in this prologue onstage.

6. Identify elements of Language, structure and form
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.
A Sonnet = 14 lines
What do you notice about the amount of syllables in each line?

7. Analysis
The prologue is also a sonnet, a popular form of 16th-century love poem that often explored such themes as love in conflict.
Shakespeare wrote the prologue of "Romeo and Juliet" in the form of a Shakespearean sonnet, which means that the prologue is a poem with 14 lines written in iambic pentameter. The sonnet also contains a specific rhyme scheme (abab cdcd efef gg) and can be broken down into three quatrains and a final rhyming couplet.
In a Shakespearean sonnet, the first quatrain gives introductory information, the second quatrain elaborates on the details given in the first, the third quatrain introduces conflict and shifts in tone or setting and the rhyming couplet at the end concludes the poem.
Shakespeare chooses this poetic form to outline the play's main issues of love and feuding and to present another major theme: how true love ultimately triumphs because the deaths of Romeo and Juliet end the feud between their families.

8. Analysing the Prologue for clues to Conflict
What do you think the message of the prologue is in terms of conflict?
What methods does Shakespeare use to get this message across?
What does the word futile mean? How could the prologue suggest that conflict is ‘futile’? Zoom in on individual words if you are stuck for specific techniques.

9. Prologue – Conflict Notes
It could be suggested that the prologue suggests that conflict is futile – fighting brings unhappiness to both sides and they both ultimately lose. However, it may also be suggested that had Romeo and Juliet not died, the ‘grudge’ would have continued forevermore.
‘ancient grudge’. The word 'ancient' suggests that the 'grudge' started long ago, meaning the real reason for it is long since forgotten, and therefore, the 'grudge' is petty though the resulting conflict is not. Additionally, the word 'grudge' suggests the consequences of the conflict are long lasting.
We are also told how contagious conflict and the 'ancient grudge' can be, ‘civil blood makes civil hands unclean’.
The choice of the word 'civil' shows that the 'grudge' has gone beyond private and spread into society, highlighting how infectious it can be.
Moreover, the word 'blood' implies death, proving the dangerous consequences of conflict both physically and mentally. Furthermore, the word ‘unclean’ reminds the audience of blood stains which yet again remind us of the deadly consequences of conflict, and also the long term effects of conflict, like the scars and the lingering guilt.
The prologue inevitably ends with a Shakespearean rhyming couplet just as the tragedy will always end in the deaths of Romeo and Juliet, 'Death-marks of love'. The juxtaposition of the words 'death' and 'love', shows Shakespeare's beliefs that love isn't just a sweet thing, but also a deadly one and perhaps the cause of conflict.
Futility of Conflict – Link to Futility and The Charge of the Light Brigade
Notes:

10. ACT 1 SCENE 1 We are going to read Act 1 Scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet.
As we read, pay close attention to ideas of conflict seen.
Try to break the language down as you are following the text and work out the meaning behind the words.

11. Who are the main characters in this scene?
Act 1, Scene 1
Who are the main characters in this scene?
Tybalt
Benvolio
The Prince
Capulet Servants
Montague Servants
Anslate i

12. On your copy of the text….
Identify the different reactions/feelings towards Conflict in the scene and how they are shown.
Create a key and highlight/underline in different colours the different ideas shown towards conflict by the various characters.
Identify any aspects of language, structure or form used. How do they contribute to ideas of conflict?
AO1 - respond to texts critically and imaginatively; select and evaluate relevant textual detail to illustrate and support interpretations
AO2 - explain how language, structure and form contribute to writers’ presentation of ideas, themes and settings

13. AO2 Analysis
The stage direction reference to the ‘public place’ - The conflict has become overbearing for everyone else and has enforced all to be part of it
Stichomythia is a technique used in the early dialogue between Gregory and Sampson in the scene. It is used in verse drama in which sequences of single lines or half lines are given to alternating characters. It typically features repetition and antithesis. It is typical in violent scenes or scenes in which conflict is present. The rhythmic intensity of the alternating lines combined with quick, biting ripostes in the dialogue can create a powerful effect.
References to love and sex in the early parts of the scene – "tool" and "naked weapon," together with repeated images of striking and thrusting. This imagery suggests that love and conflict are intertwined in the play.

14. Structural rapid switch from the comedic interplay between the servants to a potentially life-threatening situation demonstrates the rapidly changing pace that drives the action of the rest of the play.
Use of names – Benvolio’s name means "goodwill," tries to act as a peacemaker by dividing the servants, but the quick-tempered "fiery Tybalt" forces him to draw his sword, and the atmosphere changes from harmony to hatred within a few lines.
Contrast - When the elderly, hot-tempered Capulet calls for his long sword to jump into a duel with the young swordsmen wielding light, modern weapons, both the absurdity of the feud and the gulf between the old and the young are evident. - Both patriarchs are chastised by their wives for such impetuous behaviour: "A crutch. Why call you for a sword?" chides Capulet's wife.
The Prince’s Warning serves to foreshadow what will happen in the text. The character of the Prince is used as a voice of reason.

15. Analyse the Prince’s Speech
Rebellious subjects, enemies to peace, Profaners of this neighbour-stainèd steel!— Will they not hear?—What, ho! You men, you beasts, That quench the fire of your pernicious rage With purple fountains issuing from your veins, On pain of torture, from those bloody hands Throw your mistempered weapons to the ground, And hear the sentence of your movèd prince. Three civil brawls, bred of an airy word, By thee, old Capulet, and Montague, Have thrice disturbed the quiet of our streets And made Verona’s ancient citizens Cast by their grave-beseeming ornaments, To wield old partisans in hands as old, Cankered with peace, to part your cankered hate. If ever you disturb our streets again, Your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace. For this time, all the rest depart away. You, Capulet, shall go along with me, And, Montague, come you this afternoon To know our farther pleasure in this case, To old Free-town, our common judgment-place. Once more, on pain of death, all men depart.
Analyse the Prince’s Speech
Highlight any words that suggest anger, contempt and threat
What poetic devices are used?
What images are used?
How does the language show a particular theme?
How does the language show the Prince’s condemnation of the brawl?

16. Create an Analysis Frame
Top Left = explanation of quote
Top Right = poetic techniques used
The most important quotation from the extract
Bottom Left = analyse the quote
Bottom Right= draw an image of the line

17. Create an Analysis Frame
I’ll have you tortured if you don’t put down your swords and listen to me.
Personification
Imperative
Metaphor
Sensory language
On pain of torture, from those bloody hands
Throw your mistempered weapons to the ground
The Prince is commanding them to throw down their swords, which he refers to as "mistempered weapons," meaning "misused" weapons.
He is calling their weapons improperly used because the miscreants are using them to fight and kill their neighbours when they should be using them to fight and kill their enemies instead.
The harshness of the punishment and the passion in his language help us to see just how strongly Prince Escalus feels about this issue. Hence, Prince Escalus's first warning is a warning of punishment given to stop their present fight and shows us Prince Escalus's feelings about the feud.

18. Act 1 Scene 1 – teaching notes
Main Focus of study
Different perspectives towards the conflict
Benvolio. His name is derived from the word ‘benevolent’, so it is not surprising his character acts in the role of the peacemaker. This creates further tension as his warnings foreshadow further conflict.
The Prince’s Warning serves to foreshadow what will happen in the text
The Prince is used as a voice of reason.