1. The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, The Prologue and Act I by William Shakespeare

2. The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, The Prologue and Act I Introducing the Play
Though I am young and cannot tell Either what death or love is well, Yet I have heard they both bear darts, And both do aim at human hearts:
—Ben Jonson

3. The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, The Prologue and Act I Introducing the Play
Family feuds. Love at first sight. Secret messages. Sword fights. Get ready, because this timeless play has it all.
Set in Verona, Italy, in the sixteenth century, this famous tragedy tells the fate of two young people from rival families who fall madly in love.
Once set in motion, where can this “star-crossed love” possibly lead?
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4. The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, The Prologue and Act I How to Read Shakespeare
As you read Romeo and Juliet, you’ll be reading both prose and poetry.
The common people—and sometimes Mercutio, when he is joking—speak in prose.
Most of the other characters speak in poetry.

5. The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, The Prologue and Act I How to Read Shakespeare
As in most of Shakespeare’s plays, the poetry in Romeo and Juliet is largely written in unrhymed iambic pentameter, or blank verse.
In iambic meter each unstressed syllable is followed by a stressed syllable, as in the word prefer. ˘ ′
In iambic pentameter, there are five of these iambic units in each line.

6. The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, The Prologue and Act I How to Read Shakespeare
Archaic words
Shakespeare wrote this play about four hundred years ago. Many of the words have become archaic—they (or their particular meanings) have disappeared from common use.
Your textbook provides sidenotes to help you with archaic words and with other words that might be unfamiliar to you.

7. The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, The Prologue and Act I How to Read Shakespeare
Here are some of the archaic words used in the play:
an’ or and: if.
anon: soon, right away; coming.
but: if; except; only.
hap or happy: luck; lucky.
maid: unmarried girl.
nice: trivial; foolish.
owes: owns.
soft: quiet; hush; slow up.
stay: wait.
still: always.
wot: know.
For more archaic words and their definitions, see your textbook.

8. The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, The Prologue and Act I How to Read Shakespeare
Visualizing the play
As you read Romeo and Juliet, try to visualize the play being performed. The Staging the Play sidenotes will help you. They describe
the way the stage would be set
how the actors would interact and move around onstage
how the lines would be spoken
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