The Prologue Romeo and Juliet

What in the heck is a Chorus? The term Chorus comes from ancient Greek drama. – An individual who guides the audience through the play and comments on the action of the drama – “I must admit I didn't think much of Andy first time I laid eyes on him; looked like a stiff breeze would blow him over. That was my first impression of the man” – Red in The Shawshank Redemption

What in the heck is a Chorus? Important! – Romeo and Juliet is based on real families during a real historical time period. – People who went to see this play already knew what was going to happen. – The Chorus gives a summary of the play to the audience before the action even starts.

The Prologue

The Chorus is telling the audience the setting and context of the play. - The play begins with two dignified families from Verona, Italy. Two households, both alike in dignity, In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,

This feud has been going on for quite some time and many hands have been stained with the blood of other citizens. From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.

However, from this death filled conflict, a pair of lovers are destined to meet. From forth the fatal loins of these two foes A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life;

The couple’s downfall will ultimately overcome the differences of their parents. Whose misadventured piteous overthrows Do with their death bury their parents' strife.

Amid their parents’ rage a doomed love will frighteningly occur. The death of their children is the only thing that can remove the parents’ hatred for one another. 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,

Do not fear! The next two hours will show everything that you may have missed in this short introduction. 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.

Reflection The symbol for the Montague family is a blue bee while the Capulet family is represented by a red lion. What are some qualities that these different animals represent? List them. In what ways can you see these traits being expressed by a family or group of people?

Plot Diagramming Activity Based on what Shakespeare tells us in The Prologue, construct a plot diagram that maps out the play. Make sure to include exposition, rising action, climax, and resolution. Please construct these diagrams in your reflection journals.