1. Romeo and Juliet: “The Prologue”
Practicing Annotation
The notes in this section will assist you in providing an effective annotation lesson.
Allow students 10 minutes to attempt to complete the annotation themselves. Then, line by line, work through the annotation lines.

2. Define the term Prologue:
You will find it in your notes from Monday.
an opening to a plot line that establishes the setting and gives background details, often some earlier story that ties into the main one, and other miscellaneous information

3. Two households, both alike in dignity.
Line One
Two households, both alike in dignity.
Two Households: Montague and Capulet
Discuss system of ‘houses’ within text
Dignity: High Social Rank

4. In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,
Line Two
In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,
Verona:
City
We lay our scene:
play’s setting

5. From ancient grudge break to new mutiny.
Line Three
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny.
Ancient Grudge:
Old argument/hate
Mutiny:
Violence

6. Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.
Line Four
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.
Civil Blood:
Blood of Verona’s Citizens
Civil Hands:
Citizen’s hands are stained with the blood of other citizens

7. From forth the fatal loins of these two foes
Line Five
From forth the fatal loins of these two foes
Fatal:
Determined by fate
Deadly
Loins:
Place in which children are born/made
Two Foes:
Lord Montague and Lord Capulet

8. A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life;
Line Six
A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life;
Pair:
Romeo and Juliet
Star-Crossed Lovers:
Discuss navigation by stars (paths cross)
Romeo and Juliet were fated to be together
Take their life:
Suicide

9. Whose misadventured piteous overthrows
Line Seven
Whose misadventured piteous overthrows
Misadventured:
Unfortunate
Piteous:
Having pity/sad/full of pity
Overthrows:
destruction/death

10. Doth with their death bury their parents’ strife
Line Eight
Doth with their death bury their parents’ strife
Their:
Romeo and Juliet
Bury their parents’ strife:
Remove the grudge of Lord Montague and Lord Capulet

11. The fearful passage of their death-marked love,
Line Nine
The fearful passage of their death-marked love,
Passage:
The plot/action of Romeo and Juliet’s love and death

12. And the continuance of their parents’ rage,
Line Ten
And the continuance of their parents’ rage,
Continuance:
Duration in which something exists/lasts
Parents’ Rage:
Montague and Capulets grudge and anger

13. Which, but their children’s end, naught could remove,
Line Eleven
Which, but their children’s end, naught could remove,
Their:
Montague and Capulet
End:
Death
Naught could remove:
nothing could remove this grudge

14. Is now the two hours’ traffic of our stage;
Line Twelve
Is now the two hours’ traffic of our stage;
Traffic:
Business/ Action
The plot is taking place on stage

15. The which if you with patient ears attend,
Line Thirteen
The which if you with patient ears attend,
Patient Ears:
If you will listen

16. What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend
Line Fourteen
What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend
Here shall miss:
What you just missed in the prologue
Our toil:
Actor’s work/acting
Mend:
Will fix what you missed

17. Short Answer
You have now completed your first annotation of a Shakespearean excerpt. What do you think you will struggle with the most while reading Romeo and Juliet? Explain.