1. By: William Shakespeare
Romeo & juliet
By: William Shakespeare

2. 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.

3. Sound Devices Identify examples of sound devices in the Prologue.
Alliteration?
Consonance?
Assonance?
Onomatopoeia?
What effect does the incorporation of these sound devices create?

4. Rhyme Scheme
Scan the Prologue, line by line, and identify the rhyme scheme.
Does the Prologue incorporate exact rhyme, slant rhyme, or a combination of both?

5. Constructed Response
What is Shakespeare’s purpose in opening the play with a summary of the play as his introduction? What effect is created by this choice he makes?
Directions for Writing: Compose a thesis statement which responds to the prompt. Support your thesis by composing sentences that explain Shakespeare’s purpose of opening Romeo & Juliet with the Prologue which provides a summary of the play’s events. You must use at least one quote from the Prologue to support your point. Conclude your paragraph. The response must not exceed six lines on your notebook paper.