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Prologue and Act
1 Scene 1
- The Prologue is written in the
form of a Shakespearean
sonnet
- A sonnet has 14
lines, made up
from 3 quatrains
and a couplet
- In the first 3 quatrains
the poet outlines a
problem and then it is
solved in the final
couplet
- In the first 3 quatrains
the poet outlines a
problem and then it is
solved in the final
couplet
- A sonnet has 14
lines, made up
from 3 quatrains
and a couplet
- Romeo and Juliet are introduced as
"star crossed lovers" This implies that
FATE and DESTINY may have a part to
play in how the story develops
- In Elizabethan society the stars
and astrology were thought to
control events
- In Elizabethan society the stars
and astrology were thought to
control events
- We learn about an
"ancient grudge"
between the two
"houses" of Capulet
and Montague
- The Prologue
does not just set
the scene - it
describes what is
going to happen
- This represents the FATE (death)
which Romeo and Juliet cannot
escape from
- It also introduces three main
themes in the play LOVE,
VIOLENCE and the idea of
OPPOSITES
- This represents the FATE (death)
which Romeo and Juliet cannot
escape from
- Sampson and Gregory who are
servants of the Capulets see
Montague servants approaching -
they get involved in a confrontation
with them
- This shows how important and serious the feud between
the two families is "the quarrel is between our masters,
and us their men"
- HONOUR, VIOLENCE, HATE
- HONOUR, VIOLENCE, HATE
- The violence escalates
and Benvolio and
Tybalt get involved
- Tybalt escaltes the situation and says "What drawn and talk
of peace? I hate the word, As I hate hell, all Montagues, and
thee"
- Tybalt escaltes the situation and says "What drawn and talk
of peace? I hate the word, As I hate hell, all Montagues, and
thee"
- They use violent and sexual
language "thrust his maids to the
wall" "tool" "naked weapon"
- This also shows that even the male servants had
more power than the female servants in the
PATRIARCHAL scoiety
- This also shows that even the male servants had
more power than the female servants in the
PATRIARCHAL scoiety
- This shows how important and serious the feud between
the two families is "the quarrel is between our masters,
and us their men"
- The prince arrives on the scene and declares that
the violence has to stop and says that if the
peace is disturbed again then the punishment
will be DEATH
- "If you ever disturb our streets again,
Your lives shall pay the forfeit of the
peace"
- "If you ever disturb our streets again,
Your lives shall pay the forfeit of the
peace"
- We also learn about Romeo's infatuation
with Rosaline who does not return his
feelings
- "O brawling love, O loving hate"
- He also uses a series of OPPOSITES to describe the agony he feels
"Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health"
- This is our first hint that
Romeo is in love with the
idea of love
- "O brawling love, O loving hate"
- Montague uses LIGHT and DARK imagery when
describing Romeo's recent behaviour
- "Shuts up his windows,
locks fair daylight out,
And makes himself an
artificial night"
- This is important later in the play when Romeo
starts to describe Juliet using light imagery
- This is important later in the play when Romeo
starts to describe Juliet using light imagery
- "Shuts up his windows,
locks fair daylight out,
And makes himself an
artificial night"
- Romeo's parents are
worried about him and
discuss this with Benvolio
- They never speak to
their son in the play. This
relates to the theme
YOUTH vs AGE
- This can link to
the fact that Lady
Capulet does not
ever speak to
Juliet alone, the
Nurse and/ or
Lord Capulet are
always present
- This can link to
the fact that Lady
Capulet does not
ever speak to
Juliet alone, the
Nurse and/ or
Lord Capulet are
always present
- They never speak to
their son in the play. This
relates to the theme
YOUTH vs AGE
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