Romeo and Juliet Prologue Assignment
Chorus:
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;
Whole 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.
Questions:
1. What is the setting of the play? (1)
2. What do we learn about the two families mentioned in the prologue? List two distinct
pieces of information. (2)
3. Who or what is the “chorus” and what did the chorus do? (1)
4. What do you think Shakespeare means by the term “star-cross’d”? (1)
5. Based on the prologue, what do we learn will happen to Romeo and Juliet? Be specific.
(1)
6. What do we discover will happen as a result of the tragic ending? Be specific. (1)
Romeo and Juliet Act 1 Introductory Assignment
1. Explain two purposes of the prologue at the start of the play. (2)
2. Look up the terms “melancholy” and “choler”. Now explain which two characters are
best defined by these two words early in the play. (2)
3. Provide a potential example of foreshadowing from Act 1 of the play and explain why
you think this example would qualify as foreshadowing. (2)
4. Provide an example of one of the following from Act 1 and discuss what you think it
means and why you think Shakespeare chose to use this figure of speech: (2)
 Metaphor
 Allusion
 Contrast
Total Value: 15 Marks
Due Date: __________________________