LESSON 4
4.3 – WHO’S WHO IN VERONA
4.4 – THE PROLOGUE
Purpose
-to analyze relationships between characters in
the play
-
4.3
WARM UP

Define the following terms in your R+J Packet
Drama (pg 258)
 Protagonist (pg 259)
 Tragedy (pg 260)

Then under the essential question, create a small
bubble map and brainstorm all of the words and
phrases you can think of that are associated with
drama.
 Think About: What are the essential features of an
effective drama/and or dramatic performance?
(Think-Pair-Share!)

TABLEAU

To preview The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, you will be
given a card with a character’s name and description on it.
You will then “become” the character and work in a group
to create a tableau. A tableau is a purposeful arrangement
of characters frozen as if in a painting or a photograph. In
your tableau, convey as much information as you can about
the characters and their relationships.
TABLEAU PRACTICE


In your groups, take turns each reading your card
aloud to your group, along with any additional
information from the cast of characters in your copy of
Romeo and Juliet.
Practice arranging yourselves according to your
descriptions. One student will be assigned the role of
director so he or she can give the group feedback to
help you create the effect you want. Think about the
following as you prepare your tableau:





Body positions (who you stand next to, distance, and how
you pose)
Postures
Facial expressions
Gestures
Simple props to convey your character
TABLEAU PERFORMANCE

After you have rehearsed, pose your tableau.
Create a freeze-frame image for your classmates.
Then either step out of the tableau one at a time
and tell why you chose to place yourself as you
did, or have your director explain your group’s
choices.
WHO’S WHO IN VERONA
Now let’s take some time to discuss who’s who!
Please jot down notes on page 259 as we discuss
our characters.
*Highlight or draw asterisks next to names of the
two protagonists.
*If you would like to color code the families, then do
so!

THE PROLOGUE
What is the purpose of the chorus? Answer: a
single actor who performs the Prologue, an
overview of the play.
 Wait… why give away the whole play at the
beginning? Thoughts?

Before we begin, look at the Prologue on page 261
and mark the rhyme scheme. What do you
notice?
 Read along on page 260…

PROLOGUE QUESTIONS
How many families (households) are involved in
this fight?
 How long as it been going on?
 How do the lovers stop the fighting?

PARAPHRASING THE PROLOGUE


Work in pairs to diffuse the Prologue. Identify unfamiliar
words and replace them with synonyms.
Next, paraphrase 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-crossed lovers take their life,
Whose misadventured piteous overthrows
Doth with their death bury their parents’ strife.
The fearful passage of their death-marked love,
Ad the continuance of their parents’ rage,
Which, but their children’s end, naught could remove,
Is now the two hours’ traffic of our stage;
The which if you with patient ears attend,
Where here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.
HOMEWORK
Finish paraphrasing the prologue
 Put it into your own words, but keep it the same
length
 Stay true to what is being told in the prologue:
translation, not interpretation!

READING

After you participate in several choral readings of
the Prologue, rate your comfort level with saying
Shakespeare’s words, with 1 being “not
comfortable at all” and 10 being “I’m ready for
Broadway!” (rating on page 262)