WorksheetsRomeo and Juliet Prologue II SEA Engage NY
Total questions: 19
Worksheet time: 10mins
What information can you gather from the full title of this play?
The full title of the play lets the reader and audience know that Tybalt is a troublemaker and violent.
The full title of the play lets the reader and audience know that this play is a tragedy
The full title of the play lets the reader and audience know the nurse will provide much comic relief.
How does the word lamentable impact the title of the play?
The word lamentable shows that the play will be something we can look back on and smile.
It (the word lamentable) shows that something unfortunate happens in the play.
What meanings of the word tragedy do you know? Why might a play be called a tragedy?
A tragedy is a happy and celebratory event. A play might be a tragedy if it is about a happy event.
A tragedy is a very sad and unfortunate event. A play might be a tragedy if it is about sad and unfortunate events.
What is the tone of the Prologue? Tone means “the attitude a speaker has toward the subject about which he or she is speaking."
The Prologue is humorous and whimsical.
The Prologue is serious and revealing.
What does the audience learn in lines 5–6 about the relationship between the lovers and the “two households”?
They (the households) are “alike in dignity” (line 1), or they have the same status. They do not like each other: they share a “grudge” (line 3) against one another.
They (the households) are totally different but get along well.
How does Shakespeare’s choice of the word fatal develop the tragic tone of the play?
The word fatal means easy to recover from, so this shows that Romeo and Juliet will live happily ever after.
The word fatal means “causing death.” This informs us that the lovers are going to die. Fate is present in fatal, so fatal might also mean “destined or fated.”
How does Shakespeare’s choice of the word fatal develop the tragic tone of the play?
The word fatal means easy to recover from, so this shows that Romeo and Juliet will live happily ever after.
Through the choice of the word fatal, Shakespeare shows that Romeo and Juliet are destined to die. There is nothing anyone can do to save them.
How does Shakespeare’s choice of the word fatal develop the tragic tone of the play?
The word fatal means easy to recover from, so this shows that Romeo and Juliet will live happily ever after.
Shakespeare uses the word fatal, meaning both “causing death” and “proceeding from or decreed by fate; inevitable,” suggesting that the lovers are going to die.
How does Shakespeare’s specific word choices in lines 5–8 develop the definition of star-crossed?
Romeo and Juliet’s fate is confirmed when the Chorus states that the lovers will run away to Florence, Italy and start a new life and a family.
Romeo and Juliet’s fate is confirmed when the Chorus states that the lovers “take their life” (line 6) and refers to “their death” (line 8). Shakespeare refers to their deaths as “misadventured” and “piteous” in line 7, suggesting that the lovers are going to be unhappy and suffer.
How does Shakespeare’s specific word choices in lines 5–8 develop the definition of star-crossed?
Shakespeare’s word choices suggest that the lovers are going to suffer and eventually commit suicide because of their parents’ strife, and that they cannot be saved. This suggests that the word star-crossed means that they are unhappy and unlucky.
Romeo and Juliet’s fate is confirmed when the Chorus states that the lovers will end up in Rome, Italy, where they will open a bed and breakfast and live happily ever after.
What effect do the “star-crossed” lovers’ deaths have on their parents?
The lovers’ deaths end the longstanding peace between the Montagues and Capulets.
The lovers’ deaths end “their parents’ strife” (line 8), meaning their deaths end the households’ grudges against each other.
How does Shakespeare’s choice of the word death-marked develop the tone of the Prologue?
The word death-marked (line 9) develops the idea that Romeo and Juliet both have birth marks that will determine their fate.
The word death-marked (line 9) develops the tragic tone of the Prologue by describing the lovers as marked for death.
To whom do “our” and “you” refer to in these lines? Cite evidence from the text to support your response.
“You” refers to the Chorus and/or the actors and “our” refers to the audience. The Chorus says “where we lay our scene” (line 2), meaning that they are the subject of “we” and “our.” As there is no one else onstage, the Chorus must be speaking to the audience when they say “you” (line 13).
“Our” refers to the Chorus and/or the actors and “you” refers to the audience. The Chorus says “where we lay our scene” (line 2), meaning that they are the subject of “we” and “our.” As there is no one else onstage, the Chorus must be speaking to the audience when they say “you” (line 13).
Paraphrase what happens during the “two hours traffic” on the stage.
Line 9: The romance between Tybalt and Lady Montague.
Line 10: The continuing feud Lord and Lady Capulet.
Line 11: Nothing could end their parents’ feud except a big party.
Line 9: The romance between the lovers.
Line 10: The continuing feud between their parents.
Line 11: Nothing could end their parents’ feud except their death.
What does the Chorus ask of the audience?
The Chorus asks the audience to lend their generosity in the form of tips and gratuities. (line 14) In other words, the Chorus asks the audience to be patient and watch the movie.
The Chorus asks the audience to lend their “patient ears” (line 13) and watch their “toil” (line 14), or performance. In other words, the Chorus asks the audience to be patient and watch the play.
How do lines 9–11 and the definition of prologue develop the role of the Chorus?
Because a prologue is meant to inform the audience what will not happen, thus fooling the crowd and creating dramatic irony.
Because a prologue is meant to inform the audience what will happen and lay out the central ideas of a play, then the Chorus’s job must be to perform and provide all of the information within the Prologue.
How do lines 9–11 and the definition of prologue develop the role of the Chorus?
For example, the Chorus explains that Romeo and Juliet’s love is meant to be, and will be referred to as something countless generations aspire to.
For example, the Chorus explains that Romeo and Juliet’s love is “deathmarked” (line 9) and that only their deaths end the feud between their families.
How do Shakespeare’s specific word choices establish a tragic tone in the text?
(e.g., Shakespeare makes specific word choices in the Prologue, such as “fatal” (line 5), “star-crossed” (line 6), “misadventured” (line 7), and “death-marked love.” (line 9)).
(e.g., Shakespeare makes specific word choices in the Prologue, such as “vital” (line 5), “star-making” (line 6), “misinterpretted” (line 7), and “star-marked love.” (line 9)).
How do Shakespeare’s specific word choices establish a tragic tone in the text?
(e.g., These word choices create a tragic tone by describing how Romeo and Juliet are “star-crossed” (line 6) to fall in love, but they are also marked for death because of it. This is their inescapable fate, as is shown by the word fatal, which means both “causing death” and “inevitable.”).
(e.g., These word choices create a tragic tone by describing how Romeo and Juliet are level headed and reasonable.)
