2. 95
Prediction: Review the “Social Offenses”
ranking you did after the test. Answer
question #3.
Today’s objective is to discuss themes in
Romeo and Juliet and read and paraphrase in
Modern English the Act 1 Prologue.
3. 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.
4. 96
Early Modern Text. Copy a
group of words or lines
Explain whythis Write your Explain how you
from the Prologue to is difficult to own modern were able to figure
paraphrase.
understand. paraphrase out the meaning.
1. “Two Because the Two families I changed
households both vocabulary is who are both household to the
alike in dignity.” different. respected. modern word
families and dignity
(Line 1) to the modern
word respect.
1.
2.
3.
5. 95
Before reading Romeo and Juliet, you learned
a little about Early Modern English, sonnets,
and Shakespeare’s life as a writer. Did any of
this knowledge increase your appreciation or
understanding of the Act 1 Prologue? Explain.
