1) Prince Escalus is tired of the three recent civil brawls between the Capulet and Montague families that have disturbed the streets of Verona. 2) He instructs Capulet and Montague to appear before him that afternoon to receive further punishment if the fighting continues, with the threat of death for any future disturbances. 3) The Prince views the fighting as rebellious, destructive, and beneath humanity.

1. Romeo & Juliet
LO: To understand Romeo’s lovesickness and how it is portrayed

2. Recap
• What happens at the start of Act One Scene One?
• Who are the characters involved?
• Who has just intervened?

3. Prince Escalus’s Speech
When listening to Prince Escalus’s
speech, think about how he feels about
the feud between the Capulets and the
Montagues

4. Rebellious subjects, enemies to peace,
Profaners of this neighbour-stained steel,--
Will they not hear? What, ho! you men, you beasts
Anger at
disobedience
Destructive
and warlike
Worst kind of violence is against neighbours
Beneath
humanity

5. ,
That quench the fire of your pernicious rage
With purple fountains issuing from your veins!
On pain of torture, from those bloody hands
Image of danger
Their anger is
destructive and terrible
Suggests all are stained

6. Throw your mistemper'd weapons to the ground,
And hear the sentence of your moved prince.
Three civil brawls, bred of an airy word,
By thee, old Capulet, and Montague,
Have thrice disturb'd the quiet of our streets,
And made Verona's ancient citizens
Cast by their grave beseeming ornaments,
To wield old partisans, in hands as old,
Imperative
is demanding
Wants peace
– sick of
fighting
1.How many recent fights have there been?
2.What has caused these fights?

7. If ever you disturb our streets again,
Your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace.
For this time, all the rest depart away:
You Capulet; shall go along with me:
And, Montague, come you this afternoon,
To know our further pleasure in this case,
To old Free-town, our common judgment-place.
Once more, on pain of death, all men depart.
1. What does the Prince instruct
Capulet and Montague to do?
2. What is the punishment for further disturbance?
3. What is the Prince’s view of this fighting?

8. Enter Romeo
• Who is Romeo in love at the start of the play?
Underline any significant descriptions
of love or any comparisons between
love and other things

9. Binary opposites
Love Hate
Nothing
Heavy
Vanity
Chaos
Well-seeming forms
Feather
Bright
Challenge – there are
four other binary
opposites – can you
find them?!

10. Binary opposites
Love Hate
Anything Nothing
Heavy Lightness
Serious Vanity
Misshapen Chaos
Chaos Well-seeming forms
Feather Lead
Bright Smoke
Cold Fire
Sick Health
Still waking Sleep
The love he feels The love she does not feel

11. Romeo & his character
• What do these binary opposites suggest about Romeo’s state of
mind?

12. Plenary
• What feelings do you have for Romeo at this stage of the play?