Romeo and JulietRomeo and Juliet

Prologue ExplicationPrologue Explication

The SonnetThe Sonnet

What is a sonnet?What is a sonnet? A sonnet is a fourteen-line lyric poem, usually A sonnet is a fourteen-line lyric poem, usually

written in iambic pentameter, that has one of written in iambic pentameter, that has one of several rhyme schemes.several rhyme schemes.

•The two most common types of sonnets areThe two most common types of sonnets are•Petrarchan, or Italian, sonnetsPetrarchan, or Italian, sonnets•Shakespearean, or English, sonnetsShakespearean, or English, sonnets

•A less common type of sonnet is the Spenserian A less common type of sonnet is the Spenserian sonnet.sonnet.

•Four partsFour parts•three 4-line stanzas, called three 4-line stanzas, called quatrainsquatrains

•one 2-line section, called a one 2-line section, called a coupletcouplet

•Rhyme scheme Rhyme scheme •abababab for the first quatrain for the first quatrain•cdcdcdcd for the second quatrain for the second quatrain•efefefef for the third quatrain for the third quatrain•gggg for the couplet for the couplet

The Shakespearean SonnetThe Shakespearean Sonnet

PROLOGUEPROLOGUE

Two households, both alike in dignity,Two households, both alike in dignity,In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.From forth the fatal loins of these two foesFrom forth the fatal loins of these two foesA pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life;A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life;Whose misadventured piteous overthrowsWhose misadventured piteous overthrowsDo with their death bury their parents' strife.Do with their death bury their parents' strife.The fearful passage of their death-mark'd love,The fearful passage of their death-mark'd love,And the continuance of their parents' rage,And the continuance of their parents' rage,Which, but their children's end, nought could Which, but their children's end, nought could remove,remove,Is now the two hours' traffic of our stage;Is now the two hours' traffic of our stage;The which if you with patient ears attend,The which if you with patient ears attend,What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.mend.

Explication 1Explication 1Two households, both alike in Two households, both alike in dignity,dignity,In fair Verona, where we lay In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,our scene,From ancient grudge break to From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,new mutiny,Where civil blood makes civil Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.hands unclean.

Explication 2Explication 2From forth the fatal loins of these From forth the fatal loins of these two foestwo foesA pair of star-cross'd lovers take their A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life;life;Whose misadventured piteous Whose misadventured piteous overthrowsoverthrowsDo with their death bury their Do with their death bury their parents' strife.parents' strife.

Explication 3Explication 3The fearful passage of their death-The fearful passage of their death-mark'd love,mark'd love,And the continuance of their parents' And the continuance of their parents' rage,rage,Which, but their children's end, nought Which, but their children's end, nought could remove,could remove,Is now the two hours' traffic of our stage;Is now the two hours' traffic of our stage;The which if you with patient ears The which if you with patient ears attend,attend,What here shall miss, our toil shall strive What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.to mend.

Questions:Questions:

1. What is the Prologue saying?1. What is the Prologue saying?

2. What information is being 2. What information is being provided?provided?

3. From the Prologue, do we 3. From the Prologue, do we know the outcome of the play? know the outcome of the play? What is it?What is it?