An Introduction to Shakespeare and Romeo and Juliet, Part 1 Essay

Read these lines from the prologue of Romeo and Juliet.

And the continuance of their parents’ rage,
Which, but their children’s end, nought could remove,

What is the best paraphrasing of these lines?

A. Even their children’s deaths could not end the parents’ rage.
B. Nothing but their children’s deaths could stop the parents’ anger.
C. The parents continued their feud even after their children died.
D. The parents tried to make peace before their children died.

The prologue of Romeo and Juliet introduces which elements of the play? Check all that apply.

A. the setting of a lovely city
B. the setting of a house’s courtyard
C. the setting of a family tomb
D. the characters of the lovers
E. the characters of the lovers’ parents
F. the conflict of a grudge between the two families
G. the conflict of a fight between the two lovers

Read this excerpt from a play.

JUNE and SYLVIO speak to MR. TELLER in the driveway of their farmhouse. It is raining hard, and they all carry umbrellas. A dog sits on the steps of the house.
JUNE: We didn’t think you’d be coming back for the puppy.
MR. TELLER: I said I would when I dropped the puppy off.
SYLVIO: Yes, but that was months ago. We thought you’d be back for the puppy in a couple days. Now she’s a full-grown dog. We have raised her ourselves, we built her her own doghouse, and we love her.
MR. TELLER: But she’s my dog. I only dropped her off at your house for safekeeping since I had to go out of town on business. Now I’m back and I want my dog back.
SYLVIO: I don’t know, Mr. Teller. We love Lucy like our own. We want to keep her.

What is the conflict of the play?

A. It’s raining at June and Sylvio’s farmhouse.
B. Mr. Teller is the owner of Lucy, the puppy.
C. Mr. Teller wants his dog, Lucy, back.
D. Lucy was a puppy at first but is now a dog.

Read this line from the prologue of Romeo and Juliet.

A pair of star-cross’d lovers take their life;

Having heard this line in the prologue, the audience can

A. understand why Romeo and Juliet kill themselves in the play.
B. know which characters act as enemies of Romeo and Juliet.
C. predict that Romeo and Juliet do not survive at the end of the play.
D. wonder what finally happens to the characters of Romeo and Juliet.

Read the line from Hamlet cited in Shakespeare: The World as Stage.

Barnardo: Who’s there?

What does this line most likely show about the setting of the scene?

A. It takes place in a foreign land because Barnardo does not know everyone.
B. It is dark because Barnardo has trouble seeing the other guard.
C. It takes place in a castle because Barnardo is a guard.
D. It is early in the morning because Barnardo arrives first on the scene.

Based on the prologue, what is the main conflict in Romeo and Juliet?

A. Romeo and Juliet live in different cities.
B. Romeo kills himself by accident.
C. Romeo’s family and Juliet’s family are enemies.
D. Romeo and Juliet take their own lives.

Read this excerpt from a play.

JUNE and SYLVIO speak to MR. TELLER in the driveway of their farmhouse. It is raining hard, and they all carry umbrellas. A dog sits on the steps of the house.
JUNE: We didn’t think you’d be coming back for the puppy.
MR. TELLER: I said I would when I dropped the puppy off.
SYLVIO: Yes, but that was months ago. We thought you’d be back for the puppy in a couple days. Now she’s a full-grown dog. We have raised her ourselves, we built her her own doghouse, and we love her.
MR. TELLER: But she’s my dog. I only dropped her off at your house for safekeeping since I had to go out of town on business. Now I’m back and I want my dog back.

What is the setting of this play?

A. a basket
B. a farm
C. a doghouse
D. a trip

Read this excerpt from the prologue of Shakespeare’s
play Henry V, in which King Henry is referred to as Harry.
A kingdom for a stage, princes to act
And monarchs to behold the swelling scene!
Then should the warlike Harry, like himself,
Assume the port of Mars; and at his heels,
Leash’d in like hounds, should famine, sword and fire
Crouch for employment.

Which best describes the purpose of this excerpt of the prologue?

A. It predicts what will happen to Henry at the end.
B. It states the conflict that occurs at the end of the play.
C. It introduces the characters of Henry’s enemies.
D. It builds suspense about the war in the play.

Read this excerpt from the prologue of Romeo and Juliet.

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.

In addition to introducing two families in the play, this excerpt helps

A. describe the children of the families.
B. build interest about what happens in the story.
C. detail the part of Verona where the action takes place.
D. foreshadow who dies at the end of the story.

Read this excerpt from the prologue of Romeo and Juliet.

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’ traffick of our stage;

Which best states the purpose of this excerpt?

A. It introduces the disagreement of the parents.
B. It explains who the main characters are.
C. It speaks about the setting of the play.
D. It foreshadows the outcome of the play.