Prologue & Act one (Summary)
Colour code:
Black: Summary
Red: Analysis
, The Prologue:
Summary:
During the prologue, the stage is set for the play to follow. (It is important to note that
the play takes place in Verona. The prologue mentions where the scene takes place
giving us a sense of setting.) Verona is a city on the Adige River in Veneto Italy. A brief
introduction to the two houses is provided in the prologue. These two houses are the
Montague and Capulets. It is stated that these two families have a long-standing feud.
(It also mentions how the feud between the family causes the death of many civilians)
The pair of star-crossed lovers are Romeo and Juliet. ( Romeo and Juliet are called
star-crossed lovers. This could mean that their fates are intertwined.) According to
the prologue, Romeo and Juliet will eventually take their lives because of the food of
their parents. By the end of the play, we will see how their deaths cause change in
their family’s feud.
(The structure of the prologue is written as a sonnet consisting of fourteen lines.)