Romeo And Juliet

Term Paper Title	Romeo And Juliet
# of Words	5183
# of Pages (250 words per page double spaced)	20.73

Romeo and Juliet

William Shakespeare

THE STORY

PROLOGUE

The Prologue is in the form of a sonnet, a type of poem that was popular in Elizabethan times. A sonnet has very strict rules: it
must have 14 lines, have five accented syllables and five unaccented ones per line, and a consistent pattern of rhyming.

NOTE: Throughout the play, we will see that Shakespeare uses different types of poetry to make special moments
stand out.

The Prologue does three important things: 1) it tells us what events will happen in the play; 2) it makes us curious about why
and how these events will happen; and 3) it introduces us to themes that will become important.

   1.THE EVENTS

     Two dignified families have been quarreling for a long time. From these families come two children who are destined to
     become lovers and to kill themselves. This is the only way the quarrel can end, we're told, and this is the story we're
     about to see.

     It seems odd, doesn't it, that Shakespeare gives away the ending to the story before he even starts telling it! But in
     Shakespeare's time-much like today- the story of Romeo and Juliet was already famous. People might not have been
     able to tell you the whole story, but they could probably have said: "Romeo and Juliet? It's a story about two kids who
     kill themselves."

     Also, fate plays a big part in the lovers' doom. It was normal in a tragic story to tell the fate of the hero at the beginning,
     and then tell the story of how this comes about.

     NOTE: In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare uses the fact that we know the plot to make us his fellow conspirators.
     He makes the story revolve around characters who do what they think is best, unaware of their tragic fate. They
     don't know the real circumstances- only we do. This sets up comedy: for example, Romeo thinks that his crush
     on Rosaline is the end of the world. This seems funny to us, because we know his crush isn't important- the story
     isn't about Romeo and Rosaline, it's about Romeo and Juliet. It also sets up tragedy: for example, it's great news
     to Lord Capulet that Juliet and Paris will be married. But it's terrible news to us, because we know that she's
     already married to Romeo. Over and over throughout the play we think, "if only they knew!"

   2.THE PROLOGUE MAKES US CURIOUS

     The Prologue leaves out more information than it gives us. Who are these lovers? What makes them "star-crossed"?
     Why do they kill themselves? Why is this the only way to end the feud? These questions make us want to read on!

   3.THEMES

     Romeo and Juliet is a play about paradoxes. In other words, we find out that things seeming to be opposites are actually
     linked to each other. In the Prologue, Shakespeare talks about "fatal loins." We are conceived and born in the loins;
     "fatal" is something that kills you. How can the same thing cause your life and your death? The play resolves this
     paradox. Besides life and death, the Prologue tells us that the play is about youth and age, love and hate, fighting and
     peace. And since Shakespeare mentions these paradoxes so early, we will be wise to watch for other paradoxes that
     will be used as themes.

     NOTE: Notice how the lovers are called "star-crossed." Astrology was a popular science then, and some people
     believed that your fate was revealed by the positions of stars and planets. Star-crossed could simply mean that
     the stars will make Romeo and Juliet's paths cross and their lives intertwine. Or it can mean that the stars have
     it in for them; they're doomed from the start. One theme is the exploration of this very question: what makes the
     play end the way it does? Do the lovers die because they're star-crossed by Fate and cursed by bad luck? Or is
     there a power above Fate (usually called Providence) that is making this all work for the good- to end the feud?
     Or are the lovers free to act for themselves, to decide to take ...

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