Year 8 · English · Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet · Lesson 1
The Prologue and the feud
An introduction to Romeo and Juliet: the feud, the Prologue as a sonnet, star-crossed lovers, dramatic irony, and Tybalt's hatred.
22-minute video lesson
Teaching, worked examples and 20 practice questions solved step by step.
Watch free for a monthWhat your child will learn
- Outline the setting and the feud
- Explain the Prologue line by line
- Explain ‘star-cross'd lovers’ and fate
- Understand dramatic irony
- Analyse Tybalt's language
The method
- Put the line into modern English.
- Quote the key words.
- Explain what they suggest (love, hate, fate, death).
- Link to the whole play.
Key words: tragedy, prologue, sonnet, feud, star-crossed, fate, dramatic irony.
Worked examples
The first three practice questions from the lesson, with every step.
Question 1
Which two families are feuding in the play?
- Step 1: The Montagues and the Capulets
- Step 2: Romeo is a Montague; Juliet is a Capulet
Answer: The Montagues and the Capulets
Question 2
What does ‘both alike in dignity’ tell us about the families?
- Step 1: They are equally important and respected
- Step 2: Neither is better: both are to blame
Answer: They are equal in status: neither is better
Question 3
What is ‘an ancient grudge’?
- Step 1: A very old feeling of resentment
- Step 2: No one even remembers why it started
Answer: A very old, bitter resentment