The Prologue of Romeo and Juliet

Look at the Prologue of Romeo and Juliet and in particular the oxymorons that are used.

  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.
    From forth the fatal loins of these two foes
    A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life;
    Whole misadventured piteous overthrows
    Do with their death bury their parents' strife.
    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' traffic of our stage;
    The which if you with patient ears attend,
    What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.

1. What is the role of The Prologue?

2.  'Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean'  - What do you associate with the words 'civil' and 'blood'? Why is it strange to have these two words in the same line (oxymoron)?

3. What is the colour red symbolic of?

due Monday 1st of April

Sonnet 130

After reading Sonnet 130, what did you find strange about this poem? What images stood out for you?