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
1) The Prologue describes the playwright to readers and audience members. A long-standing hatred between two families erupts into new violence, and citizens stain their hands with the blood of their fellow citizens. Two unlucky children of these enemy families become lovers and comite suicide
ReplyDelete2) where the blood of the people of the city makes their well-behaved hands dirty--in other words, their good behaviour is tarnished with their blood.
3)Red can symbolize many things; from blood, to love, to infatuation. Basically red symbolizes strong emotions, or things of strong emotions rather than intellectual ideas. For example, red can symbolize excitement, energy, speed, strength, danger, passion, and aggression.
1.The Prologue reminds us that this is not a lovestory - it is a story about two families who hate each other.
ReplyDelete"Two households both alike in dignity
In fair Verona where we lay our scene
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny."
Shakespeare realised that there would be a danger that people would focus on the star-cross'd lovers and think its a love story. He wanted to remind us that the problem is not that two young people are in love, but that two old families hate each other.
2.ermmm..... I don't know
3. Red actually has different meanings not only from culture to culture or from era to era, but within our own culture and time. Many of these meanings though, come from one single source: BLOOD
The most emotionally intense color, red stimulates a faster heartbeat and breathing.Red can refer to love or anger but is probably more associated with love.