What does the prologue of Romeo and Juliet mean in modern English?

Romeo and Juliet is one of William Shakespeare’s most famous tragedies. The opening, or prologue, of the play is well known in its own right. … The prologue is the word before the action. The prologue is meant to give background information and establish the setting for the plot that is about to unfold onstage.

What does forth the fatal loins mean?

Romeo and Juliet, Prologue:

“From forth the fatal loins of these two foes, … This pun refers to the fatal blood lines of Romeo and Juliet – the families that they descended from are the reason for their death, as well as their ‘loins’ (their physical relationship).

What does Shakespeare mean by piteous?

piteous. deserving or inciting a feeling of sympathy and sorrow. From forth the fatal loins of these two foes. A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life, Whose misadventured piteous overthrows.

What does From forth the fatal loins of these two foes A pair of star cross D lovers take their life mean in Romeo and Juliet?

The Chorus’s remark that Romeo and Juliet are “star-crossed” and fated to “take their li[ves]” informs the audience that the lovers are destined to die tragically.

What is a loin?

loin, that part of an animal lying between the upper part of the hipbone and the last of the false ribs on either side of the backbone—hence the butcher’s term for a piece of meat cut from that part of the body.

What happens to the star-crossed lovers?

Literary Source

This exactly happened to this romantic couple, Romeo and Juliet. When the order of the stars is shattered and “crossed” in Romeo and Juliet’s lives, they face this tragic situation, and their misfortune end their lives.

What does my child is yet a stranger in the world mean?

Her father means that she is inexperienced, which she is, but Juliet is also a “stranger in the world” because she prefers the transcendent experience she shares with Romeo to the compromises and practicalities of everyday life, even to the extent of choosing to die rather than live in a world without Romeo.

Who says from Forth fatal loins of these two foes?

5–8), the second by Romeo after he kills Tybalt (3.1. 131), and the third by Romeo upon learning of Juliet’s death (5.1. 24). The Chorus’s remark that Romeo and Juliet are “star-crossed” and fated to “take their li[ves]” informs the audience that the lovers are destined to die tragically.

What type of figurative language is From forth the fatal loins of these two foes?

Line 5 contains alliteration: “From forth the fatal loins of the two foes.” This begins the second quatrain and marks a change in focus from the feud of the two families to the dalliances of the two lovers in question. “Fatal loins” is also a pun. Both Romeo and Juliet have come from the loins of feuding families.

What does but woo her gentle Paris get her heart mean?

But woo her, gentle Paris, get her heart; My will to her consent is but a part. … Capulet thinks that Paris should get Juliet to fall in love with him. He also points out that it is Juliet’s choice. He is being reasonable. You just studied 40 terms!

Why is he a man of wax?

The nurse describes Paris as “a man of wax” meaning that he’s as handsome as a statue, and then she enthusiastically agrees with Lady Capulet’s description of him as a “flower.” But to wax means to swell (as in a waxing moon) and to flower means to sprout.

How do we know Juliet is 13?

Because actors ostensibly need training and skill to navigate Shakespeare’s words, most productions of Romeo and Juliet cast performers who are older than the characters as he wrote them: Juliet is 13 (“she hath not seen the change of fourteen years,” according to her father); Romeo’s age is unspecified, but he’s …

What does earth hath swallowed all my hopes mean?

While addressing Paris, Lord Capulet personifies earth as a living entity that has swallowed all of his children except Juliet. This particular personification is meant to highlight that Lord Capulet’s children were deceased and buried at some point. Juliet is the only child who was able to escape the claws of death.

Why do you suppose Capulet is so protective of his daughter Juliet?

He’s really over protective over Juliet because she is his only kid that is still alive so he feels the need to be her protector. … Capulet wants to pick her up and impress her because he really likes her.

What does Capulet mean by earth hath swallowed all my hopes but she?

Capulet. The earth hath swallowed all my hopes but she; She’s the hopeful lady of my earth. … As his only surviving child, the “hopeful” (promising) Juliet represents Capulet’s last “hope” to have future generations of descendants.

How stands your disposition to be married?

How stands your disposition to be married? Well, marriage is exactly what we have to discuss. Tell me, my daughter Juliet, what is your attitude about getting married? It is an honor that I dream not of.

What happened to the nurse’s husband in Romeo and Juliet?

In the course of the Nurse’s story it becomes clear that her own daughter, who would be Juliet’s age, died long ago. The Nurse’s husband also has died.

When Juliet leans her cheek on her hand what does Romeo say?

When Juliet leans her cheek on her hand, what does Romeo say? Romeo states, “Oh that I were a glove upon that hand that I might touch that cheek.”

Who says tell me daughter Juliet how stands your disposition to be married?

59-62). The Nurse’s mention of marriage gives Juliet’s mother the opportunity to say what is on her mind. She says, “Tell me, daughter Juliet, / How stands your disposition to be married?” (1.3. 64-65).

What does I laid wormwood to my dug mean?

When it was time to “wean” (stop breastfeeding) Juliet, the Nurse put “wormwood” on her nipple, which she refers to as her “dug.” (Wormwood is a disgustingly bitter plant extract.)

How many teeth does the Nurse have?

She’s not even fourteen. I’ll lay fourteen of my teeth—and yet, to my teen be it spoken, I have but four—she is not fourteen.

What does this conversation among servants reveal about the Montagues?

What does this conversation among servants reveal about the Montagues? The conversation reveals that the Montagues and Capulets have been feuding for a long time. It also reveals the Montague’s aggression towards the Capulets. … Abram is with the Montagues whilst Gregory and Sampson are with the Capulets.

What does Mercutio mean when he says if love be rough with you be rough with love?

Mercutio. If love be rough with you, be rough with love; … If love has pricked Romeo (sexually aroused him) then he should prick love back (have relationship) which will “beat love down” (end his arousal).