Activity 1.2.1 – Prologue Paraphrasing

Prologue Paraphrasing

The prologue has been copied for you below with the first 8 lines already paraphrased. Remember, that you must put the remaining lines in your own words, using the definitions given, and your own prior knowledge. It will be tempting to look up the translation, but try your best to complete it on your own. Copy the table to your own document and write your paraphrased lines in the blank table. Please see the rubric tab on the right side of the screen above to know what you will be graded on.

As always, copying a translation into your assignment from online is considered plagiarism.

Original

Paraphrased

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;

Whose misadventur’d piteous overthrows

Doth with their death bury their parents’ strife.

The fearful passage of their death-mark’d love,

1. And the continuance of their parents’ rage,
2. Which, but their children’s end, naught could remove,
3. Is now the two hours’ traffic of our stage;
4. The which if you with patient ears attend,
5. What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.
6. Two families both alike in status
7. Is where this play takes place
8. An old conflict has started again
9. With public fights, both sides at fault
10. From these two families that hate each other
11. Two unlucky lovers commit suicide
12. Their actions draw pity
13. And with their death, the conflict is resolved