Romeo and Juliet

William Shakespeare

Act I Vocabulary

Prologue• Chorus tells background/plot 1 actor• Introduction: Verona, Italy• Capulet and Montague conflict• Fate of Romeo and Juliet• Sonnet: poem 14 lines rhyming 1 couplets (2

pairs) and 3 quatrains (ABAB) (2 pairs of couplets)

• 2 couplets + 3 Quatrains= 14 lines • Rhyme scheme ABABCDCDEFEFGG• Uses Iambic Pentameter

Iambic Pentameter• Five pairs of

unstressed/stressed syllables• Iambic: two syllables together• Penta: Five•Meter: Pattern of syllables in

a line

Iambic Pentameter• The cow•Which one is stressed?

Unstressed?• Da DUM • the COW• Creates rhythm

Valiant

•Adjective •Brave

Fray

•Noun•A fight

Pernicious•Adjective•Destructive•Deadly

Forfeit•Noun• Something a person must

give up as punishment for breaking the laws or rules

Adversary•Noun•An opponent or enemy

Portentous•Adjective•Threatening

Transgression•Noun•The breaking of the law

Assailing•Verb•Violently attacking

Quarrel•Noun •Argument•Verb•To argue

Languish•Verb• To become weak• To long or pine for

something

Counsel

•Noun•Advice

Athwart

•Preposition•Across

Disposition•Noun•A settlement•A person’s temperament• Inclination

Esteem•High rank•Renown

Endure•Verb• To last• To tolerate

Boisterous•Adjective• Stormy •Violent

Alderman • Noun• A member of the city

government

Wanton

•Adjective•Unrestrained, uncontrolled, wild

Nuptial

•Noun •A wedding

Trespass• Verb• To enter another’s property

of land without permission• To intrude upon a person’s

privacy or time

Mutiny•Noun•Rebellion

Intrusion•Noun•An uninvited or illegal entry

Convert•Verb • To change into another

form or thing

Tyrannous•Adjective•Oppressive; authoritarian

Deformity•Noun•Defect; Distortion; Abnormality