The prologue was a convention in Elizabethan plays. In Latin its name literally means “the talking that comes before.”

Many plays had a Chorus throughout the play as well, describing the action, asking the audience to use their imaginations, and apologizing for the limitations of the performance.

1.

The prologue is in the form of a traditional Shakespearean Sonnet• The sonnet was created in 15th century Italy• Shakespeare wrote over 150 sonnets• A sonnet craze swept through Elizabeth

England in the 1590’s

*Think of sonnets like modern love songs

Shakespearean Sonnet form:• Iambic Pentameter meter• 14 lines of verse• Organized into three quatrains

(four lines) and a final couplet (pair)

• ABAB CDCD EFEF GG rhyme scheme

• Change in tone or theme after the eighth line, or in the final couplet

• (this is called the volta)• Often deal with topics related to

love

Iambic PentameterIambic Pentameter Meter: the rhythmic pattern Foot: the smallest unit of repeating

meter Iamb: a foot of one stressed and one

unstressed syllable (two syllables total) Iambic Pentameter: a meter of five feet

alternating stressed and unstressed syllables (ten syllables total)

Stressed: emphasized, strong Unstressed: not emphasized, weak

Iambic Pentameter - Iambic Pentameter - ExampleExample

“I am a pirate with a wooden leg” Step One: Separate into syllables

• “I |am |a| pir|ate| with| a| woo|den| leg” Step Two: Read aloud for natural

emphasis• “I |AM |a| PIR|ate| with| a| WOO|den| leg”

Step Three: Apply Iambic Pentameter pattern to the line

• “I |AM |a| PIR|ate| with| a| WOO|den| leg”

1. Which words have to do with love? Which with hate/fighting? Make a chart separating them, and highlight them in separate colors in your book.

2. How often does the word ‘two’ occur? Why do you think that is?

3. Whom are we introduced to? 4. Where is the play taking place?5. How long is the play intended to be?6. What does the prologue tell us about the story?