Chorus: 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
Do with their death bury their parents' strife.
—Romeo and Juliet,
William Shakespeare
Reread the prologue, looking for details that provide foreshadowing.
What central conflict is revealed in the prologue?
What event is foreshadowed in the prologue?
Foreshadowing details in the prologue include the mention of an "ancient grudge" and a "new mutiny," which suggests a long-standing feud between the two households and the possibility of a violent conflict. Additionally, the phrase "civil blood makes civil hands unclean" hints at a tragedy involving death and bloodshed.
The central conflict revealed in the prologue is the intense feud between the two households, which has led to a breakdown of peace and harmony in Verona.
The event foreshadowed in the prologue is the tragic death of the "star-cross'd lovers," who take their own lives in order to end the strife between their families.