Shakespeare
This is the period of time when it was estimated Romeo and Juliet was written.
When is: between 1591 and 1595?
(Also acceptable: when is the 1600s?)
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.
In the beautiful city of Verona (where our story takes place) a long-standing hatred between two families erupts into new violence, and citizens stain their hands with the blood of their fellow citizens.
The definition of "dignity."
What is "formal reserve or seriousness of manner"?
OR
"The quality or state of being worthy of honor or respect."
OR
"High rank, office, or position."
This team won the FIFA 2026 World Cup, held in the most beautiful state in the nation.
What is: "Spain."
This is the definition of "conflict."
What is: "A clashing or sharp disagreement (especially between ideas, interests, or purposes.)"
The country William Shakespeare was born and died in.
What is England?
From forth the fatal loins of these two foes
A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life;
Whose misadventured piteous overthrows
Doth with their death bury their parents’ strife.
Two unlucky children from these enemy families become lovers and commit suicide. Their unfortunate deaths put an end to their parents' feud.
The definition of "star-crossed."
What is "not favored by fate"?
OR
"Cursed by forces beyond your control."
This player holds the all-time NBA record for most points (4029!) scored in a single season of professional basketball.
Who is: "Wilt Chamberlin"?
This is the definition of "central idea."
What is "the main point or underlying message that an author wants to communicate"?
This is the definition of the word "tragedy" (which Shakespeare wrote at least 10 of.)
What is "a genre of drama based on human suffering, specifically by way of terrible events that befall a main character or cast of characters due to some crucial flaw"?
The fearful passage of their death-marked love
And the continuance of their parents’ rage,
Which, but their children’s end, naught could remove,
Is now the two hours’ traffic of our stage;
For the next two hours, we will watch the story of their doomed love and their parents' anger, which nothing but the children’s deaths could stop.
The definition of "mutiny."
What is "open fighting against authority"?
This is a list of the three closest capital cities to us currently.
What is:
Albany (New York)
Trenton (New Jersey)
Hartford (Connecticut)
This is how a claim is different from an opinion.
What is: "a claim can be supported with evidence and proven, whereas an opinion is merely something you believe."
William Shakespeare was born on April 23rd in 1564 and died on April 23rd in 1616.
This is the meaning of the words he had inscribed on his tombstone:
“Good friend for Jesus sake forbeare,/ To dig the dust enclosed here./ Blessed be the man that spares these stones/ And cursed be he that moves my bones.”
What is:
"For God's sake, do not dig here. Good fortune on any who don't dig up my grave, and a curse on anybody who disturbs my bones."
The which, if you with patient ears attend,
What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.
If you listen to us patiently, we’ll make up for everything we’ve left out in this prologue onstage.
The definition of "death-marked."
What is "fated to die"?
OR:
"A tragic end."
This is a list of all 7 continents.
What is:
"North America, South America, Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, Antarctica"?
This is the number of supporting reasons you must include with your claim when writing an argument essay.
This is a potential reason why Shakespeare tells us in the very beginning of the play that both Romeo and Juliet will die.
What is "because in tragedy we have to know right away that things will not end well."
OR:
"Because he wants us to feel pain as we get to know them throughout the play, knowing that they will die."
This is the reason why Shakespeare chose to write the prologue using the sonnet form, which is traditionally reserved for love poems.
What is:
To show how love will play a role in the play, to convey that the expectations of love stories will be upended.
The definition of "strife."
What is "bitter sometimes violent conflict or dissension"?
OR:
"A struggle for superiority".
This is the horror movie series that Michael Myers is the main villain in.
What is: "Halloween"?
This is the definition of a "counterclaim."
What is: "An opposing viewpoint; something said to offset someone else’s claim."
Note: a counterclaim is not necessarily the converse, simply a different opinion. ie. Cars are the most important form of transportation vs. busses vs. airplanes vs. boats.