Shakespeare/Romeo and Juliet/Introduction

Shakespearean glossary
Do you know your 'dost' from your 'wherefore'? There is a glossary of words commonly used in Shakespearean plays [here]. Make sure you know these words, as they'll help you to understand the play a lot better.

Context

 * Written in 1595 during Queen Elizabeth I's reign. During this period there was a division between Catholics and Protestants. Great division occurred through England as a result of Elizabeth's protestant reign, which was a departure from her predecessor Mary's Catholic reign. Although the play is about two feuding families in Italy, it might as well be about Catholic and Protestant lovers.
 * Not an original story. Borrowed from the Italian story.
 * At the time, the English were fascinated with all things Italian, and thought all Italians to be hot blooded and racy.
 * Shakespeare was arguably entering the period of his career that saw his finest plays.

Summary

 * The complete play is available here. Choose a scene and summarise (in your own words) what happens in that scene.
 * Write a summary of the play in 20 words exactly. Add it here:
 * Two families fighting. Young lovers meet and marry. Cousin dead. Husband banished. Return plan fails. Both die tragically. Families reconcile.

Prologue
The prologue of the play introduces the audience to the story and outlines what they are about to see: 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; Whole misadventured piteous overthrows Do with their death bury their parents' strife. The fearful passage of their death-mark'd love, And the continuance of their parents' rage, Which, but their children's end, nought could remove, Is now the two hours' traffic of our stage; The which if you with patient ears attend, What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.