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Before We Begin: The World of the Play
Scaffold: Setting the stage
Imagine a beautiful Italian city called Verona — think narrow stone streets, grand houses, hot summers, and two powerful families who absolutely hate each other.
This isn't just a love story. It's a story about what happens when the people around you won't stop fighting — and you're caught in the middle.
📌 Key Context
- • Written by William ShakespeareEnglish playwright, 1564–1616. Wrote 37+ plays! around 1597
- • Set in Verona, Italy — a real city, but the story is fiction
- • The play is a tragedyA type of story that ends in suffering or death for the main characters — meaning it does NOT end happily
- • Two wealthy families — the Montagues and the Capulets — are in a bitter, long-running feud
💬 Think-Pair-Share: Quick Discussion
Before we meet the characters, discuss with a partner:
"Have you ever been in a situation where two groups of people didn't get along, and you were stuck in the middle? What was that like?"