Conflict reveals the message of the play by the ongoing battle between the two families. From the start of the play this theme is reinforced by the prologue and even the first scene where Gregory, Sampson and Benvolio get in a heated battle with Tybalt and Abrams. These conflicts show the message of fate and even love in some instances.

1. Talk about the prologue and how the conflict between the families is expressed within the first lines of the story. Connect this to the idea of fate and even love “Two households, both alike in dignity”, “And the continuance of their parents’ rage”.

2. Talk about the battle between the two families in the first scene and and how it introduces the characters to the reader in a different way to most plays/ stories. “Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?”, “What, art thou drawn among these heartless hinds? Turn thee, Benvolio. Look upon thy death.”

3. Talk about the fight between Romeo and Tybalt