Read this excerpt from the prologue to act II of Romeo and Juliet:
CHORUS: Now old desire doth in his death-bed lie,
And young affection gapes to be his heir;
That fair for which love groan'd for and would die,
With tender Juliet match'd, is now not fair.
Now Romeo is beloved and loves again,
Alike betwitched by the charm of looks,
But to his foe supposed he must complain,
And she steal love's sweet bait from fearful hooks:
Being held a foe, he may not have access
To breathe such vows as lovers use to swear;
And she as much in love, her means much less
To meet her new-beloved any where:
But passion lends them power, time means, to meet
Tempering extremities with extreme sweet.
Which of the following sentences best summarizes the purpose of the excerpt?
It tells the audience exactly what will happen at the end of the play.
It reveals the conflicting feelings Romeo has for Juliet and his family.
It foreshadows the death of the lovers in the next section of the play.
It explains that Romeo and Juliet will face many obstacles because of their families’ hatred.
