The tale that contains one of the basic seeds for the storyline of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is the Italian tale of "Pyramus and Thisbe." It features two young lovers from feuding families who are forbidden to be together, just like Romeo and Juliet.
"Pyramus and Thisbe" is a tragic tale from ancient Rome. It tells the story of two young lovers, Pyramus and Thisbe, who live in neighboring houses. Their families are hostile towards each other, so they communicate through a crack in the wall that separates their homes. Sound familiar?
Similar to Romeo and Juliet, Pyramus and Thisbe plan to meet in secret and elope. However, a series of unfortunate events unfold, leading to misunderstandings and ultimately a tragic ending for both lovers. Shakespeare drew inspiration from this tale when crafting the timeless tragedy of Romeo and Juliet.