Shakespeare Shakespeare NotesNotes

Literary DevicesLiterary Devices

Iambic Pentameter-Confused? Iambic Pentameter-Confused? Let’s break it up!Let’s break it up!

Iambic- a poetic foot (unstressed syllable Iambic- a poetic foot (unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable)followed by a stressed syllable)– UnstressedUnstressed– StressedStressed

Pentameter- means 5 feet (after each Pentameter- means 5 feet (after each we have a foot)we have a foot)

Iambic Pentameter- A metrical pattern in Iambic Pentameter- A metrical pattern in poetry which consists of 5 iambic feet per poetry which consists of 5 iambic feet per line.line.

Example of Iambic PentameterExample of Iambic Pentameter

Two households, both alike in dignity, Two households, both alike in dignity,   

In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,

From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,

Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean. Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.

ProseProse

Prose -Ordinary speech or writing, without Prose -Ordinary speech or writing, without metrical structure.metrical structure.

– Easily distinguishable, Easily distinguishable, oonly time there is nly time there is capitalization is the beginning of a new capitalization is the beginning of a new sentence. Similar to how we normally talk.sentence. Similar to how we normally talk.

– Usually used by people of common birth.Usually used by people of common birth.

– But can also be used by everyone if the But can also be used by everyone if the conversation is playful.conversation is playful.

Blank VerseBlank VerseBlank Verse- Unrhymed verse having a regular Blank Verse- Unrhymed verse having a regular meter, usually of iambic pentametermeter, usually of iambic pentameter..

– EEasily distinguishable, each line starts with a capitol asily distinguishable, each line starts with a capitol letter and by a line break at the end of the verse line.letter and by a line break at the end of the verse line.

– Usually used by people of noble birth.Usually used by people of noble birth.

– Used during serious reflection; again usually only Used during serious reflection; again usually only people of noble birth.people of noble birth.

– But can be used by everyone for serious conversations.But can be used by everyone for serious conversations.

Open your books to scene ii can you find where Open your books to scene ii can you find where there is prose and blank verse? there is prose and blank verse?

CoupletsCouplets

Couplets-a pair of successive lines of Couplets-a pair of successive lines of verse that rhyme. Averse that rhyme. Appear much less ppear much less frequentlyfrequently– Usually used to express extreme emotion or Usually used to express extreme emotion or

an extremely serious conversation. an extremely serious conversation. – Also used as a signal for characters to Also used as a signal for characters to

enter/exit the stage or signal the end of a enter/exit the stage or signal the end of a scene.scene.

Turn to scene ii aTurn to scene ii and find me two examples nd find me two examples of couplets being used. of couplets being used.

Something Interesting About CoupletsSomething Interesting About Couplets

Markers were helpful to the actors because they Markers were helpful to the actors because they learned their parts from what was called a learned their parts from what was called a rollroll, , which contained only the actor’s own lines and which contained only the actor’s own lines and his cues: only the prompter had a complete his cues: only the prompter had a complete copy. (Why do you think this occurred?)copy. (Why do you think this occurred?)

This practice was followed because paper was This practice was followed because paper was expensive and playscripts were copied by hand, expensive and playscripts were copied by hand, so copying each part individually saved both so copying each part individually saved both time and money.) Under these conditions, time and money.) Under these conditions, couplets served a useful function as a mnemonic couplets served a useful function as a mnemonic device. device.