Shakespeare’s Shakespeare’s LanguageLanguage

It’s Not As Difficult It’s Not As Difficult As It SeemsAs It Seems

Shakespeare Wrote InShakespeare Wrote In PoetryPoetry

Concentrated Concentrated languagelanguage

Also called Also called verseverse

ProseProse Ordinary, Ordinary,

everyday everyday languagelanguage

Poetry Used by ShakespearePoetry Used by Shakespeare Shakespeare’s poetry used metrical Shakespeare’s poetry used metrical

writingwriting Meter – regular rhythmic pattern in Meter – regular rhythmic pattern in

languagelanguage ““A horse, a horse! My kingdom for a A horse, a horse! My kingdom for a

horse!”horse!” This is written in blank verse or This is written in blank verse or

unrhymed iambic pentameterunrhymed iambic pentameter

Unrhymed Iambic PentameterUnrhymed Iambic Pentameter

Unrhymed – the words at the end of the Unrhymed – the words at the end of the line do not rhymeline do not rhyme

Iamb – a unit of speech that contains one Iamb – a unit of speech that contains one unstressed syllable followed by a stressed unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllablesyllable Iamb = unstressed, stressedIamb = unstressed, stressed Stressed = emphasizedStressed = emphasized Unstressed = not emphasizedUnstressed = not emphasized

ExampleExample Iamb: unstressed, stressedIamb: unstressed, stressed

““A horse, a horse! My kingdom A horse, a horse! My kingdom for a horse!”for a horse!”

Pay attention to syllables, not wordsPay attention to syllables, not words

Unrhymed Iambic PentameterUnrhymed Iambic Pentameter

Iambic = contains iambsIambic = contains iambs Pentameter = 5 metrical feet or iambsPentameter = 5 metrical feet or iambs

Unstressed, stressed; unstressed, Unstressed, stressed; unstressed, stressed; unstressed, stressed; stressed; unstressed, stressed; unstressed, stressed; unstressed, unstressed, stressed; unstressed, stressedstressed

Different Language for Different Different Language for Different CharactersCharacters

Unrhymed Iambic Pentameter or Blank VerseUnrhymed Iambic Pentameter or Blank Verse was used for most of the characters in was used for most of the characters in Shakespeare’s plays.Shakespeare’s plays.

Rhyming CoupletsRhyming Couplets were used by mythical or were used by mythical or magical creatures.magical creatures.

ProseProse was used by less important characters or was used by less important characters or those who were considered not very intelligent. those who were considered not very intelligent. The Mechanicals speak in prose in The Mechanicals speak in prose in MSNDMSND..