Shakespeare Notes Literary Devices

Iambic Pentameter-Confused? Let’s break it up! Iambic- a poetic foot (unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable) Unstressed Stressed Pentameter- means 5 feet (after each we have a foot) Iambic Pentameter- A metrical pattern in poetry which consists of 5 iambic feet per line.

Example of Iambic Pentameter Two households, both alike in dignity,   In fair Verona, where we lay our scene, From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.

Prose Prose -Ordinary speech or writing, without metrical structure. Easily distinguishable, only time there is capitalization is the beginning of a new sentence. Similar to how we normally talk. Usually used by people of common birth. But can also be used by everyone if the conversation is playful.

Blank Verse Blank Verse- Unrhymed verse having a regular meter, usually of iambic pentameter. Easily distinguishable, each line starts with a capitol letter and by a line break at the end of the verse line. Usually used by people of noble birth. Used during serious reflection; again usually only people of noble birth. But can be used by everyone for serious conversations. Open your books to scene ii can you find where there is prose and blank verse?

Couplets Couplets-a pair of successive lines of verse that rhyme. Appear much less frequently Usually used to express extreme emotion or an extremely serious conversation. Also used as a signal for characters to enter/exit the stage or signal the end of a scene. Turn to scene ii and find me two examples of couplets being used.

Something Interesting About Couplets Markers were helpful to the actors because they learned their parts from what was called a roll, which contained only the actor’s own lines and his cues: only the prompter had a complete copy. (Why do you think this occurred?) This practice was followed because paper was expensive and playscripts were copied by hand, so copying each part individually saved both time and money.) Under these conditions, couplets served a useful function as a mnemonic device.