1. Shakespeare’s Use of Language

2. Poetry vs. Prose Shakespeare wrote in Poetry and Prose
Poetry = rhythmic literary work; verse
Prose = the ordinary form of written language, without rhythmic structure

3. Blank Verse
Blank Verse is the type of poetry Shakespeare used.
Blank Verse is written using a rhythmic structure called Iambic Pentameter.

4. Iambic Pentameter The meaning of Iambic:
An “Iamb” consists of two syllables
The first syllable is unstressed (it sounds softer)
The second syllable is stressed (it sounds stronger)

5. Finding Iambs Shall I compare thee to a Summer’s day?
To locate Iambs, first separate every two syllables within a line of blank verse:
Shall I compare thee to a Summer’s day?
IAMB!
IAMB!
Each set of two syllables is called an iamb.
IAMBS!

6. Unstressed and Stressed
Each Iamb contains one unstressed and one stressed syllable.
Unstressed syllables are marked with a U
Stressed syllables are marked with a /

7. Marking Iambs Shall I compare thee to a Summer’s day? U / U / U / U /

8. Shall I compare thee to a Summer’s day?
Iambic Pentameter
Pentameter refers to the number of Iambs in a line.
“Penta” means 5
Each line in Blank Verse has five iambs
Iambic Pentameter!
Shall I compare thee to a Summer’s day?
5 Iambs!

9. Sonnets vs. Plays
Shakespeare used rhymed iambic pentameter to write sonnets.
Shakespeare mostly used unrhymed iambic pentameter (known as blank verse) to write his plays.
Sometimes Shakespeare changes the meter to emphasize an idea or line.

10. Let’s Review…

11. Overview
Iambic
Stressed
Unstressed
Pentameter
Blank Verse