1. Julius Caesar in Iambic You’ll learn to love this…

2. Iambic Pentameter What is Iambic Pentameter? What is Iambic Pentameter? Iambic: one unstressed syllable followed by one stressed syllable Iambic: one unstressed syllable followed by one stressed syllable A set of one unstressed and one stressed is called a foot A set of one unstressed and one stressed is called a foot Penta: means five Penta: means five Iambic Pentameter is a single line of five feet written in iambic Iambic Pentameter is a single line of five feet written in iambic

3. Blank Verse Unrhymed lines of poetry written in iambic pentameter Unrhymed lines of poetry written in iambic pentameter This is what most of Julius Caesar is written in This is what most of Julius Caesar is written in

4. Iambic Pentameter Examples U / U / U / U U / U / U / U “You blocks, you stones, you worse than / U / senseless things!” Unstressed Stressed One foot

5. Iambic Pentameter Examples U / U / U / U / U / U / U / U / “Wherefore rejoice? What conquest brings U / U / he home? What tributaries follow him to Rome To grace in captive bonds his chariot wheels? You blocks, you stones, you worse than senseless things!” ~Marullus in Act 1.1.34-37

6. Why Iambic Pentameter? Iambic Pentameter is the meter that most closely resembles normal human speech patterns. Iambic Pentameter is the meter that most closely resembles normal human speech patterns. But why use meter at all? But why use meter at all? You can do things with meter: You can do things with meter: The commoners speak in prose The commoners speak in prose Those in high society speak in iambic Those in high society speak in iambic Act 1.1 is an example of this Act 1.1 is an example of this

7. Why Else Iambic Pentameter? Suddenly changing a pattern, like the meter, makes the ear stop and take note of the change. Suddenly changing a pattern, like the meter, makes the ear stop and take note of the change. For those of you playing at home, this, here, is a visual example of how a change in pattern can draw the attention of your eye similar to the way changing meter can draw the attention of your ear and brain…get it?

8. What is Being Emphasized in this Passage? sound it out… “Cowards die many times before their deaths; The valiant never taste of death but once. Of all the wonders that I yet have heard, It seems to me most strange that men should fear, Seeing that death, a necessary end, Will come when it will come.”

9. Answer / U / / / U / / / / U / / / U / / / “Cowards die many times before their deaths; U / U / U / U / U / U / U / U / U / U / The valiant never taste of death but once. U / U / U / U / U / Of all the wonders that I yet have heard, U / U / U / U / U / It seems to me most strange that men should fear, / U U / U / U U / / U U / U / U U / Seeing that death, a necessary end, U / U / U / U / U / U / Will come when it will come.” Notice the change in rhythm – this is for emphasis

10. Pretty Cool, huh See, how can you not love iambic pentameter? Doesn’t it just make you want to speak in iambic for the rest of your days?