Shakespeare’s Language

4 Different Types of Language in Shakespeare’s Work Prose Prose Blank Verse Blank Verse Couplets Couplets Sonnets Sonnets

Prose No rhyme, no meter No rhyme, no meter Usually used by characters of a lower class Usually used by characters of a lower class Used in comedy scenes Used in comedy scenes (there are some exceptions) (there are some exceptions)Example Abraham: Do you bite your thumb at us, sir? Sampson: No, sir, I do not bite my thumb at you, sir, but I bite my thumb, sir.

Blank Verse No rhyme, but has meter - usually iambic pentameter – 10 syllables per line No rhyme, but has meter - usually iambic pentameter – 10 syllables per line Usually spoken by the upper class in his plays Usually spoken by the upper class in his plays

Couplets Aa, bb, cc, dd meter Aa, bb, cc, dd meter a pair of rhyming lines in iambic pentameter Used almost always by the upper class Used almost always by the upper class Used at moments of intensity Used at moments of intensity Used at the end of a scene Used at the end of a scene

Sonnets A 14-line poem written in iambic pentameter A 14-line poem written in iambic pentameter Always spoken by the upper class Always spoken by the upper class Moments of highest importance and sometimes the prologue Moments of highest importance and sometimes the prologue