Poetry and Its Place in Shakespearean Literature All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts As You Like It

Poetry is an emotional response to life using figurative language. An hour before the worshipp’d sun Peered forth the golden window of the east Romeo and Juliet ACT I Scene 1. Personification is a type of figurative language that gives life to inanimate objects.

Other types of Figurative Language Simile-Two things are compared Simile-Two things are compared using “like” or “as.” using “like” or “as.” “ I am constant as the northern star, Of whose true-fix'd and resting quality There is no fellow in the firmament." “ I am constant as the northern star, Of whose true-fix'd and resting quality There is no fellow in the firmament." --From Julius Caesar (III, i, 60 – 62) --From Julius Caesar (III, i, 60 – 62)

Metaphor—Direct comparison of unlikes Alliteration—Repetition of initial consonant sounds in successive word. Done to death by slanderous tongue Was the Hero that here lies" --From Much Ado About Nothing (V, iii, 3-4) But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks; It is the east, and Juliet is the sun. Romeo and Juliet

The moan of doves in immemorial elms, And murmuring of innumerable bees. Tennyson Apostrophe—Words that are spoken to a person who is absent or imaginary, or to an object or abstract idea. O flesh, flesh, how art thou fishified! Romeo and Juliet. ACT II Scene 4. Onomatopoeia—The use of words to suggest sounds.

Poetry Devices Rhyme—The occurrence of the same or similar sounds in two or more words Rhyme—The occurrence of the same or similar sounds in two or more words Rhyme scheme—The pattern of end rhyme in a poem Rhyme scheme—The pattern of end rhyme in a poem O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright! A It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night A Like a rich jewel in an Ethiope’s ear; B Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear! B

Meter—The arrangement of a line of poetry by the number of syllables and the rhythm of accented (or stressed) syllables. Iambic pentameter--Typically, Shakespeare wrote in iambic pentameter. Iambic means the stress is on the second syllable, i.e. good- bye. Pentameter shows us that a line has five "feet" or clusters of two syllables adding up to ten syllables in a line. These "feet" are marked like this hello | hello | hello | hello | hello.

Organizational Devices in Poetry  Verse—A line of poetry  Couplet—Two lines of rhymed poetry. Shakespeare often used the “capping couplet” to end a scene, to show the exit of an important character, to end an important speech. Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind; ("a" rhyme) And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind.

Stanza—An organizational pattern of verse. Quatrain—A four line stanza or poem. Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? A Thou art more lovely and more temperate. B Rough winds do shake the daring buds of May A And summer’s lease hath all to short a stay. B

Shakepeare’s Sonnets  It is followed by one couplet (two lines).  The rhyme scheme is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG.  The sonnet’s main idea develops through each of the three four-line units.  The 14 lines are grouped into 3 quatrains (quatrain = four-line unit).  Each quatrain contributes a piece of the idea (or clarifies the previous piece).  Usually the couplet stands apart as a conclusion, an afterward.

Sonnet XVIII (18) 1. Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? A 2. Thou art more lovely and more temperate: B First 3. Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, A 4. And summer's lease hath all too short a date: B 5. Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines, C 6. And often is his gold complexion dimmed, D Second 7. And every fair from fair sometime declines, C 8. By chance, or nature's changing course untrimmed: D 9. But thy eternal summer shall not fade, E 10. Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow'st, F Third 11. Nor shall death brag thou wander'st in his shade, E 12. When in eternal lines to time thou grow'st, F 13. So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see, G 14. So long lives this, and this gives life to thee. G

Facts about Shakespeare’s Poetry His drama is filled with it, i.e. iambic pentameter is used for all important characters and speeches. His drama is filled with it, i.e. iambic pentameter is used for all important characters and speeches. Less important or less noble characters speak in prose (the ordinary language of man. Less important or less noble characters speak in prose (the ordinary language of man. Heroic couplets (capping couplets in iambic pentameter) are used throughout. Heroic couplets (capping couplets in iambic pentameter) are used throughout. Figurative language fills the dialogue. Figurative language fills the dialogue.