1. TITLE
ARC Centre of Excellence for the History of Emotions Europe (1100–1800)

2. Can the rhythm of language increase its power?

4. Rhythm in English
English has natural patterns of weak and strong syllables.
Words like:
Independent
Motorcycle
Emergency
Football

5. Rhythm in English
Shakespeare used the natural rhythm of English to write in
Metre
instead of
Prose

6. Rhythm in English
‘Metre’ means:
Every line follows a rhythmic pattern

7. SHABOOM ECHO
ah 1, ah 2, ah 3, ah 4, ah 5

8. SHABOOM! Two households, both alike in dignity
(In fair Verona, where we lay our scene)

9. Iambic Pentameter Five stresses per line ah 1 ah 2 ah 3 ah 4 ah 5
/ / / / /
Two households, both a-like in dignity

10. Iambic Pentameter
Does a line just have to consist of ten syllables to qualify as iambic pentameter?

11. Iambic Pentameter Change Two households, both alike in dignity to
Noble families, with similar pride

12. Iambic Pentameter ah 1 ah 2 ah 3 ah 4 ah 5 / - / - / - / - /
/ / / / /
Noble families, with similar pride

13. Iambic Pentameter Two households, both alike in dignity vs
Noble families, with similar pride
Strong beat in natural places

14. Iambic Pentameter
CONTRACTIONS
Don’t
It’s

15. Iambic Pentameter CONTRACTIONS
Let me be ta’en. Let me be put to death.
I am content, so thou wilt have it so.
(Romeo, –18)

16. Iambic Pentameter What if the words were not contracted?
Let me be taken. Let me be put to death.
I am content, so thou wilt have it so.

17. Iambic Pentameter Sounds natural Has a flowing rhythm
Needs to be carefully constructed

18. Rhythm and Metre
Metre is a pattern

19. Rhythm and Metre Metre is a pattern
A pattern creates rhythm, which creates momentum and expectations

20. Playing with Momentum and Expectations

21. Suspending the Rhythm View Karmin-Acapella
youtube.com/watch?v=KJWjfRAGnHc
Suspend the rhythm and then -

22. Suspending the Rhythm Acapella Suspend the rhythm and then –
BRING THE BEAT BACK

23. Momentum and Expectations
Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight!
For ne’er saw true beauty

24. Momentum and Expectations
Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight!
For ne’er saw true beauty till this night.

25. Changing the Rhythm
Listen to the songs:
Shout!
Happy

26. Changing the Rhythm Thursday is near. Lay hand on heart, advise.
An you be mine, I’ll give you to my friend.
An you be not, hang, beg, starve, die in the streets,
For, by my soul, I’ll ne’er acknowledge thee.

27. Stichomythia Quick back-and-forth between characters
Shows a strong connection between them
Every statement gets a comeback
Watch Glee clip – ‘America’

28. Stichomythia Paris and Juliet talking
He’s pushing her to agree with him
She keeps pushing back
Whose rhythm wobbles? Why?

29. Rhythm Tricks Natural-sounding iambic pentameter
Expectations and momentum
Suspend the rhythm and Bring the beat back
Stichomythia

31. Iambic Pentameter Activity
Write a monologue by someone feeling a strong emotion OR
A dialogue between two people arguing
Use the metre to create momentum, and to play with expectations, suspend the rhythm, and stichomythia.