1. The Language of William Shakespeare
Shakespeare’s Plays

2. What do these actors and actresses have in common?
They’ve all starred in movies based on a Shakespeare play.
Kenneth Branagh
Julia Stiles
Laurence Fishburne
Heath Ledger
Michelle Pfeiffer
Josh Hartnett
Claire Danes
Toshiro Mifune
Denzel Washington
Calista Flockhart
Mel Gibson
Alicia Silverstone

3. What Makes Shakespeare’s Plays Great?
Shakespeare’s plays have been popular worldwide for four hundred years because they
appeal to powerful and universal human emotions
contain striking images, memorable expressions, and compelling passages

4. The Language of Shakespeare’s Plays
Shakespeare uses both poetry and prose in his plays.
Elizabethan playwrights generally considered poetry to be elevated language.
Poetry is usually spoken by the main or high-ranking characters.
Elizabethan playwrights generally considered prose to be common language.
Prose is usually spoken by the supporting or low-ranking characters.

5. Shakespeare’s Use of Poetry
The poetry in Shakespeare’s plays consists of both blank verse and rhymed verse.
Shakespeare uses blank verse—unrhymed iambic pentameter—in nearly 70 percent of his dramatic dialogue.
Shakespeare uses rhymed verse in about 10 percent of his dramatic dialogue.
His rhymed verse often consists of couplets—two consecutive lines of poetry that rhyme.

6. Shakespeare’s Use of Blank Verse
Blank verse sounds similar to human speech but is still considered elevated language.
The rhythm of blank verse emphasizes imagery and heightens the emotional impact of language.
Mercutio. True, I talk of dreams;
Which are the children of an idle brain,
Begot of nothing but vain fantasy;
Which is as thin of substance as the air, . . .
from The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

7. Shakespeare’s Use of Rhymed Verse
Rhymed verse is often used to express matters of love and courtship.
Romeo.
If I profane with my unworthiest hand
This holy shrine, the gentle sin is this:
My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand
To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.
from The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

8. Shakespeare’s Use of Rhymed Verse
Couplets may
punctuate a character’s exit
signal the end of a scene
Prince.
For never was a story of more woe
Than this of Juliet and her Romeo. [Exuent omnes.]
from The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

9. Shakespeare’s Use of Prose
Shakespeare uses prose in more than 20 percent of his dramatic dialogue. Prose is often used to express
lighthearted or casual sentiments
friendly exchanges
humor
Second Watchman.
If we know him to be a thief, shall we not lay hands on him?
Dogberry.
Truly, by your office you may The most peaceable way for you, if you do take a thief, is to let him show himself what he is and steal out of your company from Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare

10. What Have You Learned?
1. Shakespeare’s plays are performed regularly all around the world.
a. true
b. false
2. The majority of poetry in Shakespeare’s plays is written in
a. rhymed verse c. blank verse
b. rhymed couplets d. none of the above
3. Prose is usually employed by
a. main characters c. high-ranking characters
b. low-ranking characters d. love-struck characters

11. The End