Shakespeare’s Shakespeare’s LanguageLanguage

4 Different Types of Language in 4 Different Types of Language in Shakespeare’s WorkShakespeare’s Work

ProseProseBlank VerseBlank VerseCoupletsCoupletsSonnetsSonnets

ProseProse

No rhyme, no meterNo rhyme, no meter Usually used by characters of a lower classUsually used by characters of a lower class Used in comedy scenesUsed in comedy scenes (there are some exceptions)(there are some exceptions)

ExampleExampleAbrahamAbraham: Do you bite your thumb at us, : Do you bite your thumb at us,

sir?sir?SampsonSampson: No, sir, I do not bite my thumb at : No, sir, I do not bite my thumb at

you, sir, but I bite my thumb, sir.you, sir, but I bite my thumb, sir.

Blank VerseBlank Verse

No rhyme, but has meter - usually No rhyme, but has meter - usually iambic pentameter – 10 syllables per iambic pentameter – 10 syllables per lineline

UsuallyUsually spoken by the upper class in spoken by the upper class in his playshis plays

CoupletsCouplets

Aa, bb, cc, dd meterAa, bb, cc, dd metera pair of rhyming lines in iambic

pentameterUsed almost always by the upper Used almost always by the upper

classclassUsed at moments of intensityUsed at moments of intensityUsed at the end of a sceneUsed at the end of a scene

SonnetsSonnets

A 14-line poem written in iambic A 14-line poem written in iambic pentameterpentameter

Always spoken by the upper classAlways spoken by the upper classMoments of highest importance and Moments of highest importance and

sometimes the prologuesometimes the prologue