Name ____________________________________________________________________ Period ________
Poetry in Romeo and Juliet
Blank Verse, Rhymed Verse and Prose
One of the reasons I love reading Romeo and Juliet over and over is because of the beautiful language contained within
it. Shakespeare is a master of incorporating poetry into his play. In fact, 85% of Romeo and Juliet is written in poetic
form! Just think about how difficult it would be to write a play that is entertaining and timeless. Then think about
writing 85% of it in poetic form. It’s truly amazing. Read the definitions of the different types of poetry below, then see
if you can identify the examples from the play.
The Language
Blank Verse:
66% of the play
unrhymed form of poetry--no rhyme & normally consists of 10 syllables
in which every other syllable, beginning with the 2nd, is stressed
(it may depart from the strict pattern from time to time)
Rhymed Verse: rhymed poetry (usually has a regular meter – iambic pentameter – and
19% of the play
ends in rhyme)
IAMBIC PENTAMETER: . / . / . / . / . /
Prose:
ordinary written or spoken language
15% of the play
DIRECTIONS: Speeches from the first act of ROMEO AND JULIET appear below. Identify the
speaker and the language used (evidence of blank verse, rhymed verse or prose.)
LANGUAGE:
1.
“Oh, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!
It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night
As a rich jewel in an Ethiop’s earBeauty too rich for use, for earth too dear!
1.5
(49)
2.
“Three civil brawls, bred of an airy word
By thee, old Capulet, and Montague,
Have thrice disturbed the quiet of our streets”
1.1
(97)
3.
“From forth the fatal loins of these two foes
A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life:
Whose misadventured piteous overthrows
Doth with their death bury their parents’ strife.”
Prologue
SPEAKER:
LANGUAGE:
4.
“My naked weapon is out. Quarrel! I will back thee.”
1.1
(35)
5.
“Well, think of marriage now. Younger than you,
Here in Verona, ladies of esteem,
Are made already mothers. By my count,
I was your mother much upon these years
That you are now a maid.”
1.3 (76)
6.
“Madam, an hour before the worshipped sun
Peered forth the golden window of the East,
A troubled mind drave me to walk abroad”
1.1 (126)
7.
“Where’s Potpan, that he helps not to take
away? He shift a trencher! He scrape a trencher!”
1.5 (1)
SPEAKER:
Connecting to Literary Elements: Characterization
In a play, you generally learn about characters from the things they say and do and the way they speak. In
Shakespeare’s plays, verse helps reinforce character rank: Important or aristocratic characters typically speak
in blank verse or rhymed verse. Minor or comic characters often do not speak in verse.