The Language of

Shakespeare
Iambic Pentameter
Omissions
Unusual Words
Aside
Soliloquy
Unusual Word
Arrangements
Shakespearean Plot
Line
Iambic Pentameter
Five beats of alternating
unstressed and stressed
syllables
Ten syllables per line
Examples:
So fair / and foul / a day / I
have / not seen
The course / of true / love
nev/er did / run smooth
 Omissions
Shakespeare often left out letters,
syllable, or whole words. These
omissions really arent that much
different from the way we speak
today.
 Omissions (Cont.)
We Say: Complete
Sentences:
Been to class Have you been to
yet? class yet?
No. Heard No. I have not
been to class. I
Ambriz givin a heard that Mr.
test. Ambriz is giving a
test today.
Whasup What is up with
withat? that?
 Archaic Words
Archaic
No longer current or applicable
Words that are no longer in
use, or with different meanings
are usually given in the text
Example:
Anon! Soon!
 Aside
Private words that a character in a play
speaks to the audience or to another
character and that are not supposed to
be overheard by others onstage

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 Soliloquy
A long speech in
which a
character who is
usually onstage
expresses his or
her private
thoughts and
feelings.
 Unusual Word
Arrangements
Shakespeare wrote the way he did
for poetic and dramatic purposes
There are many reasons why he
did this:
To create specific poetic rhythm
To emphasize a certain word
To give a character a specific
speech pattern
 Unusual Word
Arrangements (Cont.)
Example:
I ate the sandwich
I the sandwich ate.
Ate the sandwich I.
Ate I the sandwich.
The sandwich I ate.
The sandwich ate I.

Always two there are, a master and an

apprentice.
WHO SAID THIS?
 What is a Tragedy?
A tragedy is a literary work depicting
serious events in which the main
character, who is often high-ranking and
dignified, comes to an unhappy end. (p.
300)
The Plot Line
The Shakespearean
Plotline
 Exposition
Establishes the setting,
introduces some of the
main characters, explains
background, and
introduces the characters
main conflicts
 Rising Action
Consists of a series of
complications. These
occur as main characters
take action to resolve
their problems.
 Crisis or Turning
Point
The moment when a choice is made
by the main characters which
determines the direction of the
action.
Comedy Happy Ending
Tragedy Downward Spiral
This turning point is the dramatic
and tense moment when the forces
of the conflict come together
 Falling Action
Presents events that
result from the action
taken at the turning point.
These events usually lock
the character deeper and
deeper into disaster
 Climax and
Resolution
The final and greatest
Climax occurs at the end
of the play
Resolution: the loose parts
of the plot are all tied up.
The play is over.
Yoda
Always two
there are, a
master and an
apprentice.