Why Shakespeare loved iambic pentameter - David T. Freeman and Gregory Taylor

Summary

This script unravels the beauty of Shakespeare's language, emphasizing its poetic nature. It explains the importance of stress in words and the concept of poetic meter, particularly iambic pentameter, which Shakespeare favored for its rhythmic flow and natural fit to the English language. The script suggests that the heartbeat-like rhythm of iambic pentameter may have been chosen to resonate with the human pulse during moments of high emotion in his plays.

Takeaways

• 📜 Shakespeare's language may initially seem strange, but appreciating it involves understanding his poetic use of language.
• 🎭 Shakespeare was a poet first, and his plays are infused with poetic elements like meter and rhythm.
• 🗣️ Stress in language, emphasizing certain syllables, is crucial to understanding and appreciating Shakespeare's work.
• 👣 Poets use patterns of stressed and unstressed syllables to create rhythm, similar to how songwriters use repetition in music.
• 👣 A 'foot' in verse is a unit of stressed and unstressed syllables, akin to a musical measure with beats.
• 👣 Dactyls and trochees are types of metrical feet with specific syllable stress patterns used in poetry.
• 👣 Iambic pentameter, a line with five iambs, is Shakespeare's favorite meter, used for many of his most famous lines.
• 👣 Iambic pentameter's structure can be remembered by the phrase 'I am', with the first syllable unstressed and the second stressed.
• 👣 Shakespeare's characters often switch to iambic pentameter when expressing deep emotions or contemplating their existence.
• 👣 Iambic pentameter may have been chosen for its natural fit with the English language and its resemblance to the heartbeat, which is also in iambs.
• 💬 Shakespeare's use of poetry and iambic pentameter is not just for aesthetic purposes but also to convey heightened emotional states.

Q & A

Why might the language of Shakespeare's works seem strange to someone encountering them for the first time?

The language may seem strange due to its archaic nature and the use of poetic devices such as iambic pentameter, which are not commonly used in modern English.

What is the secret to appreciating Shakespeare's language?

The secret is to recognize that Shakespeare was a poet first and foremost, and to pay attention to the use of stress and poetic meter in his works.

What is meant by 'stress' in the context of Shakespeare's language?

In this context, 'stress' refers to the emphasis placed on certain syllables in words, which is a key element in the rhythm and flow of his poetry.

How do poets use stress in their work?

Poets use stress to create rhythm and poetic meter by arranging stressed and unstressed syllables in a patterned way.

What is a 'foot' in a line of verse?

A 'foot' is a group of stressed and unstressed syllables that form a distinct unit within a line of verse, similar to a musical measure.

What is a dactyl and how does it contribute to the rhythm of a poem?

A dactyl is a metrical foot consisting of three syllables with the first being stressed and the second and third unstressed, creating a swift and forceful rhythm.

What is the difference between a trochee and an iamb?

A trochee is a two-syllable foot with the first syllable stressed and the second unstressed, while an iamb is the reverse, with the first syllable unstressed and the second stressed.

Why is iambic pentameter significant in Shakespeare's work?

Iambic pentameter is significant because it is Shakespeare's favorite meter, consisting of five iambs per line, and is used for many of his most famous lines.

How does Shakespeare's use of iambic pentameter relate to the natural rhythm of the English language?

Iambic pentameter is naturally suited to the English language, making it easier for actors to memorize and for audiences to understand.

Why might Shakespeare's characters switch to iambic pentameter during moments of high emotion?

Iambic pentameter is used to convey heightened emotions and introspection, as it follows the natural rhythm of the heart, which beats in iambs.

What is the practical way to remember what 'iambic pentameter' means?

The word 'iamb' is pronounced like 'I am', and iambic pentameter consists of ten syllables, similar to taking ten steps.

Outlines

00:00

🎭 Understanding Shakespeare's Poetic Language

This paragraph introduces the poetic nature of Shakespeare's work, emphasizing the importance of stress in his language. It explains that poets use stress to create rhythm and meter in their work, similar to how songwriters use repetition. The paragraph also introduces the concept of 'feet' in poetry, giving examples of dactyls and trochees, and highlighting the significance of iambs in Shakespeare's writing. It suggests that understanding the rhythmic patterns in Shakespeare's language can help new readers appreciate his work.

Keywords

💡Stress

In the context of the video, 'stress' refers to the emphasis placed on certain syllables in words when spoken, which is a key aspect of Shakespeare's language. It is crucial for appreciating the rhythm and flow of his poetry and plays. The script uses words like 'playwright', 'computer', and 'telephone' to illustrate how stress can be identified and emphasizes its importance in creating rhythmic patterns in poetry.

💡Poetic Meter

Poetic meter is the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of verse, which is central to the video's theme of understanding Shakespeare's language. It is likened to musical measures and is used by poets to create rhythm. The script mentions that Shakespeare often used iambic pentameter, a meter with five iambs per line, to convey emotional depth and significance.

💡Iamb

An 'iamb' is a metrical foot consisting of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed one, as in the phrase 'I am.' The video explains that Shakespeare favored iambs for their natural fit with the English language and used them to create a heartbeat-like rhythm in his lines, such as 'To be, or not to be.'

💡Iambic Pentameter

Iambic pentameter is a specific type of poetic meter that Shakespeare frequently employed, characterized by five iambs per line, totaling ten syllables. The script highlights its significance in Shakespeare's work, noting that it was used for many of his most famous lines, and relates it to the natural rhythm of the English language and the human heartbeat.

💡Dactyl

A 'dactyl' is a metrical foot with three syllables, the first stressed and the next two unstressed. The video uses the example of Robert Browning's 'The Lost Leader' to illustrate how dactyls can create a swift and forceful rhythm in poetry.

💡Trochee

A 'trochee' is a two-syllable foot with the first syllable stressed and the second unstressed. The script cites the witches' chant in Shakespeare's 'Macbeth' as an example of how trochees can add an ominous tone to verse.

💡Meter

Meter in poetry refers to the rhythmic structure created by the arrangement of syllables into repeating patterns of stressed and unstressed sounds. The video emphasizes that meter is about sound rather than spelling, and it is a fundamental aspect of Shakespeare's poetic language.

💡Rhythm

Rhythm in poetry is the patterned flow of sounds, often created through the use of meter. The script explains that poets use rhythm to express ideas and evoke emotions, comparing it to the way songwriters use musical repetition to convey their themes.

💡Pirate with a Wooden Leg

This phrase from the script is used as a mnemonic to remember iambic pentameter. It illustrates how the ten syllables in the phrase can be visualized as footprints left by a pirate, with curves for unstressed syllables and shoe outlines for stressed ones, helping to understand the structure of Shakespeare's verse.

💡Emotions

The script suggests that Shakespeare's characters often turn to iambic pentameter when expressing strong emotions, such as Hamlet's existential contemplation or Romeo's passionate love. This use of meter is tied to the heightened emotional states that characters experience, mirroring the natural rhythm of the heart.

💡Heartbeat

The video concludes by likening the rhythm of iambic pentameter to the heartbeat, suggesting that Shakespeare's poetic lines not only discuss matters of the heart but also follow its natural rhythm. This metaphor helps to explain why iambic pentameter was a fitting choice for conveying emotional depth in Shakespeare's works.

Highlights

The language of Shakespeare may initially seem strange to newcomers.

Shakespeare was a poet before he was known for his plays.

Understanding stress in words is key to appreciating Shakespeare's language.

Stress refers to the emphasis on certain syllables in words.

Poets use stress to create rhythm in their work.

A 'foot' in verse is a unit of stressed and unstressed syllables.

Dactyls are metrical feet with one stressed syllable followed by two unstressed ones.

Trochees are two-syllable feet with a stressed syllable followed by an unstressed one.

Iambs are two-syllable feet with an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed one.

Shakespeare favored iambic pentameter for his verse.

Iambic pentameter consists of five iambs per line, totaling ten syllables.

Iambic pentameter is naturally suited to the English language and easy to memorize.

Shakespeare's characters often turn to iambic pentameter for emotional expression.

Meter in poetry is about sound, not spelling.

The word 'iamb' is pronounced similarly to 'I am', helping to remember iambic pentameter.

Shakespeare's use of iambic pentameter may be linked to the natural rhythm of a heartbeat.

The pirate example illustrates marking iambic pentameter with footprints.

Most lines in Shakespeare's plays are in prose, but characters switch to poetry for heightened emotions.

Transcripts

To someone first encountering the works of William Shakespeare,

the language may seem strange.

But there is a secret to appreciating it.

Although he was famous for his plays, Shakespeare was first and foremost a poet.

One of the most important things in Shakespeare's language

is his use of stress.

Not that kind of stress,

but the way we emphasize certain syllables in words more than others.

We're so used to doing this that we may not notice it at first.

But if you say the word slowly, you can easily identify them.

Playwright, computer, telephone.

Poets are very aware of these stresses,

having long experimented with the number

and order of stressed and unstressed syllables,

and combined them in different ways to create rhythm in their poems.

Like songwriters,

poets often express their ideas through a recognizable repetition of these rhythms

or poetic meter.

And like music,

poetry has its own set of terms for describing this.

In a line of verse,

a foot is a certain number of stressed and unstressed syllables

forming a distinct unit,

just as a musical measure consists of a certain number of beats.

One line of verse is usually made up of several feet.

For example, a dactyl is a metrical foot of three syllables

with the first stressed, and the second and third unstressed.

Dactyls can create lines that move swiftly and gather force,

as in Robert Browning's poem, "The Lost Leader."

"Just for a handful of silver he left us. Just for a rib and to stick in his coat."

Another kind of foot is the two-syllable long trochee,

a stressed syllable followed by an unstressed one.

The trochees in these lines from Shakespeare's "Macbeth"

lend an ominous and spooky tone to the witches' chant.

"Double, double, toil and trouble; fire burn and cauldron bubble."

But with Shakespeare, it's all about the iamb.

This two-syllable foot is like a reverse trochee,

so the first syllable is unstressed and the second is stressed, as in,

"To be, or not to be."

Shakespeare's favorite meter, in particular, was iambic pentameter,

where each line of verse is made up of five two-syllable iambs,

for a total of ten syllables.

And it's used for many of Shakespeare's most famous lines:

"Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?"

"Arise fair sun, and kill the envious moon."

Notice how the iambs cut across both punctuation and word separation.

Meter is all about sound, not spelling.

Iambic pentameter may sound technical,

but there's an easy way to remember what it means.

The word iamb is pronounced just like the phrase, "I am."

Now, let's expand that to a sentence

that just happens to be in iambic pentameter.

"I am a pirate with a wooden leg."

The pirate can only walk in iambs,

a living reminder of Shakespeare's favorite meter.

Iambic pentameter is when he takes ten steps.

Our pirate friend can even help us remember how to properly mark it

if we image the footprints he leaves walking along a deserted island beach:

A curve for unstressed syllables, and a shoe outline for stressed ones.

"If music be the food of love, play on."

Of course, most lines of Shakespeare's plays

are written in regular prose.

But if you read carefully,

you'll notice that Shakespeare's characters turn to poetry,

and iambic pentameter in particular,

for many of the same reasons that we look to poetry in our own lives.

Feeling passionate, introspective, or momentous.

Whether it's Hamlet pondering his existence,

or Romeo professing his love,

the characters switch to iambic pentameter when speaking about their emotions

and their place in the world.

Which leaves just one last question.

Why did Shakespeare choose iambic pentameter for these moments,

rather than, say, trochaic hexameter or dactylic tetrameter?

It's been said that iambic pentameter was easy for his actors to memorize

and for the audience to understand

because it's naturally suited to the English language.

But there might be another reason.

The next time you're in a heightened emotional situation,

like the ones that make Shakespeare's characters burst into verse,

put your hand over the left side of your chest.

What do you feel?

That's your heart beating in iambs.

Da duhm, da duhm, da duhm, da duhm, da duhm.

Shakespeare's most poetic lines don't just talk about matters of the heart.

They follow its rhythm.