Iambic Pentameter

• Meter - the rhythm established in a line of poetry, usually determined by syllables and stresses.

• “iamb” – “foot”, or unstressed syllable• “pent” – five • Iambic pentameter – a line of poetry that alternates

unstressed syllables with stressed syllables, equaling 10 syllables per line of alternating stresses. (unstressed/stressed/unstressed/stressed…)

• Sounds like a heartbeat – the meter (rhythm) of love!

Cyrano de Bergerac

By Edmond Rostand

Edmond Rostand (1868-1918)

• French Playwright known for his light and entertaining style. Cyrano was his most popular play.

• His father pushed him towards law school, but he fell in love with literature and theatre in college, and became a playwright.

• He wrote other plays, but Cyrano was his “one hit wonder.”

The Real Cyrano• Savinien Cyrano de Bergerac (1619 - 1655) was

a French duelist (swashbuckler) and satirist whom the play was based on.

• The play is set in France between the years 1640-1655, when Cyrano was

between 21 and 36 years old.

“She wants one man made of

Hercules and Cyrano” ~Spin Doctors

About Cyrano• A playwright with a gift for words and a strong panache,

or sense of style and flair

• He loves the beautiful and intelligent Roxanne, but is insecure about pursuing her because of his appearance (his huge nose)

• Most of the characters in the play were real friends or contemporaries of Cyrano

"A large nose is the mark of a witty, courteous, affable,

generous, and liberal man." - Savinien Cyrano de

Bergerac

What do all of these have in common?

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQzduf9GH8M&feature=related Hitch

•  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekEqEplAzDw&feature=results_vi

deo&playnext=1&list=PLC482E59AB6BFAC54 Seinfeld

•  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v09hscfyN-o boy meets world