The Music of Language

English 112

Romeo and Juliet Unit

All English words have rhythms, because the syllables are either stressed or unstressed. When people say the Shakespearean line To be or not to be, some of the syllables are stressed: to BE or NOT to BE. If we say that same line with each syllable stressed the same way, the effect is unnatural, as if a robot were speaking: TO BE OR NOT TO BE.

The way words are pronounced has to do, in part, with the matter of stress. In the words below, the syllables in capitals are stressed; the lowercase syllables are unstressed:

PANcakesRUMpelSTILLskinadVENture

“Scansion” is the formal system for marking words according to stress. You make a ___ for a stressed syllable and a U for an unstressed syllable.

U __ __ U U __ U ___ U U

Reveal fabulous genius symphony

In your notebook scan the following words:

pineapple prepare basketball

musician yesterday alive

The meter Shakespeare most often used is based on the iamb. An iamb has two syllables: the first is unstressed, and the second is stressed, like in the word applause (a PPLAUSE).

These phrases have been scanned:

U ___ U ___

A sum | mer’s day

U __ U ___ U ___ U ___ U __

Alas | that love | whose view | is muf | fled still

U __ U ___ U ___ U __ U ___

Should with | out eyes | see path | ways to | his will.

These last two lines taken from Romeo and Juliet are an example of Iambic Pentameter – a line of poetry with FIVE iambs. Shakespeare often uses this poetic technique for his main characters; whereas, the lower characters – servants – often speak in prose.

More Examples…

• Pentameter– To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield. (

Alfred Tennyson, "Ulysses")

– Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? (William Shakespeare, Sonnet 18)