Tuesday, 27 September 2016

Shakespeare - Iambic Pentameter : initial research

One of the most distinctive elements of Shakespeare's work - especially when placed into a contemporary context - is the language and rhythm of his writing. When studying Shakespeare at school I remember making reference to and reading about his use of the iambic pentameter. 


-- The iambic pentameter is the stress of certain syllables to create rhythm. 
-- An 'iamb' is one unstressed + stressed syllable e.g. to BE or NOT to BE
-- each verse is made up of 5 x2 syllable iambs = 10 syllables 
e.g. shall I comPARE thee TO a SUMmer's DAY
-- Most of shakespeare's are written in pros : his characters use iambic pentameter when speaking about their inner thoughts and emotions ( in soliloquies) 
-- the rhythm of an iambic pentameter actually mimics a heartbeat, therefore it doesn't just talk about matters of the heart, it follows its rhythm.

WHAT TO DO WITH THIS INFO : could be interesting to create something using shapes and typography combined with selected colours and motifs using key lines and verses of shakespeare's plays. highlighting through the composition of the typography/shapes his use of the iambic pentameter. 

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