SD - Analyzing the Shakespearean Drama: Language Lesson

Analyzing the Shakespearean Drama: Language

What is a Literary Allusion?

Remember that Shakespeare uses many scenes from the Bible, history, and other literary works within his plays. When a writer uses a casual or indirect reference to something else such as another work of literature, a historical event, a biblical story, or mythology, they are using allusions in their works.

Allusion: A casual or indirect reference to something else such as another work of literature, a historical event, a biblical story, or mythology.  

All About Allusions Video

Shakespeare is well-known for using allusions throughout his plays, and once you become familiar with allusions, you will see that allusions are actually all around you in the world today! Let's view the video below to better understand literary allusions in Shakespeare's works and in the world today:

 

Blank Verse

You have learned that Shakespeare is famous for his sonnet form and the many sonnets that he wrote. Let's review the format of the Shakespearean Sonnet:

  • 14 Lines
  • Iambic Pentameter
  • Structure: - 3 Quatrains + 1 Couplet
  • Rhyme Scheme: ABAB CDCD EFEF GG

In his plays, Shakespeare mixes both poetry and prose. He incorporates poetic language by writing his dialogues, monologues, and soliloquies in Blank Verse to invoke a musical, rhythmic tone for his audience.

Blank Verse- Unrhymed Iambic Pentameter: My grave is like to be my wedding bed. But soft, what light through yonder window breaks.  

Blank verse means that instead of having lines that rhyme, like the rhyme scheme that most Shakespearean Sonnets have, there is no rhyme, but the sonnet still has a meter of Iambic Pentameter.

Let's view an example of blank verse from Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare:

(In the examples below, u = unstressed and / = stressed)

 

Here is another example of blank verse from A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare:

Monologue vs. Soliloquy

When reading Shakespeare's plays, you will come across lengthy speeches by one character. These speeches could be monologues or soliloquys. Monologues and Soliloquys are both speeches, but they have one key difference:

Monologue: A lengthy speech by a single character without another character's response. The character however, is speaking to someone else or even a group of people.

Purpose of Monologue: To give the actor a platform in order to deliver important information to other characters and the audience.

Soliloquy: A lengthy speech meant to be heard by the audience but not by other characters on the stage (as opposed to a monologue which addresses someone who does not respond). In a soliloquy only the audience can hear the private thoughts of the characters.

Purpose of Soliloquy: To reveal the innermost thoughts of a character.

Let's take a look at a sample of each type.

Drama Elements Self-Assessment

After you clearly understand the various pieces of a Shakespearean drama and drama analysis, practice your understanding below:

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