Poems in R&J

What is a rhyme scheme and what does it do?

The pattern of rhymes at the ends of lines (e.g. ABAB CDCD); creates unity and musicality. In Shakespeare, it can show order or harmony, like in the shared sonnet when Romeo and Juliet first meet.

What is iambic metre and why is it important?

A rhythm of two syllables (unstressed + stressed: da-DUM); mirrors natural speech and heartbeat rhythm, linking emotion and life — perfect for expressing love and sincerity.

What is iambic pentameter?

A line of five iambs (10 syllables total). Shakespeare’s most common metre; gives speeches balance and elegance. In Romeo and Juliet, it reflects the controlled intensity of their love.

What is trochaic metre and what effect does it have?

The opposite rhythm (stressed + unstressed: DUM-da); creates urgency or disturbance. Shakespeare sometimes shifts to this pattern to signal tension or emotional imbalance.

What is dactylic metre?

A three-syllable foot (stressed + two unstressed: DUM-da-da); gives a flowing, rolling rhythm, often used for lyrical or musical effect rather than dialogue.

What do terms like tetrameter or dimeter mean?

They show how many feet are in a line: tetrameter = 4, dimeter = 2. Shorter lines increase pace or tension; longer ones feel reflective or formal.

What is a rhyming couplet used for?

Two consecutive rhyming lines that sum up or contrast with what came before. Shakespeare often ends scenes or sonnets with a couplet to create closure or emphasis, e.g. “For never was a story of more woe / Than this of Juliet and her Romeo.”

What is blank verse and when is it used?

Unrhymed iambic pentameter; used by noble or serious characters. It gives dignity and focus — most of Romeo’s and Juliet’s major speeches use it.

What is prose used for in Shakespeare?

Ordinary speech without metre; used by servants or comic characters (like the Nurse or Mercutio) to sound realistic, or in chaotic moments to break formality.

What is the structure of a Shakespearean sonnet?

14 lines of iambic pentameter with rhyme scheme ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. The final rhyming couplet delivers a conclusion or twist.

What does the final rhyming couplet in a sonnet do?

It resolves or reinterprets the preceding argument, giving a sense of completion — e.g. the Prologue ends with “…their parents’ strife,” neatly closing the prophecy of fate.

What themes do Shakespearean sonnets usually explore?

Love, beauty, time, and mortality — often a tension between spiritual and physical love. For example, Romeo and Juliet’s shared sonnet expresses idealised, sacred love.

How is the Prologue of Romeo and Juliet structured and why?

As a Shakespearean sonnet. It turns the entire tragedy into a ‘love poem’ that’s doomed from the start — combining romance and fatalism.

Why is it significant that Romeo and Juliet share a sonnet when they first meet?

Their dialogue (Act 1, Scene 5) completes a perfect sonnet together, symbolising instant unity and spiritual harmony; their love fits perfectly into poetic form.

What do Romeo’s speeches often show through rhyme and metre?

His rhymed iambic pentameter conveys romantic idealism and emotional control — his language is elevated, showing love as poetic and pure.

Why do Friar Lawrence and the servants switch between verse and prose?

The form reflects social class and tone: the Friar uses measured verse to sound wise; servants and Mercutio use prose for humour or chaos.

How does Shakespeare use form to mirror emotion?

Structured rhyme and rhythm show harmony or control; broken metre mirrors tension, anger, or tragedy — e.g. irregular rhythms in the fight scenes.

How does the breakdown of form reflect the lovers’ story?

As the play darkens, rhyme and order disintegrate — the collapse of poetic structure mirrors the collapse of their relationship and fate.

What is Shakespeare’s overall purpose in using verse form in Romeo and Juliet?

To chart the movement from order to disorder: the lovers begin in perfect, sonnet-like harmony but are destroyed as rhythm and structure — like fate — break apart.

What kind of love is shown in a Shakespearean sonnet?

Typically idealised, spiritual, or eternal love — focused on purity and the soul rather than lust. Romeo and Juliet’s sonnet exchange echoes this, elevating their first meeting above mere attraction.