Top 10 Study Tips

The Top 10 things you need to know when studying…

Shakespeare
• In Romeo and Juliet, you could break down the umbrella term of ‘Love’
1 Read the play! into different kinds of love (courtly, sexual and true love). How do these
different portrayals of love interact? How does the theme of a warring
If you haven’t already read the play in class, you should spend a few hours
society conflict with the theme of love?
reading the play for yourself. Whilst reading, highlight your favourite
moments/lines and anything that really stands out for you. Doing this means • In The Merchant of Venice, consider how ‘Justice and mercy’ is closely
that you are critically interacting with the text, which will serve you well related with the theme of ‘Money’. Does money corrupt? Is justice done
when you come to study the play more closely. at the end of the play? How does money affect character relationships?
• In Julius Caesar, look at the relationship between the rhetorical prowess
2 Shakespearean language of characters and the amount of political power they hold. Also, explore
Shakespeare’s language can be daunting! The idea is not to understand how power is shown to lead to corruption; does this affect loyalty?
absolutely everything you read, but to focus on key passages and the way
that it is written so you can get the most out of it. Knowing the plot and
the characters inside out is important, too. When tackling a difficult piece of
4 Setting of the plays
6 Blank verse
language it can be helpful to think about who is saying it and why.
Consider the fact that Shakespeare does not always set his plays in England.
3 Key themes • Romeo and Juliet is set in Verona. What is it? Technically speaking, blank verse consists of unrhymed
iambic pentameter: a line of five iambs (see Iambic
Depending on the play that you are studying, you will need to identify and • Macbeth: Scotland.
pentameter). Simply put, this means lines with 10
familiarise yourself with the key themes within it. Here are some examples:
• The Merchant of Venice: Venice. syllables, 5 of which are stressed, with no rhyme at
the end.
Macbeth Romeo and The Merchant Julius Caesar • Julius Caesar: Rome.
Juliet of Venice Ask yourself why he chooses overseas locations. For example, with Romeo
and Juliet, a common English conception of Italy was that feuds and Example? Romeo and Juliet:
Ambition Love Love, marriage Political power
and friendship passionate love affairs were commonplace. However, how Italian is the play, ‘Who now / the price / of his / dear blood / doth owe?/’
really? The same question could be asked of Shakespeare’s other plays: are (III.1.145)
The Reputation Money Loyalty they ever convincing portrayals of different cultures and societies or are
supernatural they simple representations of attitudes and manners that would be found in Macbeth:
Elizabethan England? ‘When now / I think / you can / behold / such sights/’
Witchcraft Fate Justice and Misinterpretation
mercy and misreading (III.4.113)
5 Writing about form and language
Tragedy and Society at war Religion Rhetorical power
Do you know the difference between a soliloquy and a monologue? What’s a Effect • It’s flexible: Shakespeare uses the above basic
revenge
sonnet? Do you know what blank verse is? What are rhyming couplets? The patterns, but often varies it.
key elements when commenting on Shakespeare’s use of language and its
structure are: 1) to use correct terminology; 2) to show understanding of • To capture the sound of speech, he changes the
Draw a spider-diagram for each theme, noting any links between them. why he opts for these different forms and techniques; and 3) to comment on length and rhythm of lines.
For example: the effect his choices have. To get you started, here are some key techniques • Shakespeare often uses blank verse when he wants
• In Macbeth, is there a link between the theme of ‘Ambition’ and the with definitions and examples explained. Try making your own table with more to convey the intensity of characters’ feelings.
fundamental role it plays in Shakespearean tragedy? key terms you need to know!

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Shakespeare (continued)
7 Iambic pentameter 8 Soliloquy 9 Monologue 10 Rhymed verse/rhyming couplets

What is it? Let’s break this down: What is it? A soliloquy happens when a character is on What is it? A monologue is an extended speech, which What is Simply put, lines of verse that rhyme! In
stage alone, exploring his/her feelings. Other other characters are privy to, or one which is it? Shakespeare, rhymed verse is usually made up
• An iamb is the most common ‘metrical
characters do not know what is being said, specifically addressed to the audience. of rhyming couplets. Rhyming couplets are a
foot’, which basically means how the
but the audience do hear what the character These are usually very powerful. pair of rhymed lines, of any metre, following the
stress falls in a line (or even more crudely,
is thinking/feeling. rhyme pattern of AA, BB, CC. Shakespeare often
the rhythm of a line).
uses rhyming couplets to close a scene; a kind of
Example? The Merchant of Venice:
• An iamb consists of a weak stress poetic flourish, if you will!
Example? Hamlet: Shylock’s famous speeches in Act III Scene 1
followed by a strong stress: think ‘ti-tum’.
‘To be or not to be …’ = probably the best- lines 49–61 and Act IV Scene 1 lines 43–61.
• Pentameter simply refers to the length of Example? Macbeth: Rhyming couplets making up
known soliloquy.
the line, so, in this case, five ‘metrical feet’ rhymed verse:
Julius Caesar:
(pent = five). Macbeth: ‘Eye of newt, and toe of frog, (A)
Marc Antony’s speech in Act III Scene 2 lines
See Macbeth’s soliloquy in Act II Scene 1 Wool of bat and tongue of dog. (A)
So, put together, all iambic pentameter 70–104.
lines 31–64. Adder’s fork, and blind-worms sting, (B)
means is a line consisting of five iambs: (ti-
Lizards leg, and owlet’s wing – (B)
tum / ti-tum / ti-tum / ti-tum / ti-tum).
Romeo and Juliet: Effect • Monologues are usually extremely For a charm of powerful trouble, (C)
See Juliet’s speech in Act II Scene 2 lines powerful and rhetorically impressive. Like a hell-broth, boil and bubble.’ (C) (IV.1.12–19)
Example? Romeo and Juliet: 43–9. It is the moment at which the characters
Julius Caesar: A rhyming couplet closing
‘But, soft! / What light / through yon- / der dominate the stage with their reasoning/
a scene:
win- / dow breaks? declarations of love/elaborate
Effect • For the character, it gives them an deceptions. ‘And after this let Caesar seat him sure,
It is / the east, / and Jul- / iet is / the sun.’ opportunity to explore their thoughts For we will shake him, or worse days endure.’
(II.2.2–3) and feelings aloud without the pressure • They are often full of powerful imagery
(I.2.317–8)
Hamlet: of other characters’ opinions/views/ and important messages, which are
interjections. both captivating and crucial to your
‘When he / is drunk / asleep, / or in / his Effect • Firstly, rhyming couplets (and rhyme in general)
understanding of both the plot and where
rage’ (III.3.90) • For the audience, it allows us an insight create a compelling and strong rhythm, which
the action may be headed – look out for
into a character’s internal struggles, and can prove effective when trying to reinforce
any foreshadowing in these speeches!
Effect • It’s closest to the natural rhythm of increases the potential for empathy or certain ideas/concepts/feelings.
distrust of a character. • This is where dramatic irony is reinforced
spoken English, and echoes the sound of • They can be both playful, keeping the pace of
or truths revealed to the characters, so
a heartbeat. • It can be key for creating dramatic irony. a scene running at a good speed, but they can
these speeches may mark turning-points
• It’s very flexible. A great example of this is Iago’s also be deeply moving and even ominous,
in the plays.
soliloquies, which convey his evil thus enhancing the romance or tragedy of a
• An overuse of iambic pentameter, intentions for the audience’s ears only, all scene/speech.
however, can feel very mechanical, which the while the other characters still view him
is why Shakespeare varies the form of his • They are a demonstration of Shakespeare’s
as ‘good, honest, Iago.’ dexterity with language; some of his rhyming
language.
couplets are simply sublime. Technically and
poetically, therefore, Shakespeare is the king
of verse!

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