The lines from Macbeth are unusual in that they are deliberately crafted at a different pace from much of the rest of the play.
Most often Shakespeare writes in Pentameter. This means that there are five stresses to the line.
Provide students with a model worked through with them so that they can see how it works.
Provide students with examples of monometer, dimeter, trimeter, tetrameter, pentameter, hexameter, heptameter and octameter. Ask them to identify the different stresses. It could be a matching activity or a joining up style of activity.
Ask students to comment on the effect of the different kinds of meter.
Then ask them to look at different sections of the play that they are studying to see whether Shakespeare is using pentameter. If he is, what is the effect on the language and the pace at which we speak the words. If it isn't pentameter why not? How does Shakespeare use language to signpost changes of atmosphere, to increase tension or even to show different social status between the characters in the play?
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