Ask Experts Questions for FREE Help !
Ask
    Cheezeycrackers's Avatar
    Cheezeycrackers Posts: 43, Reputation: 3
    Junior Member
     
    #1

    Dec 7, 2011, 11:19 AM
    Help with iambic pentameter in Othello
    I need some help. ME and my group were assigned several monologues fro act 2-5 of Othello.We're really confused. I'm not asking for anyone to do the work for us but if you could identify 1 change in iambic pentameter, and explain how you got it so we can apply it to the rest of the monologue. Also What is Elizabethan Rhetoric

    That Cassio loves her, I do well believe it;
    That she loves him, 'tis apt and of great credit:
    The Moor, howbeit that I endure him not,
    Is of a constant, loving, noble nature,
    And I dare think he'll prove to Desdemona
    A most dear husband. Now, I do love her too;
    Not out of absolute lust, though peradventure
    I stand accountant for as great a sin,
    But partly led to diet my revenge,
    For that I do suspect the lusty Moor
    Hath leap'd into my seat; the thought whereof
    Doth, like a poisonous mineral, gnaw my inwards;
    And nothing can or shall content my soul
    Till I am even'd with him, wife for wife,
    Or failing so, yet that I put the Moor
    At least into a jealousy so strong
    That judgment cannot cure. Which thing to do,
    If this poor trash of Venice, whom I trash
    For his quick hunting, stand the putting on,
    I'll have our Michael Cassio on the hip,
    Abuse him to the Moor in the rank garb—
    For I fear Cassio with my night-cap too—
    Make the Moor thank me, love me and reward me.
    For making him egregiously an ***
    And practising upon his peace and quiet
    Even to madness. 'Tis here, but yet confused:
    Knavery's plain face is never seen tin used.

    PLEASE just help us out.
    Wondergirl's Avatar
    Wondergirl Posts: 39,354, Reputation: 5431
    Jobs & Parenting Expert
     
    #2

    Dec 7, 2011, 11:29 AM
    Iambic means the stress is on the second syllable; pentameter means there are five strong syllables in each line.

    -/ -/ -/ -/ -/

    This:

    When in disgrace with Fortune and men's eyes,
    I all alone beweep my outcast state.

    Is shown like this:

    When IN thisGRACE with FORtune AND men's EYES,
    I ALL aLONE beWEEP my OUTcast STATE.

    Say that out loud while clapping your hands on each strong beat (like you're cheerleading).
    Wondergirl's Avatar
    Wondergirl Posts: 39,354, Reputation: 5431
    Jobs & Parenting Expert
     
    #3

    Dec 7, 2011, 11:33 AM
    Elizabethan rhetoric:

    Shakespeare's Grammar: Rhetorical Devices

    Example:

    diacope -- repetition broken up by one or more intervening words

    "Put out the light, and then put out the light." (Othello, V, ii)
    Cheezeycrackers's Avatar
    Cheezeycrackers Posts: 43, Reputation: 3
    Junior Member
     
    #4

    Dec 7, 2011, 11:39 AM
    I still don't understand the elizabethan rhetoric
    Wondergirl's Avatar
    Wondergirl Posts: 39,354, Reputation: 5431
    Jobs & Parenting Expert
     
    #5

    Dec 7, 2011, 11:42 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by Cheezeycrackers View Post
    I still don't understand the elizabethan rhetoric
    Did you look at the link I gave you? And I posted an example, from Othello, no less.

    You don't "understand" the rhetoric, you just learn it and give examples of it. Writers over the ages have always used various rhetorical devices in their writing. Shakespeare was especially good at this. That site lists the ones he especially liked. There are lots more. :)
    Wondergirl's Avatar
    Wondergirl Posts: 39,354, Reputation: 5431
    Jobs & Parenting Expert
     
    #6

    Dec 7, 2011, 11:48 AM
    Is the first line of the monologue you posted iambic pentameter? Say it out loud with every second syllable stressed and find out.

    That Cassio loves her, I do well believe it;

    Does it flow as iambic pentameter?
    Cheezeycrackers's Avatar
    Cheezeycrackers Posts: 43, Reputation: 3
    Junior Member
     
    #7

    Dec 7, 2011, 11:50 AM
    I did look but its still a little confusing.is all the things under the explanatory paragraph like alliteration apart of it? I'm sorry I'm not trying to be fickle I just honestly have a problem grasping the subject
    Cheezeycrackers's Avatar
    Cheezeycrackers Posts: 43, Reputation: 3
    Junior Member
     
    #8

    Dec 7, 2011, 11:55 AM
    There's 12 syllables though does.nt that make it not an iambic pentameter
    Wondergirl's Avatar
    Wondergirl Posts: 39,354, Reputation: 5431
    Jobs & Parenting Expert
     
    #9

    Dec 7, 2011, 11:55 AM
    The rhetorical devices are listed alphabetically. Alliteration is the first one listed.

    e.g. Silly Sally sat stupidly on her sister's cymbals.
    Wondergirl's Avatar
    Wondergirl Posts: 39,354, Reputation: 5431
    Jobs & Parenting Expert
     
    #10

    Dec 7, 2011, 11:58 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by Cheezeycrackers View Post
    theres 12 syllables though does.nt that make it not an iambic pentameter
    That CASsio LOVES her, I do WELL beLIEVE it;

    Iambic pentameter or not?
    Cheezeycrackers's Avatar
    Cheezeycrackers Posts: 43, Reputation: 3
    Junior Member
     
    #11

    Dec 7, 2011, 12:00 PM
    It is Iambic pentameter. I'm guessing. So the sentenc itself does not have to be 10 sylables
    Wondergirl's Avatar
    Wondergirl Posts: 39,354, Reputation: 5431
    Jobs & Parenting Expert
     
    #12

    Dec 7, 2011, 12:03 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by Cheezeycrackers View Post
    It is Iambic pentameter. I'm guessing. so the sentenc itself does not have to be 10 sylables
    It's iambic, but it's not pentameter. The word "it" is stuck at the end and messes up the meter.

    That Cassio loves her, I do well believe it;

    -/ -/ -/ -/ -/ -
    Wondergirl's Avatar
    Wondergirl Posts: 39,354, Reputation: 5431
    Jobs & Parenting Expert
     
    #13

    Dec 7, 2011, 12:06 PM
    Should Shakespeare have quit writing that line at "believe" and skipped the "it"?

    That Cassio loves her, I do well believe;
    Cheezeycrackers's Avatar
    Cheezeycrackers Posts: 43, Reputation: 3
    Junior Member
     
    #14

    Dec 7, 2011, 12:07 PM
    So when my question asks for changes in iambic pentameter, it means I'm looking for Iambic
    Cheezeycrackers's Avatar
    Cheezeycrackers Posts: 43, Reputation: 3
    Junior Member
     
    #15

    Dec 7, 2011, 12:13 PM
    So for the second line

    That SHE loves HIM,'tis APT and OF great CREdit

    Thhis is iambic because it has five stressed syllables but it is not pentameter because its 11 syllables in total?
    Wondergirl's Avatar
    Wondergirl Posts: 39,354, Reputation: 5431
    Jobs & Parenting Expert
     
    #16

    Dec 7, 2011, 12:25 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by Cheezeycrackers View Post
    so when my question asks for changes in iambic pentameter, it means i'm looking for Iambic
    No. You're looking for two things, iamb (stress) and five meters.

    Again, iambic pentameter is two things: stress and meter. With "That Cassio loves her, I do well believe it;" the stress is right, but the meter is wrong.
    Wondergirl's Avatar
    Wondergirl Posts: 39,354, Reputation: 5431
    Jobs & Parenting Expert
     
    #17

    Dec 7, 2011, 12:27 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by Cheezeycrackers View Post
    So for the second line

    That SHE loves HIM,'tis APT and OF great CREdit

    Thhis is iambic becasue it has five stressed syllables but it is not pentameter because its 11 syllables in total?
    Yes.

    Shakespeare could be sneaky. In one sonnet he wrote, "And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries," but we read it as iambic pentameter by saying, "And troub' deaf heaven with my bootless cries." We drop the second syllable of "trouble" so the meter comes out right.

    My English teacher told us he had written it that way, but publishers added the second syllable of "trouble" so as not to confuse people about that word. (What's a "troub"?? )
    Cheezeycrackers's Avatar
    Cheezeycrackers Posts: 43, Reputation: 3
    Junior Member
     
    #18

    Dec 7, 2011, 12:40 PM
    So these lines are iambic pentameter?

    I stand accountant for as great a sin,
    But partly led to diet my revenge,
    For that I do suspect the lusty Moor
    And nothing can or shall content my soul

    And this would be an example of prose?
    Hath LEAP'D into MY seat; THE thought WHEREof
    Wondergirl's Avatar
    Wondergirl Posts: 39,354, Reputation: 5431
    Jobs & Parenting Expert
     
    #19

    Dec 7, 2011, 12:43 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by Cheezeycrackers View Post
    so these lines are iambic pentameter?

    I stand accountant for as great a sin,
    But partly led to diet my revenge,
    For that I do suspect the lusty Moor
    And nothing can or shall content my soul
    Yup!
    and this would be an example of prose?
    Hath LEAP'D into MY seat; THE thought WHEREof
    No. It's iambic pentameter.

    Hath LEAP'D inTO my SEAT; the THOUGHT whereOF
    Cheezeycrackers's Avatar
    Cheezeycrackers Posts: 43, Reputation: 3
    Junior Member
     
    #20

    Dec 7, 2011, 12:46 PM
    Fantastic! Now I know iambic pentameter. But for my project I need to find the changes in Iambic Pentameter i.e. (Prose, poetry,rhymingcouplets etc)

Not your question? Ask your question View similar questions

 

Question Tools Search this Question
Search this Question:

Advanced Search

Add your answer here.


Check out some similar questions!

Othello and Wag the Dog [ 2 Answers ]

Hi I am not sure if this is correct section for this, but I am asked to compare/contrast Othello the play to another text, I have chosen Wag the Dog (movie with Dustin Hoffman) I can see some connections between the two, but not enough, could someone please help me out. Thanks

Othello quotation [ 1 Answers ]

"Iam not bound to that all slaves are free to".Can you help me understand the meaning of this? This is a phrase Iago says when he is addressing Othello. Thanks! :)


View more questions Search