.:Iambic pentameter:.

As usual on the last period of a Friday, we were all tired and grumpy.

We had to show our teacher the mini assignments we did on iambic pentameter, and just to make sure we knew what we were doing, we had to do another sheet on iambic pentameter, and then our own monologue.

I found my monologue to be the hardest to turn into iambs, but I succeeded in the end. Mrs. Anketell told us why it was important for us to do this task:

• It helped us learn how to pronounce the words, as the actors during Shakespeare’s time would have.
• It also helped us recognize how structured his plays were.
  

However our teacher advised us that we should definitely NOT use the same timing as we do when figuring out the iambic pentameter of a piece.

Next, Mrs. Anketell explained my monologue to my (in normal english!). This made it a lot easier to understand exactly what Portia was talking about. Also, I need to finish reading the play in order to understand the context of my monologue.

This is my version of what I think my monologue is about:

The value of mercy is never strained

It drops like calm rain from heaven

Upon earth, it blesses people twice

People who give mercy and the people who receive mercy

It is the highest power

It is above Kings

His sceptre may show the power he has on Earth

So people recognise that he is King

And so that people fear the King and his power on Earth

Mercy is above all this

It comes from the heart of Kings

God himself has this quality

And this power of mercy should show itself in us just as it does in God

Therefore, Jew, although I am pleading for justice, consider this,

That, in going along the path of justice,

None of us need salvation, we should just prey for mercy

And to pray for mercy teaches all of us to deliver

The performance of mercy. All this I have spoken

To ease the justice of my plea

Which if you follow, the stern court of Venice

Will see reason to not hold a sentence against the merchant.

I know I have misunderstood some of the meaning, so hopefully I can get help from my teacher on Monday!!

~ by kateibtheatre on October 10, 2008.