Okay, so if I had to write a poem or a play "Shakespeare style", how the heck would I do that?

Question

Like if I had to write something for a class how would I write it like Shakespeare?

P.S Links to sites would be greatly appreciated. :)

Thanks. :-)

Answer 1

add th to every other word. Ex. addth th toth every otherth word.

Answer 2

You've already got a few good pieces of advice, but I'd add a few more to consider.

1. Shakespear wrote in Iambic Pentameter, which means there were five beats to each line, as in "to each a time may come to fly away". If you read that out loud you'll notice two things: one, that it sounds "bouncy", and two, that if you don't over-do it, it most closely mimics natural human speech. So much so, that many writers unknowingly write that way because it flows so naturally off the tongue, even when it doesn't rhyme.

2. If you want to write a "poem" in shakespearean style, try a shakespearean sonnet, which is composed of 14 lines (three stanzas of perfect rhyme (abab cdcd efef) followed by a couplet (gg). The letters I used represent a word ending the same way...for example, abab would represent "say bad way sad" as ending words to the four lines. Also, the couplet, a two lines that rhyme at the end, also speaks either as a "turn", or a change of direction, or a "summation", a pair of lines that say what you really mean at the end. If you read a couple of his sonnets you'll see what I'm talking about.

3. If you write a shakespearean play, you'll also be writing, for the most part, in iambic pentameter, or at least the important lines will be written that way. If you should read "a midsummer's night dream" you'll notice that he uses this form almost exclusively.

4. Shakespeare wrote on the human condition, how we often make fools of ourselves in spite of our intentions, how we often misunderstand the important aspects of life, and how we are often petty to the point of comedy. So if you write a poem or a play, keep that in mind as well.

good luck

Answer 3

For a poem, memorize two or three,
copy the form, rhyme scheme and
line length.

For a play, read the so-called greater ones:
Caesar is a good one for starters.
Use a plot from old histories, and write
in iambic pentameter.

Answer 4

I would suggest that you study and read the work of Shakespeare.

He did not only write plays. Here is a site for your review in the Sonnets of Shakespeare.

http://www.4literature.net/William_Shakespeare/Sonnets/

Peace,
Sam

EDIT:: I have reviewed some of the postings that you have received. Although they told to you to write in a specific manner, they did not tell you what that manner is.

My little sister asked a similar question and here is the site with the answers to “her” question.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AvUqVcSUifuyYY3AiAXfLa3sy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20070810181927AA4OLtg

If you would like to receive more, than as a new poet, (if that is your direction), I suggest to you a book written by Mary Kinzie, “A Poet’s Guide To Poetry”.
I have often referred new poet’s in this direction.

Again,
Peace & Luck to you.
Sam

Answer 5

write in iambic pentameter
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iambic_pentameter