G ROUP 5: P ROSE AND V ERSE

PROSE

Prose is a writing that is not poetry but is instead an ordinary dialogue. E.g.: Act II, Scene 1, Line 476-477

Hero: So you walk softly and look sweetly and say nothing, I am yours for the walk; and especially when I walk away.

VERSE

Verse is usually written in lines, often with a regular rhythm/patter of rhyme. Iambic pentameter(10 syllables)

E.g.: Act IV, Scene 1, Line 1670-1682

Claudio: Sweet prince, you learn me noble thankfulness. There, Leonato, take her back again:

T HE E FFECTS O F P ROSE

To show the proximity between characters of high social standing.

E.g.: Act 1, Scene 1, Line 204-206

Usually, people of higher social standing use verse to converse with others, so as to show their education level and create a gap between themselves and those who are not so educated. Still, in Much Ado About Nothing, as shown by the lines given, Benedick, Claudio and Don Pedro communicate with each other using prose. This is because they know each other very well and there is no need to create the gap between them.

To create light-hearted moments E.g.: Act 3, Scene 5, Line 1621-1623 -Dogberry tries to speak using formal or official terms but unfortunately his attempts backfired , thereby creating funny moments for the audience, which in the line given he informs Leonato that Our watch, sir, have indeed comprehended two auspicious persons. He means apprehended and suspicious. So instead of the words apprehended and suspicious he could have used simpler words like caught and acting strangely.

T HE E FFECTS O F V ERSE

E.g.: Act IV, Scene 1, Line 1696-1702 Emphasize the passionate and momentous occasion

Creates dramatic atmosphere to the plan.

By referencing Hero to the goddesses (Dian & Venus) Claudio make a contrasting comparison between Heros outer appearance and her true self.

E.g: Act IV, Scene 1, Line 1659-1660 Used to show a sense of irony Verse is usually used by people to show their fondness and love for something. In Much Ado About Nothing, the characters used verse in their conversation too. In these two lines, Claudio used verse to mock those whom he thought were tricking him and also by using verse, it seems that he is creating a sense of distance between himself and Hero.

THE END