The Mechanics…

1. The Mechanics… The Full Stop (F) End punctuation (. ? !) at the end of a line Indicates a stop in thought: ONLY a Full Stop tells us a thought is ended Full Stop gets a full breath If the Full Stop is a ? wait for an answer.

2. The Mechanics… The Full Stop (F) Your speech may have only a couple of these! Look at To be or not to be…. For example Now try scoring the Duke Orsino speech for Full Stops

3. The Mechanics… The Mid Stop (M) End punctuation (. ? !) in the middle of a line Indicates a the end of a thought but not of a line Pause but don’t stop (I recommend a breath) Complete the last thought, then transition into next Now try scoring the Duke Orsino speech for Mid Stops

4. The Mechanics… Thinking Breath (T) Indicated by a colon or semi-colon Indicates the end of a phrase but not the conclusion of the main idea New phrase of thought = new energy Take a quick thinking breath to accomplish a shift in gears Now try scoring the Duke Orsino speech for thinking breaths

5. The Mechanics… Lift/Catch Breath (/b) All commas – they don’t indicate the end, just a thought The forward motion doesn’t end here! LIFT your voice up, not down like we do today Mark a ‘b’ when comma is at end of a line or before/after parenthetical You can breathe but don’t have to Now try scoring the Duke Orsino speech for catch breaths

6. The Mechanics… Parenthetical Phrase indicate with[…] May be indicated with parenthesis, commas, or not at all Indicates a character’s own interjection to the main thought, but it is still connected Change your pitch, rate, attitude of your voice during phrase You may have to look hard for this or you might not have one

7. The Mechanics… Parenthetical Example I do affect the very ground, which is base, where her shoe, which is baser, guided by her foot, which is basest, doth tread. --Love’s Labor’s Lost

8. The Mechanics… Monosyllabic Phrases (MONO + …) SLOW DOWN, these are important Usually three or more monosyllabic words in a row – especially when important phrases You WILL find these! Now try scoring the Duke Orsino speech for monosyllabic phrases

9. The Mechanics… Monosyllabic Phrases (MONO + …) Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die. To be, or not to be, that is the question

10. The Mechanics… Theory of Separation (vertical line between words) Reminds us to clearly separate words that share a sound at the end/beginning of two consecutive words Examples: not trust; his son; the end Now try scoring the Duke Orsino speech for theory of separation

11. The Mechanics… Big Little Words (underline these) Transition words (and, yet, therefore, but, or, etc.) Like in real life, these indicate the direction of an argument. Easily overlooked but essential for other words to make sense

12. The Mechanics… Big Little Words (underline these) But, Yet, If, Or, Else : Change in direction And, So : Add to the argument Then : Resulting consequence Therefore : Conclusion

13. Big Little Words: A familiar example… Thou knowest the mask of night is on my face, Elsewould a maiden blush bepaint my cheek For that which thou hast heard me speak to-night. Fain would I dwell on form, fain, fain deny What I have spoke; but farewell compliment! Dost thou love me? I know thou wilt say Ay; AndI will take thy word: yet, if thou swear'st, Thou mayst prove false; at lovers' perjuries They say Jove laughs. O gentle Romeo, Ifthou dost love, pronounce it faithfully: Orif thou thinkest I am too quickly won, I'll frown, and be perverse, and say thee nay, Sothou wilt woo: butelse, not for the world. In truth, fair Montague, I am too fond; Andtherefore thou mayst think my 'haviour light: Buttrust me, gentleman, I'll prove more true Than those that have more cunning to be strange. I should have been more strange, I must confess, Butthat thou overheard'st, ere I was 'ware, My true-love passion: therefore pardon me, Andnot impute this yielding to light love, Which the dark night hath so discovered.

14. The Mechanics… Capital Letters and Misspellings (circle these) Capitals are common in the folio They are operative (important) words Hit these harder Misspellings emphasize consonants which may often be overlooked Look at “To be or not to be…” and Orsino’s speech

15. The Mechanics… Repitition (R over each repeated word) Sometimes Shakespeare repeats a word in succession: “villian, villian, smiling, damned villian” Sometimes through a section or a whole speech Treat each repeated word or phrase differently and a natural build will occur Look at “To be or not to be…”

16. The Mechanics… Antithesis (circle words/phrases and connect them) Finding opposites in the text is FUN and will help to convey meaning “this Spirit, dumb to us, may speake to him” Play these up to emphasize conflict and word play Look at Orsino’s speech for antithesis

17. The Mechanics… Ecphonesis (underline the ‘O’)* *this is a new idea not in your handout ‘O’ does not mean ‘Oh’ – those are different ‘O’ is a moment of pure emotion, whatever it may be. O, me, what eyes hath love put in my head! (Sonnet 148) O, let the vile world end. (Henry VI, Part 2) O, that this too, too, sullied flesh would melt. (Hamlet) O, these naughty times! (The Merchant of Venice) O, for a muse of fire. (Henry V) Look at Orsino’s speech for ecphonesis

18. The Mechanics… Beats per line (put number at the end of each line) You now know the difference between “pure” and “impure” iambic pantameter Know the difference and use it in understanding your character’s state of mind Beware: sometimes we might say a word differently for different results Look at Orsino’s speech for iambic pentameter

19. Now it’s your turn… Score your speech: Remember to only take one idea per read through Especially true when looking for parenthetical phrases, repetition, and antithesis Do beats per line after others are done