Copying Lines from Shakespeare For a Reading Log

1. Copying Lines from Shakespeare For a Reading Log • Remember that Shakespeare writes his plays in blank verse, unrhymed iambic pentameter. • When you copy lines, you must capitalize and punctuate as in the text. • You must also show line endings. • You must give act. scene. and line numbers. • Do not copy parts of a line that have nothing to do with the reading log. • Wrong: “This supernatural soliciting/ Cannot be ill, cannot be good. If ill” (1.3.131-32). • Correct: “This supernatural soliciting/ Cannot be ill, cannot be good” (1.3.131-32). • Wrong: “For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires/ Let not light see my black and deep desires” (1.5.50-51). • Correct: “Stars, hide your fires/ Let not light see my black and deep desires” (1.5.50-51). • Be careful counting lines. Because of iambic pentameter, a line can split between speakers but be the same line number. • See 1.5.27; it’s split between Macbeth and Duncan.