Why did Shakespeare shift from blank verse to prose in scenes where characters like Lady Macbeth or King Lear descend into madness?
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: To represent the collapse of order, reason, and the formal self
The shift from the structured rhythm of blank verse to the 'disorderly' flow of prose signifies a psychological collapse. It visually and aurally represents a mind that can no longer sustain the harmony of poetic speech.
Keep practicing
More Blank Verse questions
- What is a 'short line' in Shakespearean drama?
- Which of the following best defines 'Blank Verse' as used in Shakespearean drama?
- How many 'feet' are contained in a standard line of Shakespearean blank verse?
- Which English poet and playwright is credited with first popularizing blank verse on the public stage before Shakespeare?
- What is a 'feminine ending' in a line of blank verse?
- In Shakespeare’s plays, which group of characters is most likely to speak in prose rather than blank verse?