The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 13.0696  Thursday, 7 March 2002

From:           Robin Hamilton <
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Date:           Thursday, 7 Mar 2002 02:45:28 -0000
Subject: 13.0679 Re: Olivier
Comment:        Re: SHK 13.0679 Re: Olivier

> From:           Sam Small <
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> Shakespeare called himself a poet - not a storyteller or dramatist.

Where?  If you're thinking of the Sonnets (under the dubious assumption
that everything said by the speaker in the Sonnets can be taken as
having a direct reference to Shakespeare) then this backfires -- the
Poet contrasts what he is doing in the Sonnets (poetry) with what had
earlier sullied his dyer's hand.

> I think Brian is beginning to erode his own point.  The word is
> "dialogue" - but in the case of Shakespeare it is poetry.

Shakespeare wrote (most of) his plays in verse -- specifically unrhymed
iambic pentameter.

The blanket use of the (unexamined) term "poetry" blurs distinctions.
Consider the words of the dying Mercutio.

"Verse" is a descriptive term, "poetry" an evaluative one.  While, I'd
agree, most (not all) Shakespearean dramatic verse is poetry, this
doesn't justify collapsing distinct categories.

Robin Hamilton

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