How does Shakespeare use Poetic Language in Romeo & Juliet?

The use of poetic language in Romeo & Juliet throughout the play is both consistent and wildly contrasting at different points, with both poetry and prose being used throughout. Upon Analysis, we may observe various new points and further meaning within the work by evaluating the use of Poetic metre throughout the work, or more specifically Shakespeare’s occasional deviation from the norm. The play begins with and for the most part sticks to the poetic metre most commonly used in English romantic poetry of the time, Iambic Pentameter. This means that a line is formed of 5 groups of 2 syllables, hence the Pentameter - if it were 8 it would be Octameter, written in an Iambic fashion; meaning each group (or ‘foot’) begins with an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed one. The Plays opening two lines are good examples: 'Two households, both alike in dignity, / In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,’ When read aloud it is impossible not to give greater emphasis to the stressed syllables, as is the intention of Shakespeare in both this work, almost the entirety of his sonnets and the writings of countless English Poets throughout history.

With this knowledge if we analyse the plays most famous line, 'O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo?’ we can unearth new meaning and authorial intent regarding the poetic metre of this line. Juliet reciting three lines of perfect Iambic Pentameter follows this line, however this line would be Iambic Pentameter if it weren't for the length of Romeo's name. The fact that these lines would follow the long tradition of English love poetry if it weren't for the fact that the central character were not called Romeo is highly symbolic given the whole tragedy of the plot revolving around Romeo's name being Romeo Montague. If it weren't for his family name the two titular lovers could be together, and if it weren't for the awkward poetic nature of his first name it would fit neatly into the romantic poetry Juliet wishes them to live up to.