In Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, one of the most famous examples of blank verse can be found in Romeo’s speech in Act 1, Scene 5, when he first speaks to Juliet. The lines are as follows:
If I profane with my unworthiest hand
This holy shrine, the gentle fine is this:
My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand
To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.
Blank verse is defined as unrhymed iambic pentameter. In this excerpt, you can observe that the lines do not rhyme, yet they maintain a rhythmic pattern of ten syllables per line, typically alternating between unstressed and stressed syllables. Shakespeare often utilized this form to convey the natural speech of his characters while also imbuing the dialogue with a lyrical quality. This combination of structure and freedom allows the emotional intensity of the characters, particularly their passion and longing, to resonate deeply with the audience.