Tip #9: Read by Punctuation, Not by Line Break

One mistake Shakespeare novices make when reading aloud is to pause at the end of each line. Don’t be fooled, however. Punctuation works the same in poetry as it does in prose. Unless you see a comma, don’t pause, and unless you see a period, don’t come to a full stop. Paying attention to punctuation rather than line breaks will help you understand better.

Try reading this short passage, first pausing at the end of the line, then by ignoring the line breaks and just following the cues given by punctuation. You’ll see this latter way makes the meaning clearer.

Polonius: It shall do well. But yet do I believe

The origin and commencement of his grief

Sprung from neglected love.