Here's why:
* Iambic pentameter: This is a rhythmic pattern with 10 syllables per line, alternating unstressed and stressed syllables (like "da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM"). It creates a natural, conversational flow that's close to spoken English, yet elevated and poetic.
* Unrhymed: Unlike many earlier plays, Elizabethan drama often eschewed rhyme schemes, allowing for more flexibility and natural-sounding dialogue.
While blank verse was the dominant form, Elizabethan playwrights did use other poetic forms:
* Verse: Rhyming verse was common in songs, soliloquies, and moments of heightened emotion.
* Prose: Prose was used for comic characters, lower-class characters, and to create a more realistic effect.
The use of blank verse was crucial to the success of Elizabethan drama. It allowed for complex themes, vivid imagery, and powerful emotions to be conveyed, making the plays both intellectually stimulating and emotionally engaging.