Numbers: Midpoint… Dead Center

Using Professor Rodes’ midpoint theory , let’s take a look at Romeo and Juliet.

There are 3004 lines in this play, which puts the midpoint at line 1502, which is 118 lines into Act Three, Scene One. And for the first time in the Canon, the crucial line is not within twenty lines in either direction of the midpoint.

It IS the midpoint.
Continue reading “Numbers: Midpoint… Dead Center”

Midsummer Numbers Midpoint: True or False Quiz

Using Professor Rodes’ midpoint theory , let’s take a look at A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Now, when I first introduced this theory by Rodes, I summed it up as:

It was his contention that if you counted all the lines in the play, divided it by two, found the exact midpoint of the work, you could find (within twenty lines either way) a speech that perfectly summed up the major theme of the play.

And up until now, I’ve worked on that basis pretty exclusively.  This month, however, I’m going to take a little different approach.  This month, I want to explore the midpoint as a way to crack a major performance crux of the play.
Continue reading “Midsummer Numbers Midpoint: True or False Quiz”

Numbers: Midpoint

Using Professor Rodes’ midpoint theory, let’s take a look at Richard the Third.

There are 3601 lines in this very long play, which puts the midpoint at line 1801, which is at the end of Act Three, Scene Two, the scene at Lord Hastings’ home (just before the execution of Rivers, Grey and Vaughan).
Continue reading “Numbers: Midpoint”