The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet is written in both prose and poetry.  For the majority of the play, the common people speak in prose.  Major characters have interactions with one another which include poetic elements.  The poetry in The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet is written in blank verse, poetry which is written in unrhymed iambic pentameter.  Iambic pentameter includes five iambic units in each line.  An example of this can be seen in Romeo’s soliloquy at the beginning of Act II Scene 2, also known as the balcony scene.  

The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet

Act II Scene 2

Romeo’s Soliloquy in Iambic Pentameter

-    /     -    /     -       /  -   /  -   /

But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks?

-  -  -   /     -   / - /  -  -   /

It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.

- /    /    /    -   /    -   /  - -  /

Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon,

-   -  - /  -  /    -   /    -    /

Who is already sick and pale with grief,

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That thou her maid art far more fair than she:

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Be not her maid, since she is envious;

-   /  -   /  - - -  -   /    -   /

Her vestal livery is but sick and green

-   /    -   /     -  /    -   /    -  /

And none but fools do wear it; cast it off.

-  /  -  / -   /  -  /  -  /

It is my lady, O, it is my love!

/  -    -   /    -   /

O, that she knew she were!

-    /     -   -   /    /  -     /    -  /

She speaks yet she says nothing: what of that?

-   /   -  /   -    / -    /  -   /

Her eye discourses; I will answer it.

/ -  /   /      -   /   -  /  -   /

I am too bold, 'tis not to me she speaks:

/   -  -   /   -   /     -  /   -   /  -

Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven,

/  -   -    /   -     /  -  /    -   /

Having some business, do entreat her eyes

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To twinkle in their spheres till they return.

/    -  -   /    -    /      /    -  -   /

What if her eyes were there, they in her head?

-   /     -    /  -   /     -     /     -     /

The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars,

-  /  -     /    - /     -   /    -  /  -

As daylight doth a lamp; her eyes in heaven

-     /       -   / -  / -    /      -  /

Would through the airy region stream so bright

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That birds would sing and think it were not night.

/    -   -    /    -   /     - /  -   /

See, how she leans her cheek upon her hand!

/  -    / -    - /     - /  -    /

O, that I were a glove upon that hand,

-    / -     /     -    /

That I might touch that cheek!

Sonnets in The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet 

A sonnet is a fourteen-line lyric poem that is usually written in iambic pentameter and that has one of several rhyme schemes.  Shakespeare widely used sonnets in writing his plays.  These Shakespearean sonnets had three four-line units, or quatrains, followed by a concluding two-line unit, or couplet.  The most common rhyme scheme for the Shakespearean sonnet is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG.  The most notable examples of a Shakespearean sonnet in The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet is in The Prologue and in the meeting of Romeo and Juliet in Act 1 Scene 5.  

Iambic Pentameter in Sonnets in The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet 

Prologue

Two households, both alike in dignity,    A

In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,    B

From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,    A

Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.    B

From forth the fatal loins of these two foes    C

A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life;    D

Whose misadventured piteous overthrows    C

Doth with their death bury their parents' strife.    D

The fearful passage of their death-mark'd love,    E

And the continuance of their parents' rage,    F

Which, but their children's end, naught could remove,    E

Is now the two hours' traffic of our stage;    F

The which if you with patient ears attend,    G

What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.    G

Shakespeare also disguised sonnets within the dialogue of the play.  The following is a conversation between Romeo and Juliet, and is clearly a sonnet.  

Act I, Scene 5

ROMEO [To JULIET.]

If I profane with my unworthiest hand    A

This holy shrine, the gentle sin is this:    B

My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand    A

To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.    B

JULIET

Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much,    C

Which mannerly devotion shows in this;    D

For saints have hands that pilgrims' hands do touch,    C

And palm to palm is holy palmers' kiss.    D

ROMEO

Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too?    E

JULIET

Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer.    F

ROMEO

O, then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do;    E

They pray — grant thou, lest faith turn to despair.    F

JULIET

Saints do not move, though grant for prayers' sake.    G

ROMEO

Then move not, while my prayer's effect I take.    G