Final answer:
Shakespeare favored writing in blank verse, a form of unrhymed iambic pentameter that follows the natural rhythm of English, providing flexibility and structure to his language.
Step-by-step explanation:
William Shakespeare is renowned for writing his plays in blank verse, which uses the natural rhythms of English. Blank verse is a poetic form that is written in unrhymed iambic pentameter. Each line of iambic pentameter consists of five iambic feet, with each foot being made up of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable, mimicking the natural rhythm of the English language.
Blank verse allows for a flexible yet structured approach to language. It lends itself to a meditative voice and gives the text a natural flow. Shakespeare often manipulated the traditional rules of verse to enhance the emotional and rhetorical impact of his language. His mastery of blank verse and other figures of speech such as alliteration and onomatopoeia, brought his characters to life and helped audiences engage more deeply with his plays.
Understanding Shakespeare requires attention to his language as it combines the formality of blank verse with the complexity of his characters' psychology and the intricacies of the plot. So in the context of the question, the answer is clearly (1) blank verse. The use of blank verse is a hallmark of his work and is a key element in the richness and depth of Shakespeare's writing.