Brush Up Your ShakespeareShakespeare’s Language

Elizabethan LanguageElizabethans (English people living at the time of Shakespeare) loved languageEven poorly written plays usually rhymed and used alliteration (five fine fellows)The sound of the language was more important that the logic of the sentence structure—if writers wanted to change word order or repeat words for emphasis, they did.

Elizabethan LanguageLinguists believe that Shakespeare introduced nearly 3000 words into the English language.Shakespeare’s vocabulary is upward of 29,000 wordsThat’s 4 times that of an average, well-educated person today.

Why is it so hard to understand?

Well, first of all, that 29,000 words is a lot of words!Many words have changed meaning, spelling, and pronunciation since Shakespeare’s time.Many words just aren’t even used any more.

Why is it so hard to understand?

Letters, syllables, or whole words were sometimes omitted. Examples:

‘Tis means it isO’er means overNe’er means neverE’er means everOft means oftenE’en means even

Why is it so hard to understand?

Word order was more flexible. Examples:I ate the sandwich.I the sandwich ate.Ate the sandwich I.The sandwich I ate.The sandwich ate I.

Why is it so hard to understand?

Pronunciation was quite different from ours, so Shakespeare’s perfect rhymes usually don’t seem like rhymes to us.For instance love and prove used to rhyme in Shakespeare’s day.

What types of poems did Shakespeare write?

Shakespeare wrote dramatic poetry poetry most of the time, but sometimes he wrote prose.Prose is any writing that is NOT poetry.

Shakespeare’s PoetryShakespeare’s poetry was usually written in blank verse. (Unrhymed lines of iambic pentameter)Sometimes he wrote rhyming couplets, or sonnets.Poetry was used so that the passages showed high feelings.Poetry was also used for comedic effect (comedy) for lower-status characters.

Tips

Thou vs. YouThou=an informal way to talk to friends or “social inferiors”You=a formal address to strangers and “social superiors”

Tips

Forsooth=No kiddingMarry! or By me faith=WowAlack/Alackaday/Alas/Fie/Out upon it!=Darn it!

Tips

God’s wounds/S’wounds/Zounds=swearingPrating=Babbling, talking too muchPerchance=Maybe

Tips

Forswear=to lie or cheatBetimes=Very early in the morning.