UNDERSTANDING THE UNDERSTANDING THE LANGUAGE OF LANGUAGE OF SHAKESPEARESHAKESPEARE

First let’s review some facts First let’s review some facts about Shakespeare…about Shakespeare…

Born April 23, 1564Born April 23, 1564—died April 23, —died April 23, 16161616

Stratford-upon-Stratford-upon-AvonAvon

Parents: John and Parents: John and Mary Arden Mary Arden ShakespeareShakespeare

Here are a few more Here are a few more interesting facts…interesting facts…

Shakespeare was 17 or 18 Shakespeare was 17 or 18 when he married. His wife, when he married. His wife, Anne Hathaway, was 26.  Anne Hathaway, was 26. 

In his will, Shakespeare In his will, Shakespeare left his wife his "second-left his wife his "second-best" bed.    best" bed.   

Dictionaries as we know Dictionaries as we know them today were not them today were not available in Shakespeare's available in Shakespeare's time. time.

No one knows how No one knows how Shakespeare died. Among Shakespeare died. Among the possibilities are kidney the possibilities are kidney disease, murder most disease, murder most foul, and too much to foul, and too much to drink.   drink.  

Citation: http://www.cummingsstudyguides.net/xfacts.html

Shakespeare’s WritingShakespeare’s Writing

Shakespeare Shakespeare wrote wrote 37 plays within a 37 plays within a 21 year span21 year span

Made upMade up over over 1,0001,000 words that are still words that are still being being used todayused today

He also wrote He also wrote 154 154 sonnetssonnets

I can’t think I can’t think of the word…of the word…

Now let’s Now let’s get into the get into the language…language…

DID YOU KNOW…DID YOU KNOW…

The English language contains about The English language contains about 300,000 words300,000 words

The average person's vocabulary The average person's vocabulary consists of only about 3,000 wordsconsists of only about 3,000 words

Students probably get by on a daily Students probably get by on a daily basis with about 150. basis with about 150.

William Shakespeare used a William Shakespeare used a vocabulary of about 15,000 words, vocabulary of about 15,000 words, some of which he invented. some of which he invented.

History of English LanguageHistory of English Language

YearYear Kind of Kind of EnglishEnglish

Language Language of…of…

450–1100450–1100 Old English Old English (Anglo-Saxon)(Anglo-Saxon)

BeowulfBeowulf

1100–15001100–1500 Middle EnglishMiddle English ChaucerChaucer

1500–16501500–1650 Early Modern Early Modern English English

(Renaissance (Renaissance English)English)

ShakespeareShakespeare

1650–present1650–present Modern English Modern English (or Present-Day (or Present-Day

English)English)

TodayToday

BeowulfBeowulf – Old English – Old English

Original line in Original line in BeowulfBeowulf– Hwaet! We Gardena in geardagum, Hwaet! We Gardena in geardagum,

Þeodcyninga Þrym gefrunonHu ða Þeodcyninga Þrym gefrunonHu ða æÞelingas ellen fremedon!æÞelingas ellen fremedon!

Translation:Translation:– (Hey! We have heard of the glory of the (Hey! We have heard of the glory of the

Spear-Danes in the old days, the kings Spear-Danes in the old days, the kings of tribes, how noble princes showed of tribes, how noble princes showed great courage!)great courage!)

CanterburyCanterbury – Middle English – Middle English

Original line in Original line in Canterbury TalesCanterbury Tales Whan that Aprill with his shoures Whan that Aprill with his shoures

sote sote

TranslationTranslation When April with its sweet showers When April with its sweet showers

ShakespeareShakespeare – Early Modern – Early Modern EnglishEnglish

Original Line TranslationTranslationWhen to the sessions of sweet silent thought

When in these sessions of enjoyable silent thought

I summon up remembrance of things past,

I sigh the lack of many a thing I sought,

And with old woes new wail my dear time's waste:

And I sorrowfully remember that I wasted the best years of my life:

ShakespeareShakespeare – Early Modern – Early Modern EnglishEnglish

Original Line TranslationTranslationWhen to the sessions of sweet silent thought

When in these sessions of gratifying silent thought

I summon up remembrance of things past,

I think of the past,

I sigh the lack of many a thing I sought,

I lament my failure to achieve all that I wanted,

And with old woes new wail my dear time's waste:

And I sorrowfully remember that I wasted the best years of my life:

Shakespeare’s Creations…Shakespeare’s Creations…

• Shakespeare coined many words we still use today:

• Critical• Majestic• Dwindle

• And quite a few phrases as well:• Flesh and blood• Vanish into thin air

See http://www.wordorigins.org/histeng.htm

FINALLY…HERE ARE SOMEFINALLY…HERE ARE SOMEHELPFUL TIPS FOR READINGHELPFUL TIPS FOR READING

SHAKESPEARESHAKESPEARE

(REMEMBER, HE WROTE CLOSE TO (REMEMBER, HE WROTE CLOSE TO 500 YEARS AGO!!!)500 YEARS AGO!!!)

Language Tip # 1Language Tip # 1 He sometimes changed grammarHe sometimes changed grammar

We would say: We would say: Who is here?Who is here?

Shakespeare says: Shakespeare says: Who Who goesgoes there? there?

Language Tip #2Language Tip #2 He sometimes omitted words or lettersHe sometimes omitted words or letters

We say: “I entreated (invited) him to We say: “I entreated (invited) him to come along.”come along.”

Shakespeare says: “I entreated him Shakespeare says: “I entreated him along.”along.”

Language Tip #3Language Tip #3

– He sometimes used the archaic form of He sometimes used the archaic form of the pronoun “you” (thou, thy thine, the pronoun “you” (thou, thy thine, thee). thee).

We say: We say: Have you lost your mind?Have you lost your mind?

Shakespeare says:Shakespeare says: “Has’t thou gone “Has’t thou gone mad!”mad!”

Language Tip # 4Language Tip # 4

Make an effort!!!Make an effort!!!– Read the play, an act, a line TWICERead the play, an act, a line TWICE– Take notesTake notes– Read the play aloudRead the play aloud– Keep a cast list handyKeep a cast list handy– Summarize the action Summarize the action – Ask questions Ask questions

Dos’t thou comprehendDos’t thou comprehend