reading shakespeare’s works
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Reading Shakespeare’s Works. Why is it so hard to read Shakespeare?. Word Order. Modern English : The dog bit the boy. The boy bit the dog. Shakespeare’s English: The boy the dog bit. Word Order. Modern English : He goes. Shakespeare’s English: Goes he. Word Order. Modern English : - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Reading Shakespeare’s Works
Why is it so hard to read Shakespeare?
Word Order Modern English:
The dog bit the boy. The boy bit the dog.
Shakespeare’s English: The boy the dog bit.
Word Order Modern English:
He goes.
Shakespeare’s English: Goes he.
Word Order
Modern English: I hit him.
Shakespeare’s English: Him I hit.
Word Order Modern English:
Size doesn’t matter,…Look at me. Do you judge me by my size? You shouldn’t.
Yoda’s English: “Size matters not, ... Look at me. Judge me by size,
do you? And well you should not.
Word Order Modern English:
The force is my ally, and it is a powerful ally. It creates life, and makes it grow.
Yoda’s English: For my ally is the Force, and a powerful ally it is.
Life creates it, makes it grow.
Word Order Modern English:
Your fear must have a name before you can get rid of it.
Or You must know what you are afraid of before you
can get rid of it.
Yoda’s English: “Named must your fear be before banish it you
can.”
You Try Yoda English: “Powerful you have become, the dark
side I sense in you.”
Modern English: You have become powerful and I sense
the dark side in you.
You Try Yoda English: “Once you start down the dark path,
forever will it dominate your destiny, consume you it will.”
Modern English: Once you start down the dark path, it will
dominate your destiny forever, and it will consume you.
Word Order Modern English:
You greet my noble partner with present grace and great prediction.
Shakespeare’s English: My noble partner You greet with present grace and great prediction
Word Order Modern English:
I will convince his two chamberlains with wine and wassail.
Shakespeare’s English: His two chamberlains Will I with wine and wassail convince
You Try Shakespeare’s English:
Glamis thou art, and Cawdor
Modern English: You art Glamis and Cawdor.
If you lived in 1900…After the move, I’m going to the mall to get a new modem for my computer. I’ll probably pop into a cybercafe while I’m there and check my email because I’m expecting my travel agent to confirm my flight to London tonight.
Context if everything!
Metaphors & Analogies Abound “Now is the winter of our discontent,
made glorious summer by this son of York…”
Allusions
Bible stories Robin Hood King Arthur Greek and Roman stories
Personification trees blushed seas were angry The wind whispered to the trees “Sometime too hot the eye of heaven
shines” “Nor shall Death brag thou wander’st in
his shade”
Shakespeare invented words laughingstock hot-blooded ill-tempered cold-blooded puppy dog eyesore sea change bated breath bag baggage
Archaic Vocabulary
ere – before Thou, thy, thee – you/your Hath, hast – have, has Till - until
Adding and Subtracting Taking out the ‘v’
E’er E’en Ne’er
Taking out the ‘a’ ‘gainst
Taking out the ‘e’ Th’
Taking out the ‘f’ ‘o
Adding eth Seemeth
Adding ce Whence
Adding st Didst
Adding t shalt
Puns are used often “Lord Chief Justice: Your means are very
slender, and your waste is great.”
“Sir John Falstaff: I would it were otherwise; I would my means were greater and my waist slenderer.”
Puns are often usedMercutio: “Nay, gentle Romeo, we must have you dance.”
Romeo: “Not I, believe me. You have dancing shoes With nimble soles; I have a soul of lead So stakes me to the ground I cannot move.”
Multiple Meaning Words “Light, seeking light, doth light of light
beguile”
Multiple Meaning Words“Light, seeking light, doth light of light beguile”
Intellect wisdom eyesight daylight
Multiple Meaning Words“Light, seeking light, doth light of light beguile”
Intellect wisdom eyesight daylight
Wisdom can be as enticing to intellectuals as daylight is to a sighted person.