Shakespeare’s EnglishShakespeare’s English

A. Old EnglishA. Old English

B. Middle EnglishB. Middle English

C. Modern EnglishC. Modern English

Compare to BeowulfCompare to BeowulfOld EnglishOld English

Ða com of more under misthleoþum Ða com of more under misthleoþum Grendel gongan, Godes yrre bær; Grendel gongan, Godes yrre bær; mynte se manscaða manna cynnes mynte se manscaða manna cynnes sumne besyrwan in sele þam hean. sumne besyrwan in sele þam hean. Wod under wolcnum to þæs þe he winreced, Wod under wolcnum to þæs þe he winreced, goldsele gumena gearwost wisse goldsele gumena gearwost wisse fættum fahne. Ne wæs þæt forma sið, fættum fahne. Ne wæs þæt forma sið, þæt he Hroþgares ham gesohte; þæt he Hroþgares ham gesohte; næfre he on aldordagum ær ne siþðannæfre he on aldordagum ær ne siþðan

Compare to BeowulfCompare to BeowulfOld English (Modern Old English (Modern

Translation)Translation)Then from the moorland, by misty crags,Then from the moorland, by misty crags,with God's wrath laden, Grendel came.with God's wrath laden, Grendel came.The monster was minded of mankind nowThe monster was minded of mankind nowsundry to seize in the stately house.sundry to seize in the stately house.Under welkin he walked, till the wine-palace there,Under welkin he walked, till the wine-palace there,gold-hall of men, he gladly discerned,gold-hall of men, he gladly discerned,flashing with fretwork. Not first time, this,flashing with fretwork. Not first time, this,that he the home of Hrothgar sought, --that he the home of Hrothgar sought, --yet ne'er in his life-day, late or early,yet ne'er in his life-day, late or early,such hardy heroes, such hall-thanes, found!such hardy heroes, such hall-thanes, found!

Compare to Canterbury Compare to Canterbury TalesTales

Middle EnglishMiddle EnglishWhan that Aprille with his shoures soote the Whan that Aprille with his shoures soote the droute of March hath perced to the roote droute of March hath perced to the roote and bathed every veine in sweech licour, of and bathed every veine in sweech licour, of which vertu engenred is the flour…which vertu engenred is the flour…

And specially from ev’ry shires ende of And specially from ev’ry shires ende of Englonde to Canterbury they wende the Englonde to Canterbury they wende the hooly blissfull martyr for to seeke that hem hooly blissfull martyr for to seeke that hem hath holpen whan that they were seke.hath holpen whan that they were seke.

Romeo & JulietRomeo & JulietModern EnglishModern English

Romeo: Was that my father that went hence so fast?Romeo: Was that my father that went hence so fast?

Benvolio: It was. What sadness lengthens Romeo’s hours? Benvolio: It was. What sadness lengthens Romeo’s hours?

Benvolio: Be ruled by me; forget to think of her.Benvolio: Be ruled by me; forget to think of her.

Romeo: O, teach me how I should forget to think! Romeo: O, teach me how I should forget to think!

Why Shakespeare’s Why Shakespeare’s Language is DifficultLanguage is Difficult

• VocabularyVocabulary

• Word Order Word Order (irregular sentence structure)(irregular sentence structure)

• Pronouns Pronouns (thee, thou, thy, thine)(thee, thou, thy, thine)

• Verb Conjugations Verb Conjugations (doth, art, wilt, giveth)(doth, art, wilt, giveth)

Reverse Word OrderReverse Word Order

Pay attention to the Pay attention to the Subject, Verb,Subject, Verb, and and ObjectObject in the sentence. in the sentence.

Remember to read Shakespeare’s poetry Remember to read Shakespeare’s poetry asas spoken sentences. spoken sentences.

Reverse Word OrderReverse Word OrderOften the Verb Parts are Often the Verb Parts are split up.split up.

Paris:Paris: Younger than she are Younger than she are happy mothers made.happy mothers made.

Sometimes the Sometimes the verbverb or or objectobject comes comes first instead of the first instead of the subject.subject.

Lady Montague:Lady Montague: O, where is Romeo? O, where is Romeo? Saw you him today? Right glad I am Saw you him today? Right glad I am he was not at this fray.he was not at this fray.

PronounsPronouns

Almost all pronouns are Almost all pronouns are the same the same in in Shakespeare’s English and our English.Shakespeare’s English and our English.

The main exception is the The main exception is the second person second person singularsingular (you). (you).

PronounsPronounsSecond Person SingularSecond Person Singular

How it is usedHow it is used Our PronounOur PronounShakespeare’s Shakespeare’s

PronounPronoun

SubjectSubject ThouThouYouYou

ObjectObject YouYou TheeThee

Possessive Possessive AdjectiveAdjective YourYour ThyThy

Possessive NounPossessive Noun YoursYours ThineThine

Verb ConjugationsVerb Conjugations

Almost all Verb Conjugations are Almost all Verb Conjugations are exactly exactly the same the same in Shakespeare’s in Shakespeare’s

English and our English.English and our English.

The main exceptions are the The main exceptions are the second second andand third person singular. third person singular.

Verb ConjugationsVerb Conjugations

Verb FormVerb Form Our EnglishOur EnglishShakespeare’s Shakespeare’s

EnglishEnglish

22ndnd Person Person Singular Singular

(you)(you)

Add Add – st– st (thou give(thou givestst))

No ending No ending (you give)(you give)

33rdrd Person Person Singular Singular

(he/she/it)(he/she/it)

Add Add – s– s (he give(he givess))

Add Add – th– th (he give(he givethth))

Verb ConjugationsVerb Conjugations

Romeo:Romeo: O, O, she dothshe doth teach the torches to teach the torches to burn bright.burn bright.

Juliet:Juliet: O Romeo, Romeo! O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore Wherefore art thouart thou Romeo? Romeo?

Deny thy father and refuse thy name; Deny thy father and refuse thy name; Or, if Or, if thou wiltthou wilt not, be but sworn my not, be but sworn my love, and I’ll no longer be a Capulet.love, and I’ll no longer be a Capulet.