The English language has changed a great deal in the last 400 years and, as I am sure you know, it is still changing. \u00a0In 400 years from now English speakers will look back and likely have difficulty understand today\u2019s English as much as we have trouble understanding the English of Shakespeare\u2019s time.\u00a0 Yet, we English speakers try hard to under Shakespeare because his writing is so beautiful!<\/p>\n
So, the first step to understanding Shakespeare is understanding some of the words that were used in his day that we no longer use today. \u00a0Here is a brief list of words that were particularly common for Shakespeare to use in his writing.<\/p>\n
anon = right now
\nart = are
\ndost or doth = does or do
\nere = before
\nhark = listen
\nhither = here
\nthither = there
\nhath = has
\nthee = you
\nthou = you
\nthy = your
\nwhence = from where
\nwherefore = why<\/p>\n
Isn\u2019t it amazing how much the language has changed?!\u00a0 Some of these older words are similar to their modern day counter part, but some are very different.\u00a0 The change in language from what we call \u2018Old English\u2019 to ‘modern English’ is not the only reason Shakespeare\u2019s writing can be hard to understand. \u00a0Shakespeare also had some interesting writing techniques. \u00a0Understanding these techniques will also make understanding his writing easier. \u00a0Here are the explanations of some of these techniques along with some of Shakespeare\u2019s writing used as examples.<\/p>\n
1. Inverted sentences<\/strong>: In an inverted sentence the verb comes before the subject.<\/p>\n For example: 2. Ellipsis<\/strong>: Ellipses occur when a word or phrase is left out.<\/p>\n Here is an example of this in the play Romeo and Juliet<\/em>. \u00a0Benvolio asks Romeo’s father and mother if they know the problem that is bothering their son, Romeo.<\/p>\n Romeo’s father answers: What is left out? \u00a0Here is the same sentence without ellipses: 3. Contracted words<\/strong>: Shakespeare often used contracted words in which a letter has been left out of a word and an apostrophe has taken the place of the missing letter.<\/p>\n Here are some examples of contracted words used by Shakespeare:<\/p>\n \u2018gainst = against 4. Metaphor<\/strong>: Shakespeare also frequently uses metaphor to illustrate ideas in unique ways.<\/p>\n Here is an example from Macbeth, in which the king says: In this example of metaphor, the king compares Macbeth to a tree he can plant and watch grow.<\/p>\n 5. Allusion<\/strong>: An allusion is a reference to some event, person, or place that is not directly explained or discussed by the writer. \u00a0Allusion requires that the reader have familiarity with the item that is referred to. \u00a0This is often hard for native English speakers, but even harder for ESL speakers who don\u2019t have the same cultural knowledge base.<\/p>\n Here is an example from Romeo and Juliet<\/em> in which Romeo alludes to Diana (the Roman goddess of the hunt and of chastity) and to Cupid’s arrow (which is connected to the idea of love).<\/p>\n Romeo: Well, in that hit you miss: she’ll not be hit with Cupid’s arrow, she hath Dian’s wit; and in strong proof of chastity well arm’d.<\/p>\n Okay, now with all this new knowledge about Shakespeare\u2019s writing here are some famous lines from his work for you to read.\u00a0 Hopefully know you will be able to better understand them!<\/p>\n “Neither a borrower nor a lender be; For loan oft loses both itself and friend, and borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry.” “To be, or not to be: that is the question.” “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” “\u2018T\u2019is neither here nor there.” “The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool.” “O! she doth teach the torches to burn bright.” “If you prick us, do we not bleed? if you tickle us, do we not laugh? if you poison us, do we not die? and if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?” “Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind, and therefore is winged Cupid painted blind.” The English language has changed a great deal in the last 400 years and, as I am sure you know, it is still changing. \u00a0In 400 years from now English speakers will look back and likely have difficulty understand today\u2019s English as much as we have trouble understanding the English of Shakespeare\u2019s time.\u00a0 Yet, we…<\/p>\n
\n\u201cNever was seen so black a day as this:\u201d (Romeo and Juliet<\/em>, IV, v)
\nYou can change this inverted pattern to make it more understandable and it would read: \u201cA day as black as this was never seen:<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\u201cI neither know it nor can learn of him\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\u201cI neither know [the cause of] it, nor can [I] learn [about it from] him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\ndo\u2019t =don\u2019t
\nta\u2019en = taken
\nknow\u2019st = knowest<\/p>\n
\n\u201cI have begun to plant thee, and will labour to make thee full of growing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nHamlet<\/em> (Act I, Scene III).<\/p>\n
\nHamlet<\/em> (Act III, Scene I)<\/p>\n
\nRomeo and Juliet<\/em> (Act II, Scene II)<\/p>\n
\nOthello<\/em> (Act IV, Scene III)<\/p>\n
\nAs You Like It ( Quote Act V, Scene I)<\/p>\n
\nRomeo and Juliet<\/em> (Act I, Scene V)<\/p>\n
\nThe Merchant of Venice<\/em> (Act III, scene I)<\/p>\n
\nA Midsummer Night’s Dream<\/em> (Act I, Scene I)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"