Reading Shakespeare’s Works

1. Reading Shakespeare’s Works

2. Why is it so hard to read Shakespeare?

3. Word Order • Modern English: • The dog bit the boy. • The boy bit the dog. • Shakespeare’s English: • The boy the dog bit.

4. Word Order • Modern English: • He goes. • Shakespeare’s English: • Goes he.

5. Word Order • Modern English: • I hit him. • Shakespeare’s English: • Him I hit.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.”

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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

12. 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

13. You Try • Shakespeare’s English: • Glamisthou art, and Cawdor • Modern English: • You art Glamis and Cawdor.

14. 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!

15. Metaphors & Analogies Abound • “Now is the winter of our discontent, made glorious summer by this son of York…”

16. Allusions • Bible stories • Robin Hood • King Arthur • Greek and Roman stories

17. 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”

18. Shakespeare invented words • laughingstock • hot-blooded • ill-tempered • cold-blooded • puppy dog • eyesore • sea change • bated breath • bag • baggage

19. Archaic Vocabulary • ere – before • Thou, thy, thee – you/your • Hath, hast – have, has • Till - until

20. 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 art cam'st shalt quoth

21. 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.”

22. Puns are often used Mercutio: “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.”

23. Multiple Meaning Words • “Light, seeking light, doth light of light beguile”

24. Multiple Meaning Words “Light, seeking light, doth light of light beguile” Intellect wisdom eyesight daylight

25. 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.