Shakespearean Language LAP 4 Literary Types

Understanding Shakespearean Language https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5lsuyUNu_4

Language is always evolving Languages do not just happen – they are the result of many of hundreds and even thousands of years of development. The English as we know it is relatively new and is in a constant state of change. Every day hundreds of new words enter the language and many are dropped. There are over 300,000 words in the English language. Shakespeare is credited for adding nearly 2,000 words to the English language. Nearly all of which are still used today.

A few words that Shakespeare added Accommodation Bedroom Defeat Engagement Juiced Priceless Skim milk Upstairs Useless Watchdog

Understanding Shakespeare’s Language Using your device, conduct an effective google search: words introduced to the English language since 2000 In your notebook, write down at least one word that has been added to the Oxford English Dictionary since the year 2000. Then, look up the definition of the word to possibly share with the class.

Reading Tips 1. Thou, thee and thy – These mean you, you, and your, respectively. These words dropped out of our language a couple centuries ago, but Shakespeare uses them. The verb that is used with “thou” changes as well.

Reading Tips 2. Inversion – Sometimes Shakespeare will invert the verb and the subject. For instance, he might write, “Went I to Incarnate.” instead of “I Went to Incarnate.”

Reading Tips 3. Diction – There are three problems with Shakespeare’s word choice. he uses words that no longer exist in the English we speak. he uses words that are in our language, but now have a different meaning to us. he uses words that are in our language, but we simply don’t know what these words mean – you should look them up.

Reading Tips 4. Contractions – for purposes of rhythm Shakespeare uses contractions to cut out syllables. Examples: o’ = on th’ = the i’ = in ‘t – it ta’en = taken ‘em = them ‘a = he (often) o’er = over

Reading Tips The same, just shortened Shakespeare uses a lot of contractions, especially to maintain iambic pentameter: wi’ = with I’ = In o’ = of t’ = to ‘t = it ‘tis = it is ‘twas = it was e'en = even (sounds like een) e'er = ever (sounds like air) ne’er = never (sounds like nair) ______________________________________________ Hey, you! Fear not thees and thous! They both mean you, and they follow a pattern. thou = you (subject) thee = you (object) ye = you (plural) thy = your thine = yours

Translating Shakespeare’s Language With a partner, complete the Puzzle of the Day. Hold onto this Puzzle of the Day to refer to each class.

The following slides contain crucial information in understanding Shakespeare’s Language. Be sure to take notes and listen. I assure you that you will understand this once we are finished.

Shakespearean Sonnet Sonnet: 14 line lyric poem with a complicated rhyme scheme and defined structure Shakespearean Sonnet: uses iambic pentameter and has 3 quatrains (group of 4 lines) and a couplet 1st quatrain introduces the situation 3rd quatrain often shows a shift in thought Couplet resolves the situation

Writing Style and Rhyme Scheme Parts of Romeo and Juliet are written as a sonnet, a poem of 14 lines written and rhymed in iambic pentameter. Each sonnet ends with a couplet. In a Shakespearean sonnet the rhyme scheme is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG A couplet is two consecutive lines that rhyme. Iambic pentameter refers to the rhythm of each line. It is an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed one. “Bŭt sóft! Whăt líght throŭgh yóndĕr wíndŏw bréaks?”

Iambic Pentameter Iambic pentameter is meter that Shakespeare nearly always used when writing in verse. Most of his plays were written in iambic pentameter, except for lower-class characters who speak in prose. Iamb: an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable, marked “u/” Penta: means 5 Meter: the set rhythm of a piece of writing

Shakespeare’s Meter Iambic Pentameter has: Ten syllables in each line Five pairs of alternating unstressed and stressed syllables Iambic Pentameter: 5 iambs in a row “u/u/u/u/u/” Blank Verse: Unrhymed iambic pentameter

Iambic Pentameter The rhythm in each line sounds like: ba-BUM / ba-BUM / ba-BUM / ba-BUM / ba-BUM unstressed with a u stressed is marked with an x Most of Shakespeare’s famous quotations fit into this rhythm. For example: u x u x u x u x u x If mu- / -sic be / the food / of love, / play on   Each pair of syllables is called an iambus. You’ll notice that each iambus is made up of one unstressed and one stressed beat (ba-BUM). This is called an iambic foot.

Shake-a-spear Activity Your task is to break down the Shakespearean sonnet with your partner. Mark the unstressed and stressed syllables Identify the rhyme scheme (abab…)