Shakespeare the Latin Lover Lesson 22 CLAS/LING 1010 November 5, 2008

The Literary Outsider “And though thou hadst small Latine, and lesse Greeke, From thence to honour thee, I would not seeke For names; but call forth thund’ring Æschilus, Euripides, and Sophocles to us.” —Ben Jonson, Preface to the First Folio, 1623

The Literary Outsider “Yes, trust them [actors] not, for there is an upstart crow, beautified with our feathers, that, with his Tygers heart wrapt in a Players hide, supposes he is as well able to bumbast out a blanke verse as the best of you; and being an absolute Johannes Factotum, is in his owne conceit the onely Shake-scene in a countrie.” —Robert Greene, Groatsworth of Wit (1592)

The Literary Outsider One of the main ways to get a literary reputation in Tudor England was through displays of classical learning: knowledge of Latin and Greek and allusions to Greco-Roman culture and history. One of the main ways to get a literary reputation in Tudor England was through displays of classical learning: knowledge of Latin and Greek and allusions to Greco-Roman culture and history. A person typically obtained this knowledge by attending one of the two universities, Oxford and Cambridge. A person typically obtained this knowledge by attending one of the two universities, Oxford and Cambridge. Shakespeare lacked a university education. Shakespeare lacked a university education. This fact has suggested to many that the man we know as Shakespeare could not have authored the highly literate works that are attributed to him. This fact has suggested to many that the man we know as Shakespeare could not have authored the highly literate works that are attributed to him. But in fact, Shakespeare ( ) had a strong background in Latin and Roman literature. But in fact, Shakespeare ( ) had a strong background in Latin and Roman literature. We will see this in his borrowings from Latin poets and playwrights, his allusions to Roman history and his creative use of Latin. We will see this in his borrowings from Latin poets and playwrights, his allusions to Roman history and his creative use of Latin.

The Education of Shakespeare We know that Shakespeare only attended primary school, so how did he get his education? We know that Shakespeare only attended primary school, so how did he get his education? He benefited from increased funding and standardization of early education during the Tudor period. He benefited from increased funding and standardization of early education during the Tudor period. He was a member of the rising middle class. He was a member of the rising middle class. His early education was obtained at a charter school, and was exceptionally rigorous. His early education was obtained at a charter school, and was exceptionally rigorous.

The Education of Shakespeare Born at Stratford-upon-Avon in April Born at Stratford-upon-Avon in April In 1571, at 7, entered King Edward VI Grammar School, a rigorous college-preparatory school created by a grant from the king to the Stratford town council in In 1571, at 7, entered King Edward VI Grammar School, a rigorous college-preparatory school created by a grant from the king to the Stratford town council in As the son of a council member, Shakespeare got free tuition. As the son of a council member, Shakespeare got free tuition. However, at 13 he was forced to enter his family’s business (glove making). However, at 13 he was forced to enter his family’s business (glove making).

The Education of Shakespeare The curriculum was designed to prepare boys for study of law, medicine or clergy, so a prime focus was on Latin language and literature. The curriculum was designed to prepare boys for study of law, medicine or clergy, so a prime focus was on Latin language and literature. Upper grades were taught exclusively in in Latin, and students were punished for speaking English. Upper grades were taught exclusively in in Latin, and students were punished for speaking English. Shakespeare used a state-mandated Latin grammar, Lily’s A Short Introduction of Grammar (1540). Shakespeare used a state-mandated Latin grammar, Lily’s A Short Introduction of Grammar (1540).Lily’s A Short Introduction of GrammarLily’s A Short Introduction of Grammar It remained in use, with some small changes, until the mid-nineteenth century. It remained in use, with some small changes, until the mid-nineteenth century.

The Education of Shakespeare Shakespeare alludes to both the Lily grammar and his Latin teacher, Thomas Jenkins, in Merry Wives of Windsor (1602): Sir Hugh Evans: What is lapis, William? William Page: A stone. Evans: And what is ‘a stone’, William? William: A pebble. Evans: No, it is lapis... William: Lapis. Evans: That is a good William. What is he, William, that does lend articles? William: Articles are borrowed of the pronoun, and be thus declined, Singulariter nominativo, hic, haec, hoc... Evans: What is your genitive case plural, William ? William: Genitive case? Evans: Ay. William: Genitive: horum, harum, horum. (Act 4, Scene 1)

The Career of Shakespeare Member of The King’s Men, which owned its own theater, the Globe Theater, south of the Thames in London. Member of The King’s Men, which owned its own theater, the Globe Theater, south of the Thames in London.Globe TheaterGlobe Theater Had a powerful patron, Lord Henry Wriothseley, Earl of Southhampton, to whom he dedicates his sonnets. Had a powerful patron, Lord Henry Wriothseley, Earl of Southhampton, to whom he dedicates his sonnets.Lord Henry Wriothseley, Earl of SouthhamptonLord Henry Wriothseley, Earl of Southhampton Wrote 36 plays, 154 sonnets, 2 narrative poems. Wrote 36 plays, 154 sonnets, 2 narrative poems. Wrote 36 plays, 154 sonnets, 2 narrative poems Wrote 36 plays, 154 sonnets, 2 narrative poems The versions of his works that we know today were first published in 1623 as the First Folio. The versions of his works that we know today were first published in 1623 as the First Folio.

The Career of Shakespeare Summary chart: Shakespeare’s life Summary chart: Shakespeare’s life Summary chart: Shakespeare’s life Summary chart: Shakespeare’s life Shakespeare quiz Shakespeare quiz Shakespeare quiz Shakespeare quiz

Shakespeare’s Classical Influences Early poems Venus and Adonis, Rape of Lucrece from classical sources: Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Livy’s Early History of Rome. Early poems Venus and Adonis, Rape of Lucrece from classical sources: Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Livy’s Early History of Rome. Several plays about Roman history: Julius Caesar, Titus Andronicus (1590), Coriolanus, Antony & Cleopatra Several plays about Roman history: Julius Caesar, Titus Andronicus (1590), Coriolanus, Antony & CleopatraTitus AndronicusCoriolanusTitus AndronicusCoriolanus Influenced by the works of Plautus (d. 184 BC ): Comedy of Errors (1589) takes characters and plot from Plautus comedies Amphitruo and Menaechmi. Influenced by the works of Plautus (d. 184 BC ): Comedy of Errors (1589) takes characters and plot from Plautus comedies Amphitruo and Menaechmi. Influenced by the works of Plautus Influenced by the works of Plautus

Shakespeare’s Use of Latin Fluent in Latin, Shakespeare naturally used Latinate words with deference to their original meanings. Fluent in Latin, Shakespeare naturally used Latinate words with deference to their original meanings. Examples are found in the following quotes: Examples are found in the following quotes: Thou, sapient sir, sit here. —King Lear (Act II, Scene 6) Thou, sapient sir, sit here. —King Lear (Act II, Scene 6) And so the prince obscured his contemplation Under the veil of wildness; which, no doubt, Grew like the summer grass, fastest by night, Unseen, yet crescive in his faculty. —Henry V (Act I, Scene 1) And so the prince obscured his contemplation Under the veil of wildness; which, no doubt, Grew like the summer grass, fastest by night, Unseen, yet crescive in his faculty. —Henry V (Act I, Scene 1) Other examples can be found by looking for specific Latin bases in a concordance of Shakespeare’s works. Other examples can be found by looking for specific Latin bases in a concordance of Shakespeare’s works.concordance

Shakespeare’s Latinate Vocabulary My powers are crescent. My powers are crescent. That they have overborne their continents. That they have overborne their continents. The fortitude of the place is best known to you. The fortitude of the place is best known to you. Whose white investments figure innocence. Whose white investments figure innocence. and of the truth herein this present object made probation. and of the truth herein this present object made probation. imputation and strong circumstances, which lead directly to the door of truth imputation and strong circumstances, which lead directly to the door of truth As knots…infect the sound pine and divert his grain tortive and errant from his course of growth. As knots…infect the sound pine and divert his grain tortive and errant from his course of growth.

Shakespeare’s Latinate Vocabulary Abate the edge of traitors…that would reduce these bloody days again. Abate the edge of traitors…that would reduce these bloody days again. Cadent tears fret channels in her cheeks. Cadent tears fret channels in her cheeks. The presence of the king disanimates his enemies. The presence of the king disanimates his enemies. What to this was sequent Thou know’st already. What to this was sequent Thou know’st already. Tying her duty, beauty, wit and fortunes in an extravagant and wheeling stranger of here and every where. Tying her duty, beauty, wit and fortunes in an extravagant and wheeling stranger of here and every where. Arts-man, preambulate, we will be singled from the barbarous. Do you not educate youth at the charge-house on the top of the mountain? Arts-man, preambulate, we will be singled from the barbarous. Do you not educate youth at the charge-house on the top of the mountain?

New Bases in Lesson 23 No New Suffixes since Lesson XXI! CORD CORD FLECT, FLEX FLECT, FLEX MAN(U) MAN(U) PORT PORT STRU, STRUCT STRU, STRUCT TERMIN TERMIN VINC, VICT VINC, VICT