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Shakespearian language Word usage, Grammar, Word play, and versification
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Many Shakespearian words have switched meanings or completely disappeared Such as: Bodkin (a piercing tool, like a chisel) Fardel (bundle) Thou (you) Art (are) Although, the principles of Shakespearian to today are almost the same today, we add more slang and jargon. Also Shakespeare invented many of the words in his plays Many Shakespearian words have switched meanings or completely disappeared Such as: Bodkin (a piercing tool, like a chisel) Fardel (bundle) Thou (you) Art (are) Although, the principles of Shakespearian to today are almost the same today, we add more slang and jargon. Also Shakespeare invented many of the words in his plays Word Usage
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Grammar William Shakespeare was very flexible with his word order. He constantly switched nouns or adjectives to verbs. His sentence structure could vary from any of these: I ate the sandwich. I the sandwich ate. Ate the sandwich I. Ate I the sandwich. The sandwich I ate. The sandwich ate I. He regularly used double negatives which can be very confusing to people today. William Shakespeare was very flexible with his word order. He constantly switched nouns or adjectives to verbs. His sentence structure could vary from any of these: I ate the sandwich. I the sandwich ate. Ate the sandwich I. Ate I the sandwich. The sandwich I ate. The sandwich ate I. He regularly used double negatives which can be very confusing to people today.
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Word Play Some of Shakespeare’s most difficult pieces to read are the comedies because it is hard to tell when the characters are making a joke or being serious. Most of Shakespeare’s jokes were metaphors, puns or irony. This was very popular in the Elizabethan era so he wrote them in constantly. The plays also had some of sexual innuendo, which was poplar among the more common people. Some of Shakespeare’s most difficult pieces to read are the comedies because it is hard to tell when the characters are making a joke or being serious. Most of Shakespeare’s jokes were metaphors, puns or irony. This was very popular in the Elizabethan era so he wrote them in constantly. The plays also had some of sexual innuendo, which was poplar among the more common people.
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Versification Some of Shakespeare’s plays are dramatic literatures which means they were not meant to be read, they were meant to be preformed. Verses written in his plays were very poetic and easy for actors to memorize. Many of his plays were written in Iambic pentameter Five stressed and five unstressed syllables in each line. (alternate) Although, to not sound emotionless he wrote many different meters into his plays. Some of Shakespeare’s plays are dramatic literatures which means they were not meant to be read, they were meant to be preformed. Verses written in his plays were very poetic and easy for actors to memorize. Many of his plays were written in Iambic pentameter Five stressed and five unstressed syllables in each line. (alternate) Although, to not sound emotionless he wrote many different meters into his plays.
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