1. Shakespeare’s Unusual Usage

2. Unusual Word Order Call you me “fair”? That “fair” again unsay.
Helen, to you our minds we will unfold.
Wherefore speaks he this/ To her he hates?
Sleep thou, and I will wind thee in my arms.

3. Ellipsis (Omission of Words)
Godspeed, fair Helena. Whither away?
As you on him, Demetrius dote on you!
Thou shalt not from this grove…

4. Archaic Words and Idioms
For aye to be in shady cloister mewed…
Nay, I can gleek upon occasion.
To what, my love, shall I compare thine eyne?

5. Words with Old Meanings
And she respects me as her only son.
To bait me with his foul derision?
But soft! What nymphs are these?

6. Familiar Pronouns and Verb Inflections
This man hath bewitched the bosom of my child.
If thou lovest me, then…
Hast thou slain him, then?

7. Old Verb Inflections Thou told’st me they were stol’n unto this wood…
Be as thou wast wont to be.

8. Why, oh WHY does he do this to us?
Language is dense and luxurious
Language is rich with unusual words
Language is filled with metaphor
Lines are arranged for maximum beauty and effect