1. Shakespeare’s Language

2. Shakespeare’s Language – Brief Historical Overview
Shakespeare spoke and wrote in Early Modern English
There are more similarities between our English and his than there are differences
Know the differences, but do not focus too much on them
FOCUS ON WHAT YOU KNOW, NOT ON WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW!

3. Shakespeare’s Language – Brief Historical Overview
Old English – spoken from about 500 – 1100 AD
Germanic roots – almost unrecognizable from today’s English

4. Shakespeare’s Language – Brief Historical Overview
Middle English – spoken from about 1100 to 1500 AD
French influences from when William the Conqueror invaded England in 1066

5. Shakespeare’s Language – Brief Historical Overview
Early Modern English – spoken from about 1500 to 1700 AD
Major influences the “Great Vowel Shift” and the printing press

6. Shakespeare’s Language – Differences
Pronouns
Most pronouns in Shakespeare’s time were the same as pronouns today.
Only difference was in the pronouns for “you.”
THOU and THEE = YOU
THY and THINE = YOUR
YOU was also used but usually only in a formal sense

7. Shakespeare’s Language – Differences
Verbs
Verbs in Shakespeare’s time tended to have different endings from verbs today
Most common endings were –ST, T, or TH
Should’st, knowest, goest
Art, goeth

8. Shakespeare’s Language – Differences
Word Order
Shakespeare was a poet, like all poetry, sometimes you have to play with the word order.
“A gloomy peace with it this morning brings.”
This is no different from other poetry, do not get too caught up in it.

9. Shakespeare’s Language – Differences
Vocabulary
Over the course of 450 years, our vocabulary has changed a bit
Side notes in your book will help with this
I will point out common words from Shakespeare’s time that we do not have today