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Shakespeare’s Language Tricks

Shakespeare’s Language Tricks. Because Shakespeare wrote nearly 400 years ago, the way he writes presents problems for modern readers. Most of Shakespeare’s play lines are actually written in poetry verse. Although they don’t usually rhyme, they do have a set rhythm called METER (or flow)

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Shakespeare’s Language Tricks

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  1. Shakespeare’s Language Tricks

  2. Because Shakespeare wrote nearly 400 years ago, the way he writes presents problems for modern readers. • Most of Shakespeare’s play lines are actually written in poetry verse. • Although they don’t usually rhyme, they do have a set rhythm called METER (or flow) • Rhythym = Meter = Flow!

  3. To achieve flow/rhythm in the play, Shakespeare manipulates syllables. • Syllable = 1 sound unit How many syllables are in these words? • Rainbow Creation Sam Happy Words are arranged in the play so that some of the syllables are stressed (said more loudly) than other syllables and put into a pattern.

  4. Here’s the pattern: • dah DUM dah DUM dah DUM dah DUM • Here’s how we write it on paper: • U I U I U I U I U I dahDUM dah DUM dah DUM dahDUM dah DUM • How many total syllables is this? • In Shakespeare’s plays, 2 syllables ( U I ) is called an iamb *What does 1 iamb sound like?

  5. Example: this is 1 poetic line of the play Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much, • Count out the meter (the beat) = dah DUM • Mark the syllables = number them below each sound unit • Label each iamb = U I • How many IAMBS are there in each line?

  6. This pattern of 5 iambs for each line of Shakespeare’s plays is called Iambic Pentameter 5 iambs = iambic pentameter

  7. 5 Tricks to decoding Shakespeare: • Trick #1: do the Yoda! • Turn your words around a bit • A gloomy peace this morning with it brings. • This morning brings a gloomy peace with it.

  8. Trick #2: Omissions • In order to fit the iambic pentameter pattern, words are sometimes shortened by omitting letters. • o’er  • ‘tis  • ‘twas

  9. Trick #3: Rare Words • Shakespeare used words that we no longer use to refer to people. They still exist, but usually you only see them in church hymn books and the Bible. Translate these words: thou= you thine= your, yours thee= you, to you thyself= yourself

  10. Trick #4: Rare Verbs • Shakespeare used verb endings that we no longer use. They still exist, but usually you only see them in church hymn books and the Bible. Translate these words: hath= art=

  11. Trick #5: Extinct Words • Some words and phrases we no longer use at all! • Translate using p. 782 and class handouts: • Anon= soft= • Prithee= mark= • Good-den= nice= • Still= Jack= • Hap= • Happy= • Maid= • Stay=

  12. Now go to p.780 & 781 • Couplet: • Blank verse

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