Interpreting Shakespeare: Tips and Techniques

1. HELP! How do I interpret Shakespeare? 1.) Read through a complete stanza to hear the tone 2.) Look for words you may not know and determine what these difficult words mean 3.) Try rearranging the words in the sentence

2. Step 1 Main idea • Read through the stanza (or sentence) and try to get a feel for the tone and the subject. • At first glance, the passage may seem very difficult, but see if you can pick up on the feeling that the passage gives off. Tone=mood/feeling Get the gist tone of voice

3. Step 2 • Look for words you are not familiar with • Use context clues to help you figure out their meaning. • Use a dictionary, or the internet, to look up words that you don’t know. context clues are hints within the sentence Dictionary.com

4. Let's look at some Shakespearean vocabulary.

5. Antiquated Vocabulary Old fashioned “Deny thy father, and refuse thy name.” Romeo & Juliet Act 2, scene 2 Thou Thy Thee Ye Ay Mark Whither Hie Wherefore Beseech

6. Antiquated vocabulary “Deny thy father, and refuse thy name.” Romeo & Juliet Act 2, scene 2 Thou You (subjective-performs verb) Thy Your Thee You (objective-receives verb) Ye You (plural) Ay Yes Mark Notice Whither Where/When Hie Hurry Wherefore Why Beseech Beg “Deny YOUR father, and refuse YOUR name.” Romeo & Juliet Act 2, scene 2

7. Step 3 • Rearrange the sentence so that it follows the format: Subject-Verb-Object The person or thing performing the action in the sentence. The action being performed. Nouns that receive the action and usually follow the verb. Shakespeare frequently changed the order of the his sentences to create a specific rhyme scheme or to place emphasis on a certain word.

8. Check out this example of an inverted sentence: “She I swear hath corns.” has Verb Object Subject Translated Sentence: “I swear she has corns.”

9. Let’s practice a few Shakespearean lines with a familiar text.

10. ineffective look for Benvolio Go then, for ‘tis in vain to seek him here that means not to be found. Let’s go run after him and try to find him. Leave. He’s not here. Let’s look for him somewhere else. Let’s leave. It’s of no use to try to look for someone who doesn’t want to be found.

11. Romeo Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, Who is already sick and pale with grief That thou, her maid, art far more fair than she. • Sun, please rise so this night will end and I won’t be sad anymore. • Rise sun, and kill the moon that is jealous of Juliet because she is more beautiful. • Juliet, who is the sun, is better and more beautiful than Rosaline, who is the moon. jealous you (referring to ___ ?_) Juliet are beautiful than

12. why Juliet O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo? • Oh Romeo, where could you be? • Oh Romeo, when will I see you again? • Oh Romeo, why are you Romeo?

13. Juliet My ears have yet not drunk a hundred words Of thy tongue’s uttering, yet I know the sound. • Keep talking your voice is like wine to my ears! • I hear your voice, but I can’t quite understand what you’re saying! • Hey, I recognize that voice! heard your speech sounds

14. Romeo Alack, there lies more peril in thine eye Than twenty of their swords. Look thou but sweet, And I am proof against their enmity. • Whatever—the look in your eye is more dangerous than twenty of their swords. Look at me with loving eyes and I’m immune to their hatred. • Shucks, you’re right, it is dangerous to be here among their weapons—especially if you’re making lovey-dovey eyes at me! • You’re the one who will be in danger if they find me here—I’m proof that you’re disobeying your parents! danger your you hatred impenetrable

15. Juliet Or if thou think’st I am too quickly won, I’ll frown and be perverse, and say thee nay, So thou wilt woo, but else not for the world. • If you love me and leave me, I’ll become sad and nothing else in this world will cheer me up. • If you think I’ll automatically say yes, I’ll play hard-to-get, so you’ll have to try to impress me. • Falling in love can’t be this easy, something always goes wrong. think quick to fall in love (EASY) obstinate no to you court

16. *Juliet O swear not by the moon, th’inconstant moon, That monthly changes in her circl’d orb, Lest that thy love prove likewise variable. • My love may change like the phases of the moon. Will yours do the same? • Don’t swear your love to the moon because it’s always changing—unless your love for me will change too. • If you really want to prove your love to me, swear it to the moon. the changeable circular orbit liable to change

17. Juliet Thy purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow, By one that I’ll procure to come to thee, Where and what time thou wilt perform the rite • If you want to get married, send me a note tomorrow and I’ll come and meet you for the wedding. • Your purpose should be to marry me. Let’s get married tomorrow at one o’clock! • If you want to marry me, I’ll send someone to you tomorrow to find out the time and place where we’ll have the wedding. someone who get ceremony

18. ask for sincerely Friar My Lord, we must entreat the time alone. • Dear God, we need to go on a retreat together. • My God! Why can we never be alone! • Sir, may we please have some time alone?

19. Excessively Paris Immoderately she weeps for Tybalt’s death And therefore have I little talked of love • Since she is crying excessively over Tybalt’s death, I haven’t had a chance to talk about love with her. • Her love is so moderate that she cries every night to her cousin Tybalt. • She cries deadly tears to Tybalt since we are not in love.

20. postpone Friar I hear thou must, and nothing may prorogue it, On Thursday next be married to this county • If you want to discontinue your marriage, then come over on Thursday. • I realize that nothing can postpone your marriage on Thursday to Count Paris. • If you want to get married in this country, you have to postpone it until Thursday.

21. Today's audiences will be less familiar with the British Peerage and Nobility, so here's a quick primer: • Duke: The highest rank in British Peerage; from the Latin dux, meaning leader. The female counterpart to a Duke is a Duchess. • Marquess: Second-highest rank, from the French marquis, meaning march. The female counterpart is the Marchioness. • Earl: This title comes from an old English term that referred to a military leader, and the rank corresponds to a Count in continental Europe. The female counterpart of an Earl is the Countess. • Viscount: A Latin-derived word that translates to vice-count. • Baron: The lowest rank of British Peer; someone who holds land directly from the King or Queen.

22. postpone Friar I hear thou must, and nothing may prorogue it, On Thursday next be married to this county • If you want to discontinue your marriage, then come over on Thursday. • I realize that nothing can postpone your marriage on Thursday to Count Paris. • If you want to get married in this country, you have to postpone it until Thursday. a rank that is equal to earl in English Nobility

23. The End