How to Read ShakespeareHow to Read Shakespeare

Wherefore art thou, Romeo?

There are several reasons why There are several reasons why Shakespeare’s language can be Shakespeare’s language can be

so hard to understand. so hard to understand.

One main reason is his vocabulary,One main reason is his vocabulary,

and another is the way and another is the way

his sentences are written.his sentences are written.

Shakespeare often used words Shakespeare often used words we don’t use any morewe don’t use any more

Your textbook provides sidenotes to help you with archaic (old) words

and with other words that might be unfamiliar to you.

Here are some of the archaic words used in

the play:

For more archaic words and their definitions, see your textbook.

an’an’ or or and = and = ifif

anon =anon = soon, right soon, right away; comingaway; coming

but =but = if; except; if; except; onlyonly

haphap or or happy =happy = luck; luckyluck; lucky

maid = maid = unmarried unmarried girlgirl

nice =nice = trivial; foolish trivial; foolish

owes =owes = owns owns

soft =soft = quiet;slow up quiet;slow up

stay =stay = wait wait

still =still = always always

wot =wot = know know

YeYe = you = you

Shakespeare also used a lot of Shakespeare also used a lot of contractions to control contractions to control the meter of each line.the meter of each line.

In these cases you have to read In these cases you have to read throughthrough the word. You’ll use the the word. You’ll use the context to figure out what word it context to figure out what word it should be.should be.

Try to figure out what word it is Try to figure out what word it is supposed to be and pronounce it supposed to be and pronounce it normally.normally.

Some common Shakespearean contractions:Some common Shakespearean contractions:

a’ = on/hea’ = on/he I’ = inI’ = in

e’en = evene’en = even oft = oftenoft = often

e’er = evere’er = ever gi’ = givegi’ = give

ne’er = neverne’er = never t’other = the othert’other = the other

is’t = is itis’t = is it ope = openope = open

‘‘tis = it istis = it is o’er = over o’er = over

The meter also affects the pronunciation of The meter also affects the pronunciation of words we recognize. When you read words words we recognize. When you read words that have a mark for emphasis, pronounce that have a mark for emphasis, pronounce

the syllable. the syllable.

marrimarrièdèd

talktalkèdèd

walkèdwalkèd

fixfixèdèd

Shakespeare’s verbs are Shakespeare’s verbs are sometimes written strangelysometimes written strangely

art = areart = are

think’st = thinkthink’st = think

may’st = maymay’st = may

goeth = goesgoeth = goes

wilt = willwilt = will

When Shakespeare wants to When Shakespeare wants to talk about you, he uses talk about you, he uses

different pronouns than we different pronouns than we do.do.

thou = youthou = you

Thou is “you” as the subject Thou is “you” as the subject of a sentenceof a sentence

ThouThou hast a pretty dog. hast a pretty dog.

thee = youthee = you

Thee is “you” as the object Thee is “you” as the object of a sentence.of a sentence.

I gave the dog to I gave the dog to theethee..

thy = yourthy = your

ThyThy dog has eaten my dog has eaten my sneakers.sneakers.

Put Put thythy dog in a kennel. dog in a kennel.

thine = yoursthine = yours

The dog that has eaten my The dog that has eaten my sneakers is sneakers is thinethine. .

My dog will live for a long My dog will live for a long time. Will time. Will thinethine??

thine = your + vowelthine = your + vowel

You’d better watch out for You’d better watch out for thinethine own sneakers. own sneakers.

To To thinethine own dog be true. own dog be true.

Here’s a test:Here’s a test:

Yesterday, I saw Yesterday, I saw youyou and and youryour dog Flimflam getting into a car. dog Flimflam getting into a car. Were Were youyou going somewhere with going somewhere with him? I saw him? I saw youyou sitting behind the sitting behind the wheel and wheel and youryour dog sitting in dog sitting in youryour lap. Was the car his or lap. Was the car his or yoursyours? I didn’t know ? I didn’t know youyou could could let let youryour dog drive. dog drive.

Yesterday, I saw Yesterday, I saw THEETHEE and and THYTHY dog Flimflam getting into a car. dog Flimflam getting into a car. WASTWAST THOUTHOU going somewhere going somewhere with him? I saw with him? I saw THEETHEE sitting sitting behind the wheel and behind the wheel and THYTHY dog dog sitting in sitting in THYTHY lap. Was the car lap. Was the car his or his or THINETHINE? I didn’t know ? I didn’t know THEETHEE could let could let THYTHY dog drive. dog drive.

As you read Shakespeare’s works, try to visualize the play being performed.

Remind yourself that these are people talking to each other.

Based on what they are talking about, try to figure out what words they are likely to be saying.

Also consider the fact Also consider the fact

that some of what he says that some of what he says

is supposed to be funnyis supposed to be funny

He uses A LOT of punsHe uses A LOT of punsJoke made by playing with the Joke made by playing with the meanings of words. meanings of words.

Can be words that are spelled the Can be words that are spelled the same but have different meaning like same but have different meaning like “battery”“battery”

Can be words that sound the same Can be words that sound the same but are spelled differently like “no” but are spelled differently like “no” and “know”and “know”

Pun examplePun exampleI used to be a doctor, but then I lost I used to be a doctor, but then I lost patientspatients

This duck walks into a bar and This duck walks into a bar and orders a beer. "Four bucks," says the orders a beer. "Four bucks," says the bartender. "Put it on my bill." bartender. "Put it on my bill."

Two peanuts walk into a bar. One Two peanuts walk into a bar. One was a salted.was a salted.