Shakespeares Language IS:Shakespeares Language IS: Complex and
often hard to decipher Full of words and phrases that seem alien to
us or now have completely different meanings (marry=indeed, ho=hey!
Soft=hold on/wait a minute) Full of altered sentence structure (to
achieve rhyme, effect, or balance) Over 400 years old. BUT, it is
almost-modern English as opposed to
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OLD ENGLISH: 8 th -11 th Century Germanic Language that is the
oldest form of English Influenced mainly by Latin/Old Norse
(Scandinavian)
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= Hwt! We Gardena i n geardagum, eodcyninga, rym gefrunon, hu a
elingas ellen fremedon. So. The Spear-Danes in days gone by and the
kings who ruled them had courage and greatness. We have heard of
those princes heroic campaigns.
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Middle EnglishMiddle English 12 th -15 th Century Language
became more dialect- based Inflections changed (softened) Grammar
changed
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Chaucer: The Canturbury Tales Whan that aprill with his shoures
soote The droghte of march hath perced to the roote, And bathed
every veyne in swich licour Of which vertu engendred is the flour;
When April with his showers sweet with fruit The drought of March
has pierced unto the root And bathed each vein with liquor that has
power To generate therein and sire the flower;
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Shakespeare wrote in Early Modern English 1564-1616 Romeo and
Juliet written between 1591-1595 and published about 1597
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The PROLOGUEThe PROLOGUE Two households, both alike in dignity,
(In fair Verona, where we lay our scene), From ancient grudge break
to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean. From
forth the fatal loins of these two foes A pair of star-cross'd
lovers take their life; Whose misadventured piteous overthrows Doth
with their death bury their parents' strife. The fearful passage of
their death-marked love, And the continuance of their parents'
rage, Which, but their children's end, nought could remove, Is now
the two hours' traffic of our stage; The which, if you with patient
ears attend, What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to
mend.
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So, whats going on here?So, whats going on here? What do you
notice about the language? Whats happening here? What does
Shakespeare want you to know after reading the prologue? Pair
Search: grab a partner and read through the prologue looking for 2s
or the idea of pairs. Underline them. What do you think they mean?
On the back of this half sheet, make two predictions about the play
based on the information in the prologue. (We know theyre going to
die, so sorry, that ones off the table.)
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Pairs and PredictionsPairs and Predictions What are the pairs
you notice? What predictions did you draw from them?
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Warm-Up: TragedyWarm-Up: Tragedy What is your definition of a
tragedy? What are some modern-day tragedies (personal or worldly)
that you can think of? What does a tragedy in literature usually
contain? In what ways do you think that Romeo & Juliet will be
a tragedy?
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Vocabulary: 1) Tragedy: A play that depicts serious and
important events in which the main character(s) come to unhappy
ends. The tragic heros downfall is usually caused by a character
flaw, but can also result from forces beyond human control.
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Vocabulary: Elements of a Tragedy Prologue/Act I: Exposition
Act II: Rising action, or complications Act III: Crisis, or turning
point Act IV: Falling Action Act V: Climax and resolution
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William Shakespeare:William Shakespeare: Born the 3 rd of 8
children in April 23, 1564 in Stratford (100 miles north of
London). Family was financially comfortable (father was a
shopkeeper). William attended grammar school where he studied Latin
grammar, Latin, literature, and the use of language. No record of
further study exists. Married Anne Hathaway at 18 (she was 26),
they had twins girls and a boy.
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Shakespeare in London:Shakespeare in London: Moved to London
after his children are born, leaving his family in Stratford. By
1592, known in London for being an actor and playwright. Romeo and
Juliet is one of his earlier plays. By 1612 he returned to
Stratford, well-off, with 37 plays, and numerous sonnets to his
name.
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Shakespeare in London:Shakespeare in London: Member of Lord
Chamberlains Men (later, The Kings Men), a company of
actors/writers working in the theater under the support of a rich
benefactor. Acted in the famous Globe Theater.
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The Globe Theater TodayThe Globe Theater Today
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Shakespeares Final Retirement: Though his work lives on,
Shakespeare died April 23, 1616 at the age of 52. His gravestone is
still intact, reading: Good friend, for Jesus' sake forebeare To
digg the dust enclosed heare; Bleste be the man that spares thes
stones, And curst be he that moves my bones
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Romeo and Juliet : A Real Tragedy? Like most of Shakespeares
plays, R&J is based off an older story. Long narrative poem by
Arthur Brookes (1562) that depicts two young lovers who fall in
love at first sight, and marry. Shakespeare changes the moral of
Brookes story that revolves around just punishment and makes R and
J star-crossed lovers playing with fate. Debate around the real
Capulet and Montagues existence, but history does portray warring
families in Verona
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Interpretations of R and J:Interpretations of R and J:
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R & J : On Stage
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In fair Verona where we lay our scene
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Verona, ItalyVerona, Italy
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Juliets Balcony?Juliets Balcony?
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Act I: Scene I--charactersAct I: Scene I--characters 1) Sampson
2) Gregory: servants in Capulet house 3) Abram 4) Benvolio: Romeos
friend, nephew of Lord Montague 5) Tybalt: Juliets cousin, enemy of
Montague family 6) Citizens of Verona 7) Lord Capulet 8) Lady
Capulet 9) Lord Montague 10) Lady Montague 11) Prince 12)
Romeo