Appreciating Shakespeare's Language
When Shakespeare wrote his sonnets and plays, the language he used was popular and would have been easily recognized by seventeenth century audiences. However, in the twenty-first century, we have a more difficult time comprehending the words Shakespeare used. What we must remember is that Shakespeare’s words can be easily “translated” into modern English, and once we become familiar with these words, it becomes easier to read and understand the language, and then we are able to appreciate the story Shakespeare is trying to tell.
Below is a list of common words found in Shakespeare’s works, along with a modern “translation” of the word or phrase. 1. mark: pay attention to 2. attend: listen to 3. nay: no 4. withal: with 5. discourses: speaks 6. an: if 7. will: desire 8. thither: there 9. anon: at once 10. thy: your 11. thou art: you are 12. woo: to court a woman/man 13. soft: hush 14. methinks: I think 15. dispatch: to send away or to kill 16. nought: nothing 17. marry: of course; indeed 18. good-den or do-den: Good Evening 19. hap: lucky 20. maid: an unmarried young girl 21. humor: mood or moisture 22. wot: know 23. stay!: wait! 24. hie: go 25. tidings: news 26. pray: beg 27. decree: order 28. resolve: plan 29. foe: enemy 30. coz: cousin 31. hither: here 32. plague: curse 33. adieu: goodbye 34. woe: grief 35. heavy: sad 36. counsel: advice 37. thee: you 38. sirrah: fellow 39. would: wish 40. doth: does |
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