Language+Differences+in+Shakespeare

=Shakespeare= =Words Invented by Shakespeare= =Phrases Shakespeare coined= [|Old English - Canterbury Tales]

Middle English
 * The Difference in Syntax**

Students of Shakespeare often have trouble understanding the sentence structure in the plays. Shakespeare quite frequently wrote sentences in inverted, or backwards, order: This object before verb structure is found in Germanic languages, and the inverted sentence structure reflects the English language’s Germanic roots
 * Shakespeare: Break off thy song, and haste thee quick away. //Measure for Measure// Act (4.1.7)
 * Translation: Stop singing and leave quickly.
 * Shakespeare: How like a fawning publican he looks. //The Merchant of Venice// (1.3.38)
 * Translation: He looks like an overly flattering tavern keeper.
 * Shakespeare: The clock struck nine when I did send the nurse; In half an hour she promised to return. //Romeo and Juliet// (2.5.1-2)
 * Translation: I sent the nurse at nine o’clock; she promised to return in a half an hour.


 * The Difference in Words**

Common Pronouns, Verbs and Prepositions thou = //you// (subject, singular, informal) e.g. "Thou wast in the next room." ye = //you// (subject, plural) e.g. "Ye all came forth from the room." thee = //you// (object... "to you" ) e.g. "I saw thee in the other room." thine or thy = //your// (possessive, singular) e.g. "That is thy room."

**Other Word Differences** **aught** = anything
 * anon =** right now, OR “I come right away”……. //“Anon, good nurse! Speak!”//
 * art** = are, OR skill……//“Thou art dead; no physician’s art can save you.”//
 * ay** = yes
 * dost or doth =** does or do……//“Dost thou know the time?”//
 * doth** = does
 * ere** = before……//“We must leave ere daybreak.”//


 * fain** = gladly……//“I fain would bake Mr. Love cookies if I could get an A.”//


 * fie** = an exclamation of dismay or disgust……//“You cheated? Fie upon it!”// OR //“Fie! Are you mad?”//


 * hark** = listen……. //“Hark to the owl,” OR “Hark! The herald angels sing!”//
 * hast or****hath =** has……… //“He hath killed many a man.” OR “He hath a horse.”//
 * hence** = away…..//“Get thee hence, beggar!”// OR //“We must hence before the army arrives.”//


 * hie** = hurry……//“Hie thee hence, or lose your life!”//


 * hither** = here…..//“Come hither, young lad.”//


 * ho =** hey (roughly equivalent). //“Lucius, ho!” [Brutus calling his servant]//


 * mark** = pay attention to…….. //“Mark my words.”//

**nay** = no
 * marry** = indeed……(a mild swear word) //“He says I should respond quickly; marry, I want to.”//
 * oft** = often
 * pray/prithee** = a polite way of asking something……//“I prithee answer the question.”//


 * saucy** = cheeky; sassy……//“Hence, thou saucy boy!”//


 * sirrah** = a term of address used for inferiors……//“Sirrah, bring the letter over here.”//


 * thither =**there……//“Look to the east// //thither doth the sun arise.”//
 * 'tis** = it is
 * 'twas** = it was
 * wast** = were
 * whence =** from where…….. //“Whence came that news?” OR “Return to whence you came.”//

OR //“Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?”// [As in, “why can’t you be someone else, whom my family doesn’t hate?”] **would** (he were) = I wish (he were)
 * wherefore** = why……//“Wherefore dost thou leave?”//
 * yea** = even
 * yon, yonder** = that one there