UNDERSTANDING SHAKESPEARE’S LANGUAGE

Translating Today’s Lingo into Shakespeare’s Language

• For this activity, you and a partner will pass notes to one another. You will be writing a SILENT conversation.

• We will then translate this into a Shakespearean conversation.

• Try to keep this conversation short, about 6 exchanges. • Example

• What do you want to do after school?• I don’t know. Do you want to come over to my house?• Okay. Can we play with your Playstation?• Sure, what game do you want to play?• Halo 3, because you can play by yourself or with other players?• Good, I’ve been wanting to play you. I bet I beat you.• You talk smack!

…let’s move on to translating!

Got your example?

Translating the Nouns & Pronouns in Our Silent Conversations

• When “you” is used as a singular subject in a sentence, it becomes “thou” – “Thou art a villain.”

• When “you” is used as an object in a sentence, it becomes “thee” – “Come, let me clutch thee.”

• When you is used as a plural pronoun (you all), it becomes “ye” – “Ye shall know me.”

• When “your” is used as a possessive pronoun, it becomes “thy” – “What is thy name?” • EXCEPT when “your” is used as a possessive pronoun

before a pronoun that begins with a vowel sound (think “a” versus “an” – “a dog” versus “an airdale”), it becomes “thine” – “To thine own self be true”

Translation of Our Example

•What do thou want to do after school?•I don’t know. Do thou want to come over to my

house?• Okay. Can we play with thy Playstation?•Sure, what game do thou want to play?•Halo 3, because thou can play by thine own self

or with other players?•Good, I’ve been wanting to play thee. I bet I beat

thee.•Thou talk smack!

Give it a Try on Your Conversation

Here’s the key again:• When “you” is used as a singular subject in a

sentence, it becomes “thou” – “Thou art a villain.”

• When “you” is used as an object in a sentence, it becomes “thee” – “Come, let me clutch thee.”

• When you is used as a plural pronoun (you all), it becomes “ye” – “Ye shall know me.”

• When “your” is used as a possessive pronoun, it becomes “thy” – “What is thy name?” • EXCEPT when “your” is used as a possessive pronoun

before a pronoun that begins with a vowel sound (think “a” versus “an” – “a dog” versus “an airdale”), it becomes “thine” – “To thine own self be true”

What about verbs?

• Usually they simply add an -est or –st to a verb• These endings were often used with the 2nd person pronouns

(you, your, yours). • Ex. “Do” changes to “dost”

• The verb “are” changes to “art.” • Other verbs sometimes take the ending –th

• Ex. “Has” changes to “hath”Person Case Singular Plural

1st I love we love

2nd thou lovest ye love

3rd he loveth they love

What about verbs?

•What dost thou want to do after school?•I don’t know. Dost thou want to come over to my

house?• Okay. Can we play with thy Playstation?•Sure, what game dost thou want to play?•Halo 3, because thou canst play by thine own self

or with other players?•Good, I’ve been wanting to play thee. I bet I beat

thee.•Thou talkest smack!

Try your own!

• Usually they simply add an -est or –st to a verb• These endings were often used with the 2nd person pronouns

(you, your, yours). • Ex. “Do” changes to “dost”

• The verb “are” changes to “art.” • Other verbs sometimes take the ending –th

• Ex. “Has” changes to “hath”Person Case Singular Plural

1st I love we love

2nd thou lovest ye love

3rd he loveth they love

Another Complication: Inverted Syntax

Normal Syntax:Subject Verb ObjectI ate the sandwich

Possible Variations:• Ate the sandwich I. • Ate I the sandwich. • The sandwich I ate. • The sandwich ate I. • I the sandwich ate.

Why does Shakespeare Invert?

“Dismayed not this our captains . . . ?” (Macbeth I.ii.37-38).

Alternative: “Did this not dismay . . .”

• Rhyme scheme• Place metrical stress where he needed it • Transitional device to bridge two

sentences• Shift emphasis of the verb to the end of

the sentence (The ball John caught)

More Practice…

Original Sentence: I lost my homework.

Rewrite #1: ______ _______ _______ _______

Rewrite #2: ______ _______ _______ _______

Rewrite #3: ______ _______ _______ _______

Rewrite #4: ______ _______ _______ _______

Practicing Inversion

• Write down your own sentence• Invert your sentence in four different

variations.

More Practice…

Return these sentences to standard subject–verb-object

• Not too difficult is this!• Practice it takes• Learning you will

Shakespearean Words

• 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.” 

• dost or doth—does or do……“Dost thou know the time?”•  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!” • 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.” • thither—there……“Look to the east—thither doth the sun

arise.” 

Shakespearean Words

• hath—has……… “He hath killed many a man.” OR “He hath a horse.” 

• ho—hey (roughly equivalent). “Lucius, ho!”  [Brutus calling his servant]  

• mark—pay attention to…….. “Mark my words.” marry—indeed……“He says I should respond quickly; marry, I want to.”

•  pray/prithee—a polite way of asking something……“I prithee answer the question.” 

• saucy—cheeky; sassy……“Hence, thou saucy boy!” •  thee—you……“When will I see thee next?” • thou—you……“Thou art a villain.”•  thy—your……“Thy name is more hateful than thy face.” • whence—from where…….. “Whence came that news?” OR

“Return to whence you came.”•  wherefore—why……“Wherefore dost thou leave?”  OR

“Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?” [As in, “why can’t you be someone else, whom my family doesn’t hate?”]

Translating Early Modern English in Modern English

"To thine own self be true; and it must follow, as the night the day, thou can'st not then be false to any man." Hamlet, Act i, Sc.3

Translating Early Modern English in Modern English

"To thine own self be true; and it must follow, as the night the day, thou can'st not then be false to any man." Hamlet, Act i, Sc.3

if you are true to yourself as sure as day will follow night you will be true to others.

Translating Early Modern English in Modern English

"What is best, that best I wish in thee." Troilus & C, Act ii, Sc.2

Translating Early Modern English in Modern English

"What is best, that best I wish in thee." Troilus & C, Act ii, Sc.2

I wish the best for you

Translating Early Modern English in Modern English

"Safe may'st thou wander, safe return again!" Cymbeline, Act iii, Sc.5

Translating Early Modern English in Modern English

"Safe may'st thou wander, safe return again!" Cymbeline, Act iii, Sc.5

May you travel safely and return again

Translating Early Modern English in Modern English

"Give me thy hand, 'tis late; farewell, good night." Rom & Jul, Act iii, Sc.3

Translating Early Modern English in Modern English

"Give me thy hand, 'tis late; farewell, good night." Rom & Jul, Act iii, Sc.3

Give me your hand, it is late. Goodnight.

Translating Early Modern English in Modern English

"This above all: to thine own self be true." Hamlet, Act i, Sc.3

Translating Early Modern English in Modern English

"This above all: to thine own self be true." Hamlet, Act i, Sc.3

Above all else, be true to yourself.