William Shakespeare

“All the World’s a Stage …”You’ve probably heard that phrase before,

but do you know who said it? If you guessed Shakespeare, you are right. In fact, this

playwright, more than any other in the entire history of the English language, has literally transformed the way we talk and think. Our language is filled with expressions that we now think of as cliches—tired, overworked phrases—that actually came from the pen of

Shakespeare. What did he say?

Shakespeare’s Language Legacy:

“ . . .if your wish is father to the thought, if your lost property has vanished into

thin air, you are quoting Shakespeare; if you have ever refused to budge an inch or suffered from green-eyed jealousy, if you have played fast and loose, if you

have been tongue-tied, a tower of strength, hoodwinked or in a pickle . . .

you are quoting Shakespeare” --Bernard Levin. From The Story of English.

Shakespeare’s Language Legacy:

The “Bard,” as he was affectionately known, also coined many words that have now found common usage in our language. Here are a few:

addiction courtship obscene

advertising cold-blooded puking

birthplace drugged rant

bloodstained hobnob skim milk

blushing jaded zany

For many more, see (http://shakespeare.about.com/library/weekly/aa042400a.htm) [source]

Shakespeare’s Language Legacy:

A few other helpful hints:Annotate the text as you read. Mark passages that seem especially important or are hard to understand. We can discuss them.Look up unfamiliar words in the footnotes or in a dictionaryBring a sense of expectancy—not dread—to the play; it will help you get more from itUse quality video versions or other online resources. Most of all, enjoy the play!