Today, I will introduce the Shakespeare unit. We will take the book out of the library, discuss the times that Shakespeare was writing in, and I will give you an overview of the play (five minutes or less). In addition, you will be given a list of archaic words that you will be quizzed on tomorrow (listed below).
English 30-1
Hamlet
There are two different types of language present in a Shakespearean drama. The one that is unique is Shakespeare’s combination of words. He does this in order to create a rhyme scheme of stressed and unstressed syllables. By changing the words (contracting them, in many cases), he is able to maintain his scheme. Other words will be unfamiliar as they are no longer used in everyday language. English is a living language, which means, unlike Latin, the language is always changing. These words are known as archaic. Below is a list of words you will come across in Act One. I expect you to study them tonight as you will be quizzed on them tomorrow.
’gainst against
thou you
ne’er never
’gins begins
sooth truth
thy your
thee him/her
whence where
hast has
quoth said
o’ of
i’ in
doth does
is’t is it
o’er over
hath has
thine belonging to
’twere it were
’tis it is
afeard afraid
durst dared
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