Monday, November 21, 2011

Today, I introduced the Shakespeare unit. I discussed the following:

1. Why Read Shakespeare?

2. The history of Shakespeare and London… to a point

Terms you need to know for… Wednesday

If you were not here, look online to research the first two. The terms you need to know are listed below.

Shakespeare: Terms to Know

You are to study these terms for a quiz on Wednesday. You will need to know EXACTLY what they mean.

Here are some expressions that appear frequently in Shakespeare but are not in use today:

· Prithee – please
· By my troth (rhymes with “oath”) – truly; upon my word
· I trow (rhymes with “how”) – I trust; or I think
· Coz (rhymes with “buzz”) – cousin, relative
· Marry – really? Or, really!; an expression used in reply to a question (suggests surprise or indignation)
· Anon – soon, or right away
· Bootless – useless
· Fie – exclamation expressing disgust or outrage (an “F” word in its day)
· Sirrah – sir; but also may imply anger or contempt (talking down to)
· For the nonce – for the time being
· Ay – yes
· A’ - he

Elizabethan language also contains many old verb forms that we no longer use:

· Thou art – you are
· Thou dost – you do
· Thou know’st – you know
· Thou see’st – you see
· Thou did’st – you did
· He hath – he has
· He doth – he does
· He durst – he dares
· Methinks – I think
· Woul’t – would you


Often letters are omitted in words for the sake of the sound of the line of poetry:

· Ne’er - never
· O’er – over
· O’ – of
· I’ – in
· ‘t – it
· Ta’en – taken
· E’en – even

Obsolete words (those out of general use):
· Favour – meaning approval
· Owe – to possess
· Gouts – drops
· Clept – named
· Cling – wither

Archaic words (those which are old-fashioned):

· An – if
· Moe – more
· Sooth – truth
· Quoth – said
· Afeard - afraid