What makes the language in Shakespeares scripts different

1
What makes the language in Shakespeares scripts
different?

• How is Shakespeares drama different to modern
  drama?

2
Shakespeares use of verse and prose

• Look closely at the opening scene of the play you
  are studying (Literature students either Othello
  or Hamlet) try to identify the ways in which
  Shakespeares writing is different to current
  drama.

3
What makes Shakespeares scripts different?

• Hopefully, youve come up with some of the
  following
• It consists of a mix of prose and verse
• The verse often contains sentences whose length
  and syntax (the pattern/formation of sentences)
  make them difficult to follow
• Much of the language whether prose or verse
  contains a lot of figurative language and imagery
• The scripts were written 400 years ago language
  has changed, affecting the meanings and uses of
  words and grammar

4
Shakespeares use of verse and prose

• The switch from verse to prose is something that
  does not happen in modern drama obviously!
  There are several explanations why this is so and
  occasionally, some passages that appear to be in
  iambic pentameter seem to be in continuous prose!
  

5
Shakespeares use of verse and prose

• What happens if a comic character is present
  during a scene of high tension? Why do
  characters sometimes speak in prose, sometimes in
  verse? The important thing is that you think of
  the effect of the switch try keeping a record
  of changes

6
Shakespeares use of verse and prose

• Why are there sometimes more than 10 syllables in
  iambic pentameter?
• Look at this line it fails to fall easily into
  this rhythm however, with some effort, we can
  still fit 5 beats into the line
• Here comes a spirit of his, and to torment me

7
Shakespeares use of verse and prose

• The basic, regular five-beat unit of
  Shakespeares verse is called pentameter (penta
  5), and because its usual pattern is to
  alternate unstressed and stressed syllables ( a
  pattern known as an iamb) we get iambic
  pentameter the best-known metrical unit in
  poetry and the base of much English verse.

8
Shakespeares use of verse and prose

• So why does Shakespeare vary it?
• Here comes a spirit of his, and to torment
  me
• Dont ever think that he just couldnt fit it in
  this time! This line is actually from The
  Tempest, spoken by Caliban (the native on the
  island) a lot of this characters lines do not
  scan (fit the rhythm) Shakespeare therefore
  suggests the imperfection in Calibans speech, as
  a non-native English speaker.

9
Shakespeares use of verse and prose

• Take care although Shakespeare uses rhythmical
  verse, it rarely rhymes (used more in the earlier
  plays and in rhyming couplets at the end of
  scenes).
• We call this blank verse verse that does not
  rhyme, but is rhythmical.

10
Shakespeares use of verse and prose

• One of the things said about iambic pentameter
  is that it easily fits the natural rhythms of
  speech.
• Try to produce some single-line sentences that
  nearly fit the pattern, e.g
• My cat has had Whiskas for its dinner
• Im never watching Albion again

11
Shakespeares use of verse and prose

• Now, try to put together a conversation!
• A Im going to the pub dyou want to come?
• B No thanks, Ive got a lot of work to do

12
Shakespeares use of verse and prose

• Now, read the lines through, tapping out the
  beat. Identify those lines which do fit into the
  iambic pattern and those which do not.
• You could do this by highlighting/underlining
  whatever suits you print off bits of the play
  you are studying from www.online-literature.com/sh
  akespeare

13
Shakespeares use of verse and prose

• Where the beat doesnt quite fit, consider
  whether Shakespeare has deliberately altered the
  rhythm and stresses to draw attention to a
  particular word or idea, or is there another
  reason is the character struggling to express
  an idea, conveying to audience/reader/ other
  characters that all is not really as it seems, or
  struggling to remain in control of language and
  emotions?

14
Shakespeares syntax

• Shakespeares syntax (the ways in which the
  component parts of the sentences are arranged) is
  often a problem for modern audiences. There are 2
  factors to take into account here
• Writers of verse take liberties with the usual
  rules of syntax to achieve appropriate
  rhythmical patterns
• Some constructions used 400 years ago are no
  longer common

15
Shakespeares syntax

• Look at this line from Othello
• That handkerchief
• Did an Egyptian to my mother give,
• the beats fit the regular metre far better than
• An Egyptian gave
• That handkerchief to my mother.

16
Shakespeares syntax

• Shakespeares version avoids two successive
  unstressed syllables to and my.
• Can you see anything else unusual about the line?
• Look at the verb form did give modern
  English would use, gave. So, the verb form and
  the syntax are unusual to modern audiences.

17
Shakespeares syntax

• If you look closely at this line within this
  table you can see that the subject (which usually
  comes first in modern English) has been displaced
  by the object. The verb has been split into an
  auxiliary and a main verb, with the main element
  held back until the end of the sentence. Part D
  has been moved from its normal position at the
  end of the sentence.

18
Shakespeares use of figurative language

• Although we use figurative language in everyday
  speech idioms, colloquial speech, metaphors
  in Shakespeare, the range of images is vast. As
  you read Hamlet, note the most common strands of
  imagery, noting down which characters use each
  image and in what situation.

19
Shakespeares use of figurative language

• Then, ask questions about the language used
• Does the imagery help remind an audience of the
  setting of the play (think of Hamlets beginning
  - war, castle) remember that there was little
  scenery in Shakespeares theatre
• Does it express an aspect of a characters
  attitudes and values (Hamlets frequent
  references to Gertrudes lust) - view of human
  nature, sexual relationships in particular.

20
Shakespeares use of figurative language

• Does it express something of a plays overall
  themes? If so, the imagery may not be restricted
  to just one or two characters, but can run
  throughout the play. This provides the play with
  cohesion, forming a thread of metaphorical
  meaning which binds together the language of the
  play, like a pattern in a fabric.

21
Shakespeares use of figurative language

• Search for keywords, try this search engine at
  M.I.T. or www.online-literature.com
• Look for
• Incest, lust, virtue
• and any others you notice yourself.

22
Shakespeares use of figurative language

• Consider using the OED (Oxford English
  Dictionary) this lists the meanings which words
  have had at different times and supports each
  definition with an example.

23
Changing Language

• Despite the fact that Shakespeares language is
  technically modern English, it has changed
  language changes over even a few decades, so over
  a few hundred years, of course there are
  differences.
• One academic believes that in 500 years time,
  they probably will have to study Shakespeare as
  they would a foreign language!

24
Changing Language

• Revise now by reading other scenes from the
  play you are studying print them off from one
  of the sites on slide 21 then quickly
  highlight/underline key areas.
• For Hamlet you might focus on the state, death,
  public vs private sphere, power, imagery, madness
  etc.