HOW TO READ SHAKESPEARE

IT’S NOT EASY

Shakespeare is not easy to read and understand.

First of all because it is meant to be performed and

watched.

There are three main reason why people struggle

to understand Shakespeare• Language and vocabulary• Omission • Inversion (subject/verb)

LANGUAGE

Shakespeare wrote in “Early

Modern English” which is

not that different from

“Modern English”

THOU, THEE AND THY –YOU, YOU, AND YOUR

These words dropped out of our language a couple

centuries ago, but Shakespeare uses them. The verb

that is used with “thou” changes as well.

Example: “ Thou wilt fall backward when thou hast more

wit,

Wilt thou not Jule?“

• Translation: You will fall backward when you have

more wit, Will you not, Jule?

VOCABULARY

The Oxford English Dictionary credits Shakespeare with

introducing nearly 3,000 words into the language.

Besides introducing new words, Shakespeare makes

use of obsolete words, like “ycleped” (called) and “wight”

(man).

Scholars estimate Shakespeare’s vocabulary at between

25,000 and 29,000 words, nearly twice that of the

average college student. The normal working vocabulary

of a speaker of English is around 5,000 words.

3 PROBLEMS WITH SHAKESPEARE’S WORD

CHOICE

First - he uses words that no longer exist in the English we speak.

Second - he uses words that are in our language, but now have a different meaning to us.

Third – he uses words that are in our language, but we simply don’t know what these words mean – you should look them up.

OMISSIONS/CONTRACTIONSFor the sake of his poetry, Shakespeare often left out letters,

syllables, and whole words. 

It was often for the purpose of rhyme or syllabus count.

These omissions really aren't that much different from the

way we speak today in conversation. • “Goin’ to class?” Are you going to class?

• “Already been.” I have already been to class.• “And?” And how was it? (or And did you enjoy it? or And what happened

in• class? etc.)• “Whatever.” What business is it of yours? or It was a most enjoyable

class,• perhaps the best one of my academic career, etc.

COMMON CONTRACTIONS

'tis = it is

ope = open

o'er = over

gi' = give

ne'er = never

i' = in

e'er = ever

oft = often

a' = he

e'en = even

INVERSION

Sometimes Shakespeare inverts the subject and verb, or even

goes a little bit further to change the wording around in a

sentence completely.

For instance, he might write, “Went I to Bellarmine.” instead

of “I Went to Bellarmine.”

Now its your turn:• I ate the sandwich.Rewrite the sentence by changing the order of the words but not the meaning of the sentence. How many can you come up with?

STRATEGIES

Be prepared to re-read and remember that no one understands

everything about Shakespeare (or any good text) on the first, second,

or even tenth reading.

Don’t begrudge the difficulty of the language—the language is the

point!

Remember that it’s a play, so try to visualize it. Read the parts aloud.

Attend a performance or watch a filmed version of the play. Don’t let

the performance, however, substitute for the pleasure of reading, and

don’t forget that every performance is also an interpretation.