Activity #6

The writing style is very similar to how words are spelled today. Many of the words may be spelled different but still will have the same meaning if it was to be read in simple, plain English. These words were written in a classical way so some words sound fancy. His way of writing has to do with religion and other beliefs. But to me, this part made no sense to me, yet it has to do something with Romeo and Juliet. The spelling kind of made sense after you read a few lines. I would later understand like the "V"s were "U"s and the backward "S" were regular "S".

Who wrote Shakespeare's plays? Activity #5

In my opinion, I believe Shakespeare DID write his own plays, poems and sonnets. This debate has been going on for years and I do not believe there is no actual evidence to prove the fact that these plays, poems and sonnets came from another person. Some of the simple things that would claim that he didn’t write them were that he didn’t include his signature on the plays. Not sure if that is really essential.

In other cases, I believe he wrote them but with the help of other people. After researching some of his plays, I don’t believe he could make such amazing plays on his own. It is a possibility that his ideas and plots were ideas from fellow classmates or friends. I also believe education was hard to achieve back in the past so he would probably get help from other people. But the fact he added so many words to the dictionary, I would call him a genius. I believe he was educated during the times he wrote these plays. Without good education, his plays wouldn’t be as great.

One question I had in mind with this debate is that why would one man be greedy to claim someone’s work for themselves? If Shakespeare actually did that, terrible things should of have happened to him by now. I would find it bad taking someone’s credit for such work that made millions remember that work. Shakespeare is an educated person and with his brilliant mind, I think he wrote these.

Assignment #3

Finding the Fun in the Pun
Below are some lines from some of William Shakespeare's plays and sonnets. You will find a pun in each set of lines in bold print. On the lines below each quote, briefly explain the pun as you think Shakespeare might have intended for his audience. Remember, a pun can be a humorous play on words that look or sound alike, but have different meanings. Look at the hints provided and just take a minute to "think about it!"


1. "No, 'tis not so deep as a well, nor so wide as a church-door, but 'tis enough, 'twill serve: ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man." Romeo and Juliet (Act iii, S.1) Hint:
Grave=serious, dead, sad.

- The injury is not too bad but enough for me too be dead.


2. I'll make a ghost of him that lets me!" Hamlet (Act i, S.4) Hint: In Shakespeare's day, "let"
meant "hinder," and today means the opposite, "allow."

-I'll kill him if you let me.

3. "If reasons were as plentiful as blackberries, I would give no man a reason upon compulsion, I." Henry IV, Part On (Act ii, S.4) Hint: "Reason" was pronounced "raisin" in Shakespeare's day.

- If raisins were as good as blackberries, then there wouldn't be much of a problem.

4. "Give me a torch: I am not for this ambling; Being but heavy, I will bear the light." Romeo and Juliet (Act i, S.4) Hint: Heavy = in a bad mood; Light = not weighing much; a torch.

- Let me lead the way, I won't drag you behind.

Assignment #2

Everything Old is New Again!
Translating Early Modern English into Modern English
Below are some lines from some of William Shakespeare's plays and sonnets, written in Early
Modern English. On the lines below each quote, translate each sentence into Modern English, as we might speak it today.


"To thine own self be true; and it must follow, as the night the day, thou can'st not then be false to any man." Hamlet, Act i, Sc.3

-Don't lie, be true to yourself.

"What is best, that best I wish in thee." Troilus & C, Act ii, Sc.2

-What's best is what I wish.

"Safe may'st thou wander, safe return again!" Cymbeline, Act iii, Sc.5

I hope you have a safe trip.

"Give me thy hand, 'tis late; farewell, good night." Rom & Jul, Act iii, Sc.3

-It is getting late, good night.

"Have more than though showest; speak less than thou knowest; lend less than thou owest." K Lear, Act i, Sc.4

-If you don't say what you don't know.

"Thy glass will show thee how thy beauties wear, thy dial how thy precious minutes waste."
Sonnet 77

Use your time wisely.

"This above all: to thine own self be true." Hamlet, Act i, Sc.3

-Be true to yourself.

Bio of Shakespeare

William Shakespeare was born on April 26, 1564 in Stratford-Upon-Avon, England. He was raised by his father John and his mother Mary. At the age of 18, he married Anne Hathaway who later had a family of three children. He attended school at his home place learning about Latin Rhetoric, logic and literature. Later in his life, he became a poet, playwright, and an actor. Most of his work caused problems that many would complain about. He died on April 23, 1616.

Throughout his life, he wrote many plays, novels, and poems. Overall, he wrote about 38 plays, 154 sonnets, and two poems. Some titles Shakespeare wrote are "Hamlet","Romeo and Juliet", and "Macbeth". He wrote love, comedy, history, tragedy, and a few other types of stories. One of this quotes are "Farewell: my blessing season this in thee"!(Lord Polonious, Hamlet Act I, Scene 3).

Overall, Shakespeare is one of the authors that would be remembered around the world. He as also one of the authors that created a lot of words that can be found in the dictionary. Most people doesn't know the life of Shakespeare.

enotes.com/william-shakespeare/shakespeare-biography

online-literature.com/shakespeare/

shakespeare-literature.com/

Assignment #1

Word order in Shakespearean Writing
When Shakespeare wrote his prose, he often used a slightly different word order than we are used
to. The subject, verb, and object did not always follow in a 1, 2, 3 order. Look at the following
sentence. Rewrite the sentence four times, changing the word order each time. Put one word on
each blank provided below the original sentence.
Original Sentence: I lost my homework.
Rewrite #1: My homework I lost.
Rewrite #2: Lost my homework I.
Rewrite #3: Homework I lost my.
Rewrite #4: My homework lost I.
Look at each of your rewritten sentences above. Has the meaning of the original sentence changed?

No matter how you word it...you're toast if your homework is lost!
Now, think about how Yoda speaks in the Star Wars Movies. We understood exactly what he was saying, even though the word order was slightly different than what we are used to hearing. It's your turn to makeup a short sentence like the one above and rewrite it several different ways. Does the meaning change with the rewrites? Share your sentences.
Original Sentence: I ate my cookie.
Rewrite #1: I consumed my cookie.
Rewrite #2: Consumed my cookie I.
Rewrite #3: I consume thou cookie.
Rewrite #4: My cookie, I ate.