University of Zakho

Faculty of humanities
Literature English

Shakespeare the basics by Sean McE

Summarized by: Mariam Michael and Bafrin Ezzat

Supervisier: Dr.Amal
Pages: 19-29
Table of content
Registers of language 1-2

How to read Shakespeare 2-3

Comparison, image and analogies 4

Registers of language

Shakespeare uses difficult language deliberately to express the meaning of his

characters such as King lear. It΄s language is strong, clear and direct which is
important for the play to work. The language of this play used for flattery, lies and
lunatics. In contrast the speech from Troilus and Cressida. Shakespeare is
challenging the audience because the message of the drama is not clean enough.
The main ideas are conveyed in unusual way and the uses some Latin words which
are seen the first time in English. The complexity and difficulty of this language
show the stupidity of what he is actually saying.

1
Registers of language & How to read Shakespeare

Shakespeare’s language gets difficult because there are some reasons connected
with what the drama is trying to do. He is attempting to produce an effect on his
audience. Sometimes he wants to reproduce the street-language, he is sending self-
important schoolteachers, lovers, stupid or brutal soldiers. Also sometimes the
language is difficult because he is trying to reproduce complex state of feelings.
In Shakespeare's plays, punctuations are important and structure and patterns are
also useful. The key to understanding Shakespeare's thought is to recognize which
words or phrases are connected in direct connection with other word or phrases.

2
This balancing of words and ideas is known as antithesis and can be made clear by
stressing the contrasted or balancing words an example from Romeo and Juliet.
Rhymes have an important effect on the meaning, and the patterns of balancing
words are varied. In 1623, punctuations were different from modern literature, with
the full-stop used for strongest pause and a colon used as an emphatic pause.
Capitals were used both for proper nouns and words that are particularly important,
and Italics were used for emphasis. At the end, sounds, rhythm and emphasis are
more important than the knowledge of the words mean.

3
Comparison, image and analogies

The language of early modern drama is not simple because it uses figurative
language, which is characteristic of poetry. This language is used to describe
something directly or indirectly to something else, and is used to create a dramatic
and poetic effect. Examples of this include the passage from Troilus and Cressida,
where the image of Cressida pearl lying on bed conveys a great idea about Trolius.
The image suggests her feminine roundness and her exotic strangeness as a
woman, and symbolizes a piece of wisdom or a belief about life. Modern audiences
were familiar with a limited range of visual representation.