Analyzing Shakespeare Or…what the crap is he saying?

Where did he come from? Born in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1564 Married Anne Hathaway at age 18 Three kids: Susanna, Hamnet, Judith 1585-1592 worked in London as an actor and playwright. Wrote 38 plays, 154 sonnets, 2 narrative poems Died in 1616

Yeah. I still don’t understand him. So he’s famous? Yeah. I still don’t understand him.

Shakespeare did all the work for you!

We use what Billy gave us! Here’s how we do it: We use what Billy gave us!

Our Tools Watch it performed Using a dictionary Scansion Poetry vs. Prose Iambic Pentameter Imagery Punctuation

Imagery Creating pictures with your words

Punctuation Tells you which things are exciting How to say lists of things How to say words or phrases you repeat AND TELLS YOU WHERE TO BREATHE!

Where do we find performances?

Using a Dictionary or Shakespeare Glossary Helps us to know words that we don’t use. Helps us to understand what Shakespeare is trying to say in the lines. Translate the lines into modern day speech.

Scansion

Iambic Pentameter Iamb = an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable. We notate it like this: U = unstressed / = stressed. Foot = one iamb Iambic Pentameter has five feet in one line. Or 10 syllables. The rhythm looks like this: U / U / U / U / U / and sounds like the human heart beat.

Why is this helpful? It helps us to know which words are important. It helps us with pronunciation. See: beloved, remembered, etc.

How to tell the difference and what they mean. Poetry vs. Prose How to tell the difference and what they mean.

Prose or Free Verse BENEDICK[Coming forward] This can be no trick: the conference was sadly borne. They have the truth of this from Hero. They seem to pity the lady: it seems her affections have their full bent. Love me! why, it must be requited. I hear how I am censured: they say I will bear myself proudly, if I perceive the love come from her; they say too that she will rather die than give any sign of affection. I did never think to marry: I must not seem proud: happy are they that hear their detractions and can put them to mending. They say the lady is fair; 'tis a truth, I can bear them witness; and virtuous; 'tis so, I cannot reprove it; and wise, but for loving me; by my troth, it is no addition to her wit, nor no great argument of her folly, for I will be horribly in love with her. I may chance have some odd quirks and remnants of wit broken on me, because I have railed so long against marriage: but doth not the appetite alter? a man loves the meat in his youth that he cannot endure in his age. Shall quips and sentences and these paper bullets of the brain awe a man from the career of his humour? No, the world must be peopled. When I said I would die a bachelor, I did not think I should live till I were married. Here comes Beatrice. By this day! she's a fair lady: I do spy some marks of love in her.

Prose or Free Verse No iambic pentameter Written like books are written today It tells us (usually) that the character speaking it is either low class, a funny character, or both.

Poetry ROMEO He jests at scars that never felt a wound. JULIET appears above at a window But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun. Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, Who is already sick and pale with grief, That thou her maid art far more fair than she: Be not her maid, since she is envious; Her vestal livery is but sick and green And none but fools do wear it; cast it off. It is my lady, O, it is my love!

Poetry Written with a certain rhythm and syllables per line. Used to tell us (usually) that the character is serious, upper-class, or both.