English 10 HN -- Shakespeare's Language Quiz

Rules of grammar, spelling and pronunciation and punctuation were relatively ______ when Shakespeare wrote his plays

relaxed

A person’s name could be spelled in _________ ways

different

There was no __________ to tie down words until 1604

dictionary

The _____ _____ was held in high esteem

human voice

Plays were “_____” not just “____,” as we do today

heard, seen

Rhetoric

speaking persuasively

What was taught in schools?

Rhetoric

If words didn’t exist…

people just made up new ones!

How were Shakespearean words created?

Combined Greek and Latin roots, created new forms of words, played with prefixes and suffixes

Theater was non-_______, non-__________

realist, naturalist

What did theater depend on?

• Actor’s voices

• Language

• Elaborate costumes

• Few props

• Conventions of the theatre not used much today – soliloquies, asides, language changes, etc. were widely accepted.

Scenes were painted through ______. Actions and cues were also given through these.

words

Language created a sense of _____

place

Language was powerful because of the lack of ______

scenery

Metaphor, Simile, and Personification can be classified as…

Imagery

Metaphor

comparing two things

Simile

using like or as

Personification

turning things into persons, giving them human feelings and attributes; gives an active quality to language

Antithesis

Opposition of words or phrases against each other (“to be or not to be”)

The essence of drama is _______ and plays depict this at every level.

conflict

Repetition

repeated words, phrases, or rhythms or sounds to

What does repetition do?

• add to the emotional intensity of a moment or scene,

• heighten serious or comic effect

Lists

words or phrases together like a list; piling up language increased dramatic effect by intensifying description, atmosphere or argument

Verse

Actors -- especially in tragedies and histories – were supposed to and expected to speak in verse

Who/what were verses suitable for?

kings, affairs of war and state, tragic themes and moments of high dramatic or emotional intensity

Actors have to ensure that ____ (rhymed or unrhymed – blank verse) is not boring and repetitive on stage

verse

Rhyme

no lights or curtains to signal the end of a scene; uses strong rhyming couplet to accompany exit

Prose is used for…

• Proclamations, written challenges or accusations, and letters

• For lines spoken by low-status characters such as servants, clowns or drunks

• Express madness

• Comedy