English vocab Shakespeare

An

Means if

Anon

Adverb meaning soon

Ay

Means yes (pronounced eye)

But

Except for

Marry

An interjection (Short for the virgin Mary used for emphasis, king of like “by God”)

Soft

Wait a minute

Thou/Thee

Elizabethan for “you”

Thy/thine

Elizabethan for you/yours

Zounds

Translates to “God’s wounds” an excaimation of emotion, like OMG

Aside

A quick emark made by one character to another character or the auidience

Monologue

A long speech by one character to another

Foreshadowing

Hints or clues about what’s to come

Soliloquy

The character is thinking out loud on the stage (No one on stage can hear them)

Comic Relief

A humorous speech, scene. incident introduced into a serious element of a play

Pun

A play on words

(classial) allusion

A refrence to something outside the story (Shakespeare refrences mythology)

Foil

Characters in a story that contrast with eachother to highlight qualities (Ex. Benvolio/Tybalt)

Iambic pentameter

Line ten syllables long containing five pairs of stressed/unstressed syllables

What does betrothal mean?

A formal promise to marry, marking the engagement period before marriage. At a betrothal, the two individuals getting married hold hands, and the woman is presented with a ring that goes on her right hand. The contract is then sealed with a kiss and signatures from the couple.

What sort of “guarantees” does the betrothal provide?

The betrothal provides the guarantee that all of the wife’s property will go to the man. It also makes sure that the husband’s family will take care of the wife if the husband dies first.

What color should the bride's dress be?

There was no required color for a wedding dress since the color white was not expected for bridal gowns until the 19th century.

Describe the wedding procession.

During a wedding procession, the bride, groom, their families, and guests assemble and march from the house to the church.

 What is a dowry?

A dowry is the amount of money, property, and goods the bride provides in the marriage. This is also known as the bride’s marriage portion, and it always went to the groom.

What does "wherefore" mean?

“Wherefore” means “why” in the context of Romeo and Juliet.

What does "stay" mean?

In the Victorian era, “stay” meant “to wait for.” Saying, “I am stayed for” means someone is waiting for you, and you are running late.

William Shakespeare was born in what year?

William Shakespeare was born in 1564.

What date do we recognize/estimate as his birthday--and why?

William Shakespeare’s birthday is estimated to be on April 23rd. Shakespeare was baptized at Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-upon-Avon on April 26th. Most historians believe he was born three days before because children are baptized shortly after birth.

How do we know that Shakespeare was successful in his career during his time with the King’s Men?

The King's Men was the most popular group of entertainers of its time. Shakespeare wrote most of the plays for the company, and also published literature. The King’s Men were so popular that the group gained attention from nobility and even Queen Elizabeth I.

What day and year do people think Shakespeare died? Why is this an interesting date? How old was Shakespeare when he died?

Most people believe Shakespeare died on April 23rd, 1616. This date is interesting since he died on his 52nd birthday. However, there is some evidence that Shakespeare died on April 25th. This is when the Church records showed he was interred.

How popular was the theatre in Shakespeare’s day?

The theatre was very popular in Shakespeare's day. The capacity of the Globe Theatre was 3,000. Audiences of all social classes would attend and enjoy various plays, including the queen and nobility.

When were plays performed? Why? Where did people sit/stand?

Plays were always performed in the afternoon because the access to artificial lighting was very limited. Peasants typically stood in the theatre pit, which cost a penny. Gentry could pay to sit in the galleries, and rich nobles could often watch from a cushioned chair on the side of the Globe Theatre. Royalty watched private plays indoors, so the Queen would not attend plays at The Globe Theatre.

How did they advertise what kind of play would be performed?

A raised flag near the theatre was an indication that a play would be performed in the afternoon. The flag would fly throughout the entire performance.

Who played the women’s parts. Why?

Young boys aged 13-19 would play female roles because women were prohibited from acting. Younger boys did not have developed muscles and their voices were still high pitched (voices deepened later for males at the time) so they were considered a good fit for the role.

What is a sonnet (formal definition)

The sonnet is a form of poetry invented in the 13th century by the Italians (refashioned in England)

Purpose of a sonnet

To celebrate the person/thing being written about

To show off the poet’s skill in writing

Structure of a sonnet

14 lines

Made of 4 line stanzas called quatrains

2 line stanzas called a couplet

Rhyme scheme: ABAB CDCD EFEF GG

Follows iambic pentameter

Purpose of each quatrain

1st: An idea is presented

2nd: + 3rd: Comment on this idea

Couplet: Provides the “mic drop”

How many sonnets did Shakespeare write?

154

What happens if the banns are not announced before the event?

The intention to marry is announced at the same church three consecutive Sundays in a row. If the bride and groom attend different churches, the banns have to be read in both. If the banns are not announced before the wedding, the marriage is considered secretive and therefore illegal.

Prose

The ordinary form of spoken or written language. Basically, anything that is not verse. In R&J, the servant characters are the ones who mainly speak in prose, to show their lack of education, and working class status. 

Dramatic Irony

When the reader knows something the character does not

Exeunt

Multiple characters leave the stage