shakespeare final

Germanic

Early English roots from Germanic tribes (Angles, Saxons, Jutes); foundation of grammar and everyday vocabulary.

Celtic

Language of early inhabitants of Britain; limited influence, mainly place names.

Romance

Influence from Latin and French after the Norman Conquest; added formal, legal, and abstract vocabulary.

Anglo-Saxon

Old English spoken before 1066; contributed strong, simple words related to daily life and nature.

Renaissance English

English during Shakespeare’s time; period of rapid vocabulary expansion from Latin, Greek, and other languages.

Elision

Dropping a syllable or sound to maintain rhythm, such as “o’er” for “over.”

Inversion

Reversal of normal word order for emphasis or meter.

Derivation

Forming new words by adding prefixes or suffixes.

Contraction

Shortening words by removing letters, such as “’tis” for “it is.”

Compounding

Combining two words to form a new word.

Portmanteau

Blending parts of two words to create one word with combined meaning.

Soliloquy

A speech where a character speaks thoughts aloud while alone on stage.

Monologue

A long speech delivered to other characters.

Dialogue

A conversation between two or more characters.

Prose

Ordinary speech without rhythm or meter; often used by lower-class characters.

Verse

Poetic speech with rhythm and meter.

Iambic Pentameter

A poetic line with ten syllables that alternate between unstressed and stressed beats.

Heroic Couplet

Two rhyming lines of iambic pentameter, often ending a scene or speech.

Thou

You (subject form).

Thee

You (object form).

Thy

Your.

Thine

Yours.

Wherefore

Why.

Dost

Do (you).

Canst

Can (you).

Art

Are.

Shalt

Shall.

Ay / Aye

Yes.

Nay

No.

Anon

Soon.

Oft

Often.

Ere / ’Ere

Before.

Hence

Away from here.

Methinks

It seems to me.

Fain

Gladly.

Alas

Expression of sadness or sorrow.

Lest

In case; to prevent something.

Haply

By chance.

Hark

Listen.

Ho

Hey; used to get attention.

Sirrah

Term used to address a subordinate.

Prithee

Please; “I pray thee.”

Hie

Hurry.

Hither

Here.

Thither / Tither

There.

Wither

Where.

Yon / Yonder

Over there.

Twixt

Between.

Begone

Leave at once.

Fie

Expression of disapproval.