William Shakespeare, born/baptized on April 26th 1564 and died on April 23rd 1616, is widely known as an English poet and playwright. He is considered by many to be the greatest writer in the English language and the world’s pre-eminent dramatist. Referred to as England’s national poet and the “Bard of Avon,” Shakespeare has a vast body of work including approximately 38 plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems, and various other poems. Translated into numerous languages, his plays continue to be performed more frequently than any other playwright’s.
Shakespeare skillfully captures all aspects of human experience, from its darkest perversions to its most glorious triumphs. His works are filled with humor, tears, and bawdy jokes. While some critics may prefer other poets for their shocking originality in concepts, Thomas Carlyle recognizes that Shakespeare’s intellect surpasses that of any writer he has read from both Western and Eastern traditions.
Shakespeare’s impact on the English language encompasses various aspects such as theatre, literature, and contemporary usage. He revolutionized European theatre by pushing boundaries in characterization, plot development, language usage, and genre exploration. During the Elizabethan era, Shakespeare shaped the language with his writings and his influence on numerous authors and poets spans across time. He introduced over 2,000 new words, pioneered the use of blank verse, and revolutionized poetry structure. Moreover, there are studies suggesting that reading and studying Shakespeare can enhance intelligence. Shakespeare remains the most frequently quoted writer throughout English-speaking history, with many of his phrases and vocabulary becoming commonplace in everyday usage in English and other languages. (Source: “William Shakespeare: Biography) (“Shakespeare: The invention of the Human”)
During the era of Shakespeare’s plays, Early Modern English had fewer regulations in terms of structure and vocabulary compared to Greek and Latin. This was because English incorporated words from other languages due to reasons such as wars, exploration, diplomacy, and colonization. The grammar and rules of English were not standardized during that time. Prior to Shakespeare’s arrival in London, there was little hope for the future of the English language. However, by the Elizabethan era, English became widely used in fields like theology, philosophy, and physical sciences. Despite this progress, writers faced challenges expressing themselves with a limited vocabulary of approximately 1,000 words. Consequently, writers like Shakespeare had to adopt new words from French or Latin or utilize commonly shared words between both languages. It is estimated that around 30,000 new words from Latin, Greek, and modern Romance languages were added to English between 1500 and 1659. As Shakespeare’s plays gained popularity they played a role in standardizing English; his words and phrases became an integral part of the language.
Shakespeare revolutionized English theatre by pushing the boundaries of characterization, plot, language, and genre. His plays featured a diverse range of characters and emotions. For instance, in Hamlet, he skillfully intertwined character development with the overall storyline. Additionally, he blended tragedy with comedy, giving birth to a new genre known as romantic tragedy. Through the use of soliloquies, Shakespeare delved into the inner thoughts and conflicts of his characters. Rather than merely presenting puppets on stage, he portrayed English people as real individuals. Furthermore, Shakespeare’s works encompassed verse, poetry, and drama, effectively uniting these three major literary streams. In doing so, he elevated the English language to new levels of expression, structure, and intensity. His contributions saved the language from being vague and brought it to life with vividness. The introduction of new words, expressions, styles, and forms in his poetry and drama marked the start of modernization for the English language. (“A philosophical analysis and illustration of some of Shakespeare’s remarkable characters” Richardson)
Shakespeare had a profound impact on the English language by introducing numerous words and phrases that are still in use today. He used a total of 17,677 words in his works, with approximately 1,700 of them being new to the language. His fame arose from his creation of neologisms through borrowing from literature and other languages. This involved converting nouns into verbs, transforming verbs into adjectives, combining previously unused word combinations, and incorporating prefixes and suffixes.
Besides expanding vocabulary, Shakespeare also played a significant role in shaping the style and structure of the English language. During the Elizabethan era, written language mirrored spoken language without strict grammatical rules to follow. Although this lack of prescribed rules sometimes led to ambiguity in literature, it also allowed for an expression of intense vividness and emotion. Individuals had the freedom to fully express themselves through their writing.
Shakespeare’s influence on the English language and literature can be seen in his use of language and decasyllabic structure. The combination of the two creates a unique style that is distinctively Shakespearean. In particular, his blank verse played a significant role in shaping the English language. In his early works, Shakespeare was still learning and experimenting with techniques such as tri-syllabic substitution and the decasyllabic rule. Through these experiments, he perfected the blank verse and introduced a new style. One notable feature of his poetry is the adaptation of free speech rhythm to the fixed blank-verse framework. This allowed for verbal immediacy and the expression of living emotion in his verses. (“Words Used by Shakespeare”, Shirly, Phoebe) Overall, Shakespeare’s influence on the English language and poetry is undeniable, as seen in his use of language and innovative poetic techniques.
The sonnet (Sonnet CXXXVIII) expresses conflicting emotions in a straightforward manner, making it believable even though the speaker knows the subject is lying. This demonstrates Shakespeare’s ability to convey complex feelings with simple words. (Source: “Words Used by Shakespeare”, Shirly, Phoebe)
Shakespeare’s impact extends beyond theatre and literature and has influenced notable novelists in Europe and America. Charles Dickens is one such novelist, incorporating Shakespearean quotes and deriving titles from his works. Likewise, Herman Melville employs Shakespearean techniques in his writing and incorporates formal stage directions. Melville’s work demonstrates a strong influence from Shakespeare as he creates a character based on the classic tragic figure, destroyed by their own flaws. Other authors and poets inspired by Shakespeare’s profound influence include Thomas Hardy, William Faulkner, and Samuel Taylor Coleridge.
According to Professor Philip Davis from the University of Liverpool’s School of English, Shakespeare is often considered the greatest writer in the English language and a genius. However, Professor Davis believes that reading Shakespeare can boost our intelligence. He studies “functional shifts” in the brain caused by exposure to Shakespeare’s creative mistakes. These mental pathway changes expand our brain’s abilities. Professor Davis suggests that it is Shakespeare’s inventive creations and intentional syntactic errors, like altering word parts of speech, that captivate and excite us instead of confusing us. He collaborated with brain imaging scientists to conduct experiments on how different sentence types affect the brain. Brain responses are measured using indicators such as N400 and P600. N400 shows a normal response milliseconds after a thought or perception occurs in the brain. On the other hand, P600 indicates a peak in brain activity 600 milliseconds after encountering a new thought or perception. This surge in activity, known as the “wow effect,” leaves the brain stimulated and immersed in hesitating consciousness.
According to Davis, when we engage with Shakespeare’s works, our brain experiences a P600 response and embraces the “syntactic violations,” resulting in excitement towards his writing style. He believes that creative language is essential for keeping our brains active, as modern writing has become too predictable. As a literary scholar, Davis suggests that the mental activity observed in response to his experiments could explain why Shakespeare’s plays have such a profound impact on readers, performers, and audiences. He warns that the absence of this type of creative language may lead to a gradual dulling of the brain. (“Reading Shakespeare Makes You Smarter, Temple”) (“This is Your Brain on Shakespeare”, Honan)
William Shakespeare is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world’s foremost dramatist. He was an English poet and playwright who left behind about 38 plays, 154 sonnets, two long epic poems, and several other poems. Shakespeare made important contributions to the English language in terms of vocabulary, phrases, poetry, and blank verse. To this day, his works are extensively studied, performed, and treasured for their unparalleled beauty and complexity that encapsulate the essence of human experience. Despite being initially challenging to comprehend, his works are truly exceptional and inspiring.
“Love me or hate me, both are in my favor…If you love me, I’ll always be in your heart…If you hate me, I’ll always be in your mind.” – William Shakespeare
The website “Words that Shakespeare Invented” provides a collection of common words created by Shakespeare in his plays, alongside their definitions. For instance, auspicious signifies something favorable or promising success, while baseless indicates the absence of foundation or lack of factual basis. Barefaced denotes shamelessness without concealment or disguise. Castigate means to harshly punish, and clangor refers to a loud clanging sound. Dexterously implies skillfulness, particularly with one’s hands or mind. Dwindle describes the act of getting smaller or diminishing, often used in the context of money. Multitudinous represents a large quantity or great number, and sanctimonious characterizes someone feigning great religiousness or righteousness. Lastly, a watchdog refers to an individual or group diligently observing for wrongdoings or illegal activities.PETA, a renowned watchdog organization, is committed to exposing and drawing attention to acts of misconduct towards animals.
1. The phrase “it’s Greek to me” in Julius Caesar means not understanding something.
2. Fair play, as referred to in The Tempest, is following rules, especially in competitions or sports.
3. In the Merchant of Venice, the phrase “all that glitters isn’t gold” is used when something that appears good turns out to be not great.
4. Wearing one’s heart on one’s sleeve, as mentioned in Othello, means openly expressing romantic feelings or being transparent about emotions.
5. When meeting someone for the first time, it is common to break the ice by asking polite questions about themselves, as seen in The Taming of the Shrew.
6. If someone denies something repeatedly, you can say they protest too much – a phrase from Hamlet suggesting they may feel differently than what they say.
7. While not always accurate, the phrase “clothes make the man” from Hamlet suggests that a person’s attire reveals something about their character.
8. Being regarded as a joke by many people makes you a laughing stock – referenced in The Merry Wives of Windsor.
9The quote “Too much of a good thing” from the play As You Like It suggests that an excessive indulgence in something positive can have negative consequences. Similarly, the phrase “in a pickle” from The Tempest represents being trapped in a difficult situation, which can apply to different aspects of life such as money, love, and food. These elements may not always promote one’s well-being.
