what can help me if i don't understand Shakespears language??

Question

I don't understand old english, is there a website or book that help translating this?

Answer 1

The best way is to read a summary, there is no way to fully understand shakesphere because he was an inventor of language at times.

Answer 2

No. Not many people have the gift of understand everything from olde english word for word. T

he trick is to interpret. Find the words in the sentence you do understand, and the whole picture of what the sentence or paragraph is saying will come to you surprisingly easy. i think many people make the mistake of thinking that they have to know every word or they're stupid. So not true. Even some academic scholars really don't understand Shakespearean in a dictionary way.

You have to remember, Shakespeare made up a hell of a lot of words and phrases, too.

Also, another good trick is to say the words aloud, in the tone and emotion you thin it may have been said when you are totally stuck. It really helps, because it loosens up the 'language wall' that's holding you back.

Answer 3

While you might need to look up some of the more obscure words, the easiest way to understand Shakespeare's words is to hear them rather than read them. Even reading difficult passages aloud can help, and if things still seem to be going slowly, just take one scene at a time. Once you understand the rhythms and purpose of one section, then move to the next, so the whole doesn't overwhelm you.

If you're still having trouble, try his sonnets, which unlike the plays were written to be read rather than heard. They are a good introduction to his style and his rhythm, and while they can be more densely packed than the plays in their language, the meaning is less spread out than in a play and can be easier to discern.

Good luck!

Answer 4

There are books out that are called "Simply Shakespeare" They have the old english on one side of the page, and the updated english on the other. So all speeches and lines in a play are laid out for you, they don't give you the meaning behind things as Cliffs notes do.. but they allow you to understand it all!!! Good Luck

Answer 5

It's not easy to understand Shakespeare's language. Some of the words changed their meaning over the centuries plus you have to know something about SH's time to understand some things he says.
But you can buy annotated versions of all his plays which explain vocabulary and other things. They always have (or should have) very good introductions which help you to understand the play.
Also there is a lot of secondary literature out there on all his plays. Check your local library for ethymological dictionaries explaining the development of words over the years.
That's what I did when I had to read SH for university. English is only my second language and I managed to understand SH, so you can manage that task, too. Good luck!

Answer 6

Shakespeare is not written in Old English (Beowulf is). This is closer to German than to English. It is also not written in Middle English (Canterbury Tales is). Middle English ceases to be Middle English at the point of the great vowel switch. Happens before Shakespeare. Read it aloud; it becomes much clearer with vocalization.

Answer 7

Firstly, most versions of Shakespeare's plays that are meant for studying have a glossary of terms at the back to refer to. Use it. It will explain words and phrases in modern English.

Secondly, big Willy S wrote the majority of his plays as poems. As such he tinkered with words to make them rhyme (although you have to mispronounce a lot of it to get the effect). However, once you understand this you can get into his word flow a lot easier and things start to become clearer.

Finally. Think about what you are reading, it isn't that difficult. For example in the first act of Othello he talks about making the beast with two backs when talking about a young man and a young lady. How can two people make a beast with two backs? Well firstly they would have to be touching to make one entity. If they have two backs then they must be facing each other. And the bloke who makes this claim is furious so you can presume that if a man and a women are touching, facing each other and pissing off the girls father then they are probably having sex.... which they are.

Half the fun of Shakespeare is working out what he is talking about... the rest is laughing your *** off when you realise that this beautiful ornate language is describing ordinary life as it still happens today.

Answer 8

I do recommend reading brief summaries of the play you're trying to understand before you attempt the actual play. I suggest reading Charles and Mary Lamb's Tales From Shakespeare. It's available online, here is one of the places it is available:

http://shakespeare.palomar.edu/lambtales/LAMBTALE.HTM

There are also editions of the plays that provide glossaries and footnotes and other "helps" that might clarify things enough for you to understand. Most college textbook editions do this, but individual plays are also available.

http://yalepress.yale.edu/yupbooks/SeriesPage.asp?Series=60

You might also try searching the internet by play and seeing if there is an annotated edition of that play online. I have seen some, but it is not necessarily available for every play.

Answer 9

It's Middle English. As far as grammar is concerned - not so different from nowadays. As for vocabulary - there are editions which offer explanations of old words and expressions. Check the library. Good luck :)

Answer 10

Cliff notes. Penguin edition of his plays normally come with a sort of guide too. I doubt many people can fully comprehend old English so don't fret.