Shakespeare: Language Master

Shakespeare: Language Master

Shakespeare's Language

Which language did Shakespeare speak? Review each card. On the inside of each card is a checkmark. Click the checkmark for the card that has the correct answer to the question above.

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This is what Early Modern English looks like:

This is what Old English looks like:

This is what Middle English looks like:

Hwæt. We Gardena in geardagum, þeodcyninga, þrym gefrunon, hu ða æþelingas ellen fremedon. Oft Scyld Scefing sceaþena þreatum, monegum mægþum, meodosetla ofteah, egsode eorlas.

Whan that Aprille with his shoures soote,The droghte of March hath perced to the roote,And bathed every veyne in swich licóur Of which vertú engendred is the flour; Whan Zephirus eek with his swete breeth

Early Modern English

Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?Thou art more lovely and more temperate:Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, And summer’s lease hath all too short a date;

Old English

Middle English

Directions

On the left of the page, you will see an expression that Shakespeare invented. Drag it to the matching translation. Next, click on that translation in order to move to the next page.

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Own flesh and blood

He ate so much there's nothing left

We're worn out

Part of my family

I cannot understand it

I can't change what happened in the past

Bound to happen; an inevitable result

Hamlet Act 1 Scene 5

Things aren't as good as they appear

I can do whatever I want in life

A fool

Reduce the awkwardness of meeting someone

A hopeless search for something

The most important thing or ultimate goal

Own flesh and blood

Wild-goose chase

He ate so much there's nothing left

We're worn out

Part of my family

Romeo and Juliet Act 2 Scene 4

I cannot understand it

Bound to happen; an inevitable result

I can't change what happened in the past

Things aren't as good as they appear

I can do whatever I want in life

A fool

Reduce the awkwardness of meeting someone

A hopeless search for something

The most important thing or ultimate goal

Own flesh and blood

All that glitters isn't gold

He ate so much there's nothing left

We're worn out

Part of my family

The Merchant of Venice Act 2 Scene 7

I cannot understand it

I can't change what happened in the past

Bound to happen; an inevitable result

Things aren't as good as they appear

I can do whatever I want in life

A fool

Wild-goose chase

Reduce the awkwardness of meeting someone

A hopeless search for something

The most important thing or ultimate goal

Own flesh and blood

Forgone conclusion

He ate so much there's nothing left

We're worn out

Part of my family

Othello Act 3 Scene 3

I cannot understand it

I can't change what happened in the past

Bound to happen; an inevitable result

All that glitters isn't gold

Things aren't as good as they appear

I can do whatever I want in life

A fool

Wild-goose chase

Reduce the awkwardness of meeting someone

A hopeless search for something

The most important thing or ultimate goal

Own flesh and blood

We have seen better days

He ate so much there's nothing left

We're worn out

Part of my family

Forgone conclusion

I cannot understand it

I can't change what happened in the past

Bound to happen; an inevitable result

As You Like It Act 2 Scene 7

All that glitters isn't gold

Things aren't as good as they appear

I can do whatever I want in life

A fool

Wild-goose chase

Reduce the awkwardness of meeting someone

A hopeless search for something

The most important thing or ultimate goal

Own flesh and blood

We have seen better days

What's done is done

He ate so much there's nothing left

We're worn out

Part of my family

Forgone conclusion

I cannot understand it

I can't change what happened in the past

Bound to happen; an inevitable result

Macbeth Act 3 Scene 2

All that glitters isn't gold

Things aren't as good as they appear

I can do whatever I want in life

A fool

Wild-goose chase

Reduce the awkwardness of meeting someone

A hopeless search for something

The most important thing or ultimate goal

Own flesh and blood

We have seen better days

He hath eaten me out of house and home

He ate so much there's nothing left

We're worn out

Part of my family

Forgone conclusion

What's done is done

I cannot understand it

I can't change what happened in the past

Bound to happen; an inevitable result

Henry IV Part II Act 2 Scene 1

All that glitters isn't gold

Things aren't as good as they appear

I can do whatever I want in life

A fool

Wild-goose chase

Reduce the awkwardness of meeting someone

A hopeless search for something

The most important thing or ultimate goal

He hath eaten me out of house and home

Own flesh and blood

We have seen better days

The world is my oyster

He ate so much there's nothing left

We're worn out

Part of my family

Forgone conclusion

What's done is done

The Merry Wives of Windsor Act 2 Scene 2

I cannot understand it

I can't change what happened in the past

Bound to happen; an inevitable result

All that glitters isn't gold

Things aren't as good as they appear

I can do whatever I want in life

A fool

Wild-goose chase

Reduce the awkwardness of meeting someone

A hopeless search for something

The most important thing or ultimate goal

He hath eaten me out of house and home

Own flesh and blood

We have seen better days

Break the ice

He ate so much there's nothing left

We're worn out

Part of my family

Forgone conclusion

What's done is done

Taming of the Shrew Act 1 Scene 2

I cannot understand it

I can't change what happened in the past

Bound to happen; an inevitable result

The world is my oyster

All that glitters isn't gold

Things aren't as good as they appear

I can do whatever I want in life

A fool

Wild-goose chase

Reduce the awkwardness of meeting someone

A hopeless search for something

The most important thing or ultimate goal

He hath eaten me out of house and home

Own flesh and blood

We have seen better days

The be-all and the end-all

He ate so much there's nothing left

We're worn out

Part of my family

Forgone conclusion

What's done is done

I cannot understand it

I can't change what happened in the past

Bound to happen; an inevitable result

Macbeth Act 1 Scene 7

The world is my oyster

All that glitters isn't gold

Things aren't as good as they appear

I can do whatever I want in life

A fool

Wild-goose chase

Break the ice

Reduce the awkwardness of meeting someone

A hopeless search for something

The most important thing or ultimate goal

He hath eaten me out of house and home

Own flesh and blood

We have seen better days

It's Greek to me

He ate so much there's nothing left

We're worn out

Part of my family

Forgone conclusion

What's done is done

I cannot understand it

I can't change what happened in the past

Bound to happen; an inevitable result

Julius Caesar Act 3 Scene 2

The world is my oyster

All that glitters isn't gold

Things aren't as good as they appear

I can do whatever I want in life

A fool

The be-all and the end-all

Wild-goose chase

Break the ice

Reduce the awkwardness of meeting someone

A hopeless search for something

The most important thing or ultimate goal

He hath eaten me out of house and home

Own flesh and blood

We have seen better days

A blinking idiot

He ate so much there's nothing left

We're worn out

Part of my family

Forgone conclusion

What's done is done

It's Greek to me

The Merchant of Venice Act 2 Scene 9

I cannot understand it

I can't change what happened in the past

Bound to happen; an inevitable result

The world is my oyster

All that glitters isn't gold

Things aren't as good as they appear

I can do whatever I want in life

A fool

The be-all and the end-all

Wild-goose chase

Break the ice

Reduce the awkwardness of meeting someone

A hopeless search for something

The most important thing or ultimate goal

Shakespearian Insult Generator

Click definitions to expand -->

next

Roll the dice to select each part of the insult. Click the word next to each number you roll.

Thou

yeasty,

greasy,

peevish,

saucy,

waggish,

rank,

hideous,

knavish,

pinch-spotted

horn-mad

clay-brained

muddy-mettled

sour-faced

bunch-backed

dog-hearted

lily-livered

Adjective

Compound Adjective

Noun

1. greasy

1. bunch-backed

1. canker-blossom

hedge-pig!

jack-a-nape!

clotpole!

whipster!

canker-blossom!

ruffian!

dogfish!

2. hideous

scullian!

2. clay-brained

2. clotpole

3. knavish

3. dog-hearted

3. dogfish

4. peevish

4. horn-mad

4. hedge-pig

5. rank

5. ruffian

5. lily-livered

6. saucy

6. muddy-mettled

6. jack-a-nape

7. waggish

7. sour-faced

7. whipster

8. yeasty

8. scullion

8. pinch-spotted

Hint

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Shakespeare phrases in this activity were provided by Shakepseare Birthplace Trust.

Links to Resources

"Shakespeare's Phrases"

"Swear Like Shakespeare" Resource

Take me back to the insult generator