Test your knowledge

1 When you are reading a Shakespearean play, how do you know when

a sentence ends?

a) When the text moves onto the next line b) When a new character starts to speak c) When the punctuation tells you so d) When you get to the end of the page 2 What is a line inversion? a) A line changed into a different language b) A line that uses no pronouns c) When you change the order of words in a line to fit a particular rhythm or to make a rhyme d) When you make up words to make a line sound better 3 What is a pronoun? a) A descriptive word b) A word that describes a verb c) A part of speech that replaces a noun in a sentence d) A person, place or thing 4 What is a contraction? a) A line with no pronouns b) When you make a word smaller by taking out a letter and replacing it with an apostrophe c) When you change the order of the words in a line d) A type of punctuation Shakespeare used 5 Shakespeare used and in his plays to entertain and amuse his audience. 6 There were no actors in a theatre during Shakespeare’s time. ©The Educational Company of Ireland

7 Match Shakespeare’s grammar with the correct explanation.

Grammar Explanation

Inversions Shakespeare often cut out syllables and replaced them with an apostrophe to make the rhythm of a line fit better. Contractions When Shakespeare was writing his plays, there were more of these in speech than we have today – for example, he regularly uses ‘thy’, ‘thine’, ‘thee’ and ‘thou’. Pronouns Sometimes Shakespeare changed the order of words in his lines to try fit a particular rhythm or to make a rhyme. 8 Match the method of word invention with the correct example. Method of word invention Example Joining words together Informal Changing nouns into verbs Full-grown Coining a completely new word Champion Adding prefixes and suffixes Lonely 9 List three differences between the theatre in Shakespeare’s time and the theatre now. 10 What was the main difference between the pronouns in Shakespeare’s time and the pronouns we use now? 11 Give an example of a word used in Shakespeare’s time that has fallen out of use. 12 Name three plays that Shakespeare wrote. Practise Your Writing Skills Translate these lines of Shakespearean dialogue into modern English. The lady doth protest too much, methinks To thine own self be true The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool Give every man thy ear, but few thy voice Thou know’st ‘tis common. All that lives must die, Passing through nature to eternity. Parting is such sweet sorrow, That I shall say good night till it be morrow Interactive website©The Educational Company of Ireland

NON-FICTIONUNIT 6

Letters (page 203) Emails (page 207) Advertisements (page 227) Travel Writing (page 211) Newspaper Articles (page 215) Newscasts (page 221)Speeches (page 222) Project: Theme Park (page 232)©The Educational Company of Ireland