What language were Shakespeare's plays written in?

Answer 1

Shakespeare's plays were written in the Elizabethan dialect of the English language, sometimes called Early Modern English, with the exception of one scene of Henry V which is in French.

In other words, Shakespeare wrote in the same language I am using now, although a different dialect of it.

Shakespeare did NOT write in Old English. Old English is a totally different language which is completely incomprehensible to any modern English Speakers including Shakespeare, and looks like this: "Haebbe ic gefrugnen thaette is feor heonan eastdaelum on aethelast londa, firum gefraege. Nis se foldan sceat ofer middangeard mongum gefere folcagendra, ac he afyrred is thurh meotudes meaht manfremmendum."

Answer 2

English. The writings of the Bard are the epitome of English literature. I am not personally cognisent of very much of his work, but I would suggest he is considered as the most prolific & high quality of authors in History. Without exception.

Answer 3

It is not written in Old English, which is a language spoken in England between 800 AD and 1100 AD but rather a form of Modern English called Early Modern English. Despite the large vocabulary used by Shakespeare, some of which may be unfamiliar to the modern reader, the essence of the language is identical to the language i am writing in now. Who could imagine that lines like these are in some foreign language?--

"Who's there?" (Hamlet)

"I am not well." (Merchant of Venice)

"Why should she write to Edmund?" (King Lear)

"Wrench his sword from him" (Othello)

"We will proceed no further in this business" (Macbeth)

"I will be deaf to pleading and excuses." (Romeo and Juliet)

"I'll put a girdle round about the earth in forty minutes" (Midsummer Night's Dream)

However, not all of Shakespeare's plays are in Modern English. One entire scene of Henry V is in French, and there are words and phrases of Latin and French dropped here and there throughout the canon.

Answer 4

The earlier theatres were in the open air, used natural lighting (i.e. sunlight) and thrust stages. Early indoor theatres were relatively small, as lighting had to be provided by candle or torch light.

Answer 5

Cycle plays were performed either on fixed stations or on wagons called

Answer 6

All of Shakespeare's plays were written in Modern English (a dialect called Early Modern English), except for one scene in Henry V, which is in French.