Over 400 years ago, a highly prolific poet, playwright, and actor created works that would last for centuries to come. This highly influential individual was William Shakespeare, a man who greatly influenced the English language we are so familiar with today. Shakespeare was a creative and groundbreaking writer who produced brilliant work during the Elizabethan and Jacobean ages. He influenced and enriched the English language through introduction of new vocabulary terms , a plethora of phrases that he coined, and his involvement with standardizing the English language.
William Shakespeare was extremely innovative for the time in which he wrote, which was considered early modern english. He had a fertile career and vastly expanded the vocabulary …show more content…
His plays showcased phrases embedded into our everyday language, and when one refers to “jealousy as the green-eyed monster, know that you’re quoting Othello’s arch villain, Iago” (Anderson). Othello was a very famous play which coined this phrase. Shakespeare also coined many other infamous phrases such as “seen better days and into thin air, both from his play The Tempest” (Sutcliffe). The phrase do not budge an inch which describes being stubborn in thought is also very famous and “was a phrase first used in his work titled, The Taming of the Shrew” (Sutcliffe) . Shakespeare’s plays were very popular at the time and “when the audience went home they took Will’s words with them” (Sutcliffe). Shakespeare’s phrases and words stuck with the audience members considering how catchy and distinct they were. Not only did his many phrases stick with the audience originally viewing his plays, they remain a part of everyday phrases we continue to use. Without Shakespeare, we would not have everyday phrases like “a sorry sight or as pure as the driven snow” (“The Influence of Shakespeare”). Shakespeare brought an abundance of new vocabulary and phrases into our language during a time when English hadn’t even been standardized …show more content…
The dictionary was the defining moment that brought conformity and structure to our language, and it wouldn’t have been the same without Shakespeare’s influence. “Shakespeare’s works contributed significantly to the standardization of grammar, spelling, and vocabulary”(“Shakespeare and the English” ). The english language was much different in his time period, and his writing style really affected the push towards a more cohesive and structured
William Shakespeare was extremely innovative for the time in which he wrote, which was considered early modern english. He had a fertile career and vastly expanded the vocabulary …show more content…
His plays showcased phrases embedded into our everyday language, and when one refers to “jealousy as the green-eyed monster, know that you’re quoting Othello’s arch villain, Iago” (Anderson). Othello was a very famous play which coined this phrase. Shakespeare also coined many other infamous phrases such as “seen better days and into thin air, both from his play The Tempest” (Sutcliffe). The phrase do not budge an inch which describes being stubborn in thought is also very famous and “was a phrase first used in his work titled, The Taming of the Shrew” (Sutcliffe) . Shakespeare’s plays were very popular at the time and “when the audience went home they took Will’s words with them” (Sutcliffe). Shakespeare’s phrases and words stuck with the audience members considering how catchy and distinct they were. Not only did his many phrases stick with the audience originally viewing his plays, they remain a part of everyday phrases we continue to use. Without Shakespeare, we would not have everyday phrases like “a sorry sight or as pure as the driven snow” (“The Influence of Shakespeare”). Shakespeare brought an abundance of new vocabulary and phrases into our language during a time when English hadn’t even been standardized …show more content…
The dictionary was the defining moment that brought conformity and structure to our language, and it wouldn’t have been the same without Shakespeare’s influence. “Shakespeare’s works contributed significantly to the standardization of grammar, spelling, and vocabulary”(“Shakespeare and the English” ). The english language was much different in his time period, and his writing style really affected the push towards a more cohesive and structured