On April 23rd each year, National Talk Like Shakespeare Day encourages us to speak like the Bard and the characters in his plays.
Born April 23, 1564, William Shakespeare is the author of some of the world’s most celebrated plays and poems. On the 23rd April 2021 we are honouring the 405th anniversary of the Bard’s death in 1616. What better way to celebrate his life and art than to speak like the poet and playwright.
We can speak like Shakespeare by substituting thou, thee and ye for you and they. Rhyming couplets and creative insults were his particular favourites. Many of the phrases we use today we owe to Shakespeare.
We could make you wait with 'bated breath' for the list.
We could send you on a 'wild goose chase' to find them.
For 'goodness sake', you might just be the 'laughing stock' if we did!
Oh, come now. No need to 'fight fire with fire'.
'Come what may' we will give you 'the naked truth' and teach you to talk like Shakespeare.
We’ll 'snatch you out of the jaws of death' and put you 'in a pickle' too while we are at it!
What makes your 'hair stand on end'? Did we 'set your teeth on edge'? Well, 'what’s done is done'.
You may be such 'a sorry sight', but still, 'the world is your oyster' even if you 'wear your heart on your sleeve'.
Aye, 'you have seen better days'! We must 'send you packing'. 'It’s all Greek to you' anyway!
So we`re all Shakespeare already - who knew!?
To celebrate the long lasting impact of the Great Bard all the young Webber rapscallions from Year 5 to 11 have been learning and practising some Shakespearerian dialogue and have focused on the fun stuff - insults!
The Year 9s made the most of the lovely weather this week, running through their dramatic and chilling renditions of Macbeth's 3 Witches Scene al fresco!
Students also had a go at delivering some of the most famous speeches from Shakespeare's plays - there will be a 'Bard-off' coming soon to decide who can, indeed, talk most like Shakespeare.
Enjoyeth one and all...
Mr R Lambros
Head of English
