Shakespeare's Influence On English Literature

1232 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Impact of shakespeare on english language

William Shakespeare was born in an age of stability known as the Elizabethan Age. Under the rule of benevolent leader Queen Elizabeth I, the common people were happy and well-fed. “The impact of Shakespeare 's plays on the development of the English language can hardly be overestimated. Next to the translations of the Bible into English and the Book of Common Prayer, Shakespeare shares a unique place in the history of English. His influence over subsequent literature was similarly enormous.”(Shakespeare, William." Arts and Humanities).However, in the midst of her reign whispers of dissent spread throughout the villages and political upheaval was looming on the horizon.. Queen Elizabeth’s harsh religious laws (such as requiring the townsfolk …show more content…

In this poem, Shakespeare revels in the love of his mistress and her youth and beauty. He highlights youth as one of the most precious gifts on earth, as it is so valuable and fleeting. As the title suggests, he urges his lady to “seize the day,” enjoying each moment to its fullest extent before it is simply too late. He proclaims that the future is unforeseen, so it is of the utmost importance to never delay true happiness and enjoyment. Shakespeare’s diction and figurative language portray this message quite clearly. “In delay there lies no plenty- then come kiss me, sweet-and-twenty, youth’s a stuff will not endure.” (Shakespeare, William, ). Shakespeare very deliberately expresses a sense of urgency partially due to his pessimistic outlook and cynical world view that love and youth can be taken from us in just one moment. The first stanza of “Carpe Diem” reflects the lovers’ search for one another. There is a tone of passion and yearning as the two unsuccessfully reach out for each other. The speaker proclaims his love for this lady, and begs that she answer him right away, with no time wasted on waiting. The line “present mirth hath present laughter” is the speaker urging his lady that if she finds something funny now, she must laugh now as opposed to later. This motif is consistent throughout the entirety of the poem. Shakespeare does not wish to chance his love on time and …show more content…

“Now she wants a photo, you already know though. You only live once, that’s the motto, my friend. YOLO.”(" 'The Motto ' (Drake feat. Lil ' Wayne)."). In this part of his song, Drake is saying that when a woman meets him, she wants to take pictures which captures the moment forever instead of living the moment and taking from it what it has to offer. “YOLO” is a shortcut for “You only live once” which he says should be the motto to enjoy the life and moment and everything it has to offer.“Both the concepts of carpe diem and YOLO are essentially the same. Carpe diem is a Latin phrase meaning "seize the day", and YOLO is an acronym standing for "You Only Live Once." Both give a message that people only have so much life left to live, so it 's best to enjoy life and follow your dreams.”(Cipolla, Wes.). We should put aside our worries, they are going to wait for us for later. However, good things as love, fun or those special moments are not going to wait. The whole idea of this song is exactly the same as the one from Shakespeare 's “Carpe Diem”.“The idea of YOLO is nothing new. Shakespeare once said, "I wasted time, and now doth time waste me." YOLO is not just an obnoxious catchphrase.”(Cipolla, Wes.). They both suggest and promotes the same way of living life. This life seems to be great, worryless, full of fun, love, passion and good

Show More
Related

  • How Did Shakespeare Influence His Works

    135 Words  | 1 Pages

    Next, Shakespeare had also impacted many other writers at his time and still to this day. He influenced the writers in many ways. Many others have used phrases from Shakespeare's work for their own titles or for own novels they write. The authors thought his work was so unique they wanted to use some of it for their work. There have been dozens of movies based on Shakespeare and his work. The first one was in 1899 and since then many authors have made a movie about him (Mabillard). Many writers are inspired by Shakespeare and his work. His stories surpass time and culture which is a reason to why authors continue to adapt his work. An author named John Keats wrote a poem he would keep Shakespeare's works next to him for influence (Acevedo).

    Read More

  • Different Reactions of a Modern and Elizabethan Audience to Othello

    628 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the Elizabethan era, many of the issues Shakespeare included in his plays were socially accepted by the audience. In contrast these issues are in large not accepted in today's modern society.

    Read More

  • To the Virgins, To Make Much of Time by Robert Herrick

    606 Words  | 2 Pages

    Ever hear of the phrase “carpe diem”? It is a common Latin phrase meaning “seize the day” or in plain English, make the most of the time you have. This phrase is very well portrayed in Robert Herrick’s most popular poem “To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time”. Herrick was an established poet in the mid-1900’s who lacked ambition but wrote remarkable poems. He was a graduate from Cambridge University, which took him seven years to complete, and a member of Ben Jonson’s circle of young friends (Herrick 380). Herrick was later appointed a priest at the parish of Dean Prior, in Devonshire. He carried this title at Dean Prior until he died at the age of 83 (Herrick 380). His education, unique living style, and his friends, all greatly influenced his extraordinary poems. In Herrick’s poem he describes carpe diem by using vivid words and images and by connecting the meaning and theme to personal feelings.

    Read More

  • Religion: An Analysis Of William Shakespeare's Religious Views

    129 Words  | 1 Pages

    William Shakespeare’s religious views have been an ongoing debate for well over 150 years. His parents were married during the ruling of Queen Mary (r. 1558- 1558), where the official religion of England was Catholicism. Numerous people were executed for being Protestant. Shakespeare was born during the rule of Queen Elizabeth I (r. 1558- 1603), who had restored Protestantism as the official religion. Meaning Shakespeare’s public faith would have been Protestantism. It is believed by many that the Shakespeare family was indeed Catholic because in 1592, John Shakespeare, William’s father, was fined for not attending Anglican Church which was required by the law. Many of Shakespeare’s teachers were Catholic, even though Protestantism was to be

    Read More

  • Shakespeare - Authorship

    1790 Words  | 4 Pages

    In 1564, a man was born by the name of William Shakespeare. He was born to a poor family, was given little education, and had no interaction with sophisticated society. Thirty-eight plays and over 150 sonnets are not attributed to this ignorant man. Those who believe that Shakespeare was the author have no definitive proof but instead point to Hamlet’s declaration: "The play’s the thing(Satchell 71)." The true author, however, lies hidden behind he name of Shakespeare. Edward de Vere the premier Earl of Oxford is not only considered a great poet in history, but he may also be the great playwright who concocted the sonnets and plays which are now attributed to William Shakespeare of Stratford, England.

    Read More

  • William Shakespeare Research Paper

    701 Words  | 2 Pages

    William Shakespeare is considered to be the greatest playwright of all time, even though many facts about his life still remain a mystery. In his lifetime Shakespeare wrote 36 plays and 154 sonnets. The following paragraphs will included the key moments known about William Shakespeare's life, birth through death.

    Read More

  • Archetypal Lens Essay On Hamlet

    991 Words  | 2 Pages

    From 1588 through 1603 this marks history as the Elizabethan era. Known for its work of art, military actions, religious reform and a time in England’s growth, Queen Elizabeth rule has been one of the most efficient and rememberable of all Englands rulers. During Elizabeths rule a new and soon famous writer emerged. His names was William Shakespeare (1564-1616) Shakespeare has produced loads of sonnets and plays one being Hamlet. Hamlet can be seen though the Psychological and Archetypal lens.

    Read More

  • The Upper Class in Shakespeare's Plays

    906 Words  | 2 Pages

    Elizabethan Society had a very strict social code at the time that William Shakespeare was writing his plays. Social class in Elizabethan England could determine many things, from how a person spoke or what they could wear. This led to Shakespeare basing his plays on these social classes, mostly the upper class. Shakespeare used the upper class in a majority of his plays, such as “Shakespeare’s Henry IV.” Shakespeare relied on the innovations of the Renaissance in his plays related to the upper class, because he liked to give his characters more depth and vary the overall rhythmic structure of his plays to make them interesting for the audience.

    Read More

  • Year 8 English Shakespeare Essay

    559 Words  | 2 Pages

    William Shakespeare, an illustrious and eminent playwright from the Elizabethan Age (16th Century) and part owner of the Globe theatre wrote A Midsummer Night’s Dream in which he portrays the theme of love in many different ways. These include the paternal love seen in the troubled times for Egeus and his rebellious daughter Hermia, true Love displayed with the valiant acts of Lysander and Hermia and the destructive love present in the agonizing acts of Titania towards her desperate lover Oberon. Through the highs and lows of love, the first love we clasp is the paternal love from our family.

    Read More

  • William Shakespeare's Influence on the English Language

    575 Words  | 2 Pages

    The English language has been in constant transition throughout its history, but the most significant transformation in modern English can be credited to William Shakespeare. With Shakespeare’s invention of commonly used expressions, his creation of new words, and his use of iambic pentameter, he was able to affect the language in a way that no person since has. Shakespeare’s influence on modern English is not only visible in everyday speech, but also in the fact that his work has survived over four hundred years and it continues to be performed and read worldwide.

    Read More

  • Carpe Diem Analysis

    836 Words  | 2 Pages

    You now see it used as a justification for rash actions. YOLO is the modern day carpe diem. Both phrases are used before or after someone does something completely irrational and potentially dangerous. For example, you may see a social media post along the lines of “I know I should be studying instead of going to a huge party with alcohol the night before an exam, but you know what they say: Carpe diem! Seize the day!" or “Underage drinking at a party tonight! YOLO”. It is almost as if the phrase is a completely new phrase with a completely new meaning. In the older times, it was used in beautiful poems. If the phrase itself was not in the literature, the idea of it was. For example, the poems “To the Virgins to Make Much of Time” by Robert Herrick and “To His Coy Mistress” by Andrew Marvell include carpe diem. In Herrick’s poem, he used the idea of carpe diem in his entire poem. He elaborates the fact that they are dying with the lines “this same flower that smiles today tomorrow will be dying”(Herrick 3-4) and “The higher he’s a-getting, The sooner his race will be done, And nearer he’s to setting”(Herrick 6-8). He follows with the line “then be not coy, but use your time” (Herrick 13). He is using the idea of carpe diem to seduce the woman but he goes around it with the notion that she is running out of time and tomorrow is not promised so she should use the time left wisely and act soon. In Marvell’s

    Read More

  • William Shakespeare: A Legendary Author

    908 Words  | 2 Pages

    William Shakespeare’s intellectual use of the English language is what brought him prosperity throughout his lifetime, and what brings us to tears and laughter in the modern world. The life of Shakespeare is of great importance to English literature because of his many contributions including poetry, stories, and plays. However, many people do not know that he also owned a business. “William Shakespeare was a professional actor, a businessman, and a playwright. Today, nearly four hundred years after his death his plays are still performed” (Greenhill and Wignall 4).

    Read More

  • William Shakespeare Research Paper

    1468 Words  | 3 Pages

    “William Shakespeare (26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was and English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world’s preeminent dramatist” (vodppl.upm.edu 2). He was born in Stratford-Upon-Avon, UK, he also passed away in his hometown. “When Shakespeare died in 1616 the event was barely noticed” (Epstein 7). “Shakespeare’s family was initially prosperous but began having financial difficulties in the 1570’s” (Allen 325). “Shakespeare gained his education by attending the local grammar school, King’s New School, where the curriculum stressed a classic education of Greek mythology and roman comedy”(shakespeareinamericancomunites.org 1). He never carried his educational career to a higher level as in a university. “William Shakespeare was not recognized as an actor, poet, and playwright until 1592” (Allen 346).

    Read More

  • Youth: Life at Its Peak in "Sonnet 15" by William Shakespeare

    1268 Words  | 3 Pages

    As each day goes by the beauty of our vibrant youth decays and diminishes. In "Sonnet 15" Shakespeare refers to youth as life at its peak, however this precious point in our life is short-lived. Shakespeare speaks of youth as a single moment of perfection. He glorifies youth and alleges to immortalize it through his poetic words. He uses metaphors, imagery, and rhyme in a way to enhance the beauty and perfection of mans youth while in its prime. Through this he demonstrate the love and richness of youth despite the tole time takes on it.

    Read More

  • Shakespeare's Innovations the World

    741 Words  | 2 Pages

    Shakespeare's tragic play, Othello, is an amalgam of diverse antecedents, including the generic influences of the ancient Greek and Roman tragedies, Italian fiction, as well as Renaissance history such as the progression of Christian humanism. Additionally, although Shakespeare incorporates some elements of the medieval morality play into Othello, the fact that his play is a tragedy shows how he modifies it from the typical ending found in a morality play. Furthermore, not only does Shakespeare include the stereotypical Englishman's view of the black race during the Elizabethan era, he also modifies it to convey the importance of looking beyond the skin color, showing the progression of a racially prejudice society to one in which people are treated judicially based upon their character.

    Read More

More about Shakespeare's Influence On English Literature

Open Document