Grim death, how foul and loathsome is thine image!
Sirs, I will practise on this drunken man.
What think you, if he were convey'd to bed,
Wrapp'd in sweet clothes, rings put upon his fingers,
A most delicious banquet by his bed,
And brave attendants near him when he wakes,
Would not the beggar then forget himself? -- pg 2
The Taming of the Shrew is one of William Shakespeare's many plays. This play is one of the most unusual one's because it is a play within a play. This passage is taken from the induction of the play, but it is significant in understanding how the play is going to progress. Like all of Shakespeare's writing, this passage uses old English language and is difficult to understand. When translated it is the lord asking his servants if they think Sly will forget himself if they change his clothes and make him look rich. They are setting up an evil plan, which will set the scene for the entire play. Shakespeare uses a simile when he says "How like a swine he lies!" to make sly look like a complete monster. He wants to make the audience dislike him as much as he does. Shakespeare has a negative tone as well as pessimistic diction.
P.S. MRS. BAIONE-DODA, I don't think that I did this right so if I did it wrong just let me know and I will redo it. thank you!
1 comment:
Your analysis should be focused on the literary and rhetorical devices that are employed by the author in the passage.
On a side note, Shakepeare did not write in Old English.
C-
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