1600 comparison

1600’s Shakespearian	Modern English
He doth bestride the narrow world like a Colossus; and we petty men walk under his huge legs, and peep about to find ourselves dishonorable graves	He walks on the narrow world like a giant, and petty men like us walk under his huge legs and look forward only to dying dishonourably.

 

This is an extract from the Shakespearian play ‘Julius Ceaser’

Firstly, the context should be considered; the play is action-orientated and based on a leader who was known for being strong and brutal, therefore, Shakespeare might well have used language that sensationalise the tension and feeling of awe in the extract. The use of the verb ‘doth’ is a variation of the modern day verb ‘to do’, this is placed before the objective verb ‘bestride’ to increase a sense of majesty and vastness. In modern English we don’t use either of these verbs and instead would just use the one verb ‘walks’. Therefore, it would be fair to say that the phrase ‘doth bestride’ has become obsolete in modern English.

Interestingly, in the Shakespearian text, the word Colossus is used as a singular, common concrete noun. Although, this is sometimes still used in modern English in this way but the term Colossus is perhaps more commonly used a proper noun to describe a company such as Colossus Computers or Colossus Comics., this is an example of semantic shift and I believe it to be broadening.

Finally, the Shakespearian text uses the phrase ‘peep about’ where in modern English we use the phrase look forward. There is a correspondence in that both texts use a variation of the verb ‘to see’ (‘peep’ and ‘look’). However, the Shakespearian text uses the present tense preposition ‘about’ whereas in modern day English we use the future tense adverb ‘forward’. I feel as though this phrase has become amorliated in a semantic sense, because by using a word to do with the future you are connoting a sense of positivity.