During the COVID-19 lockdown, thousands of boys and girls join Holly King's free online lessons. She enjoys both reading Shakespeare's plays and helping them to learn how to write. Now she is offering them some advice.
Tip 1 Use clever names Well, quite often Shakespeare gives information about what a character is like through their names. For example, Romeo's name means a person being romantic and Benvolio can be nice and friendly. Now think what you can call a character who is angry all the time? |
Tip 2 Try metaphors Shakespeare was a fan of metaphors. A metaphor is a way of comparing one thing with something else to show ideas, feelings, places and more. In the play As You Like IT, he writes, "All the world is a stage and all the men and women only players." What do you think he means by comparing the world to a stage? |
Tip 3 Make up words Eyeball. Lonely. Unreal. All these words were made up by Shakespeare. If you have an idea that you can't think of a word for, be like Shakespeare and invent your own. If you want to create words that mean something and may stand the test of time, try creating words like this:breakfast+lunch = brunch. And you can start with making up words for everyday things in your home. |
Do you want to write like Shakespeare? Put your question here, or write to Holly at hollysclass@hotmail. com.