Shakespeare's Wordcraft [Paperback]

Kaiser has the entertaining idea of using brief quotes from Shakespeare--hundreds and hundreds of quotes--to impart lessons for effective, occasionally memorable writing, mostly word usage and sentence structure. Thus one is treated to numerous Shakespearean quotes as examples of notable word usage and fundamental writing techniques identified by Kaiser. He names these words, additions, repetitions, reverberations, transformations, substitutions, omissions, order, and disorder. Within each of the nine chapters are several subsections for different aspects of the technique. Delayed Repetitions and Landings are two of the eight aspects under Reverberations. "Shame, and eternal shame, nothing but shame" from "Hamlet" is one example of the former. "Dost thou teach pardon, pardon to destroy?" is an example from "King Richard the Second" of Landings, explained as "[t]he last word or words of a phrase repeated as the beginning of the next phrase." The unique writer's handbook can be studied systematically or be a bedside companion to dip into randomly for enjoyment and instruction.

If you're like me, when you read this book you will realise that there is far more to Shakespeare than meets eye or ear.

As you begin to examine language patterns where the elements are highlighed, new ways of perceiving, recfognising, appreciating and applying word magic open up.

The previously invisible becomes magically visible, exciting as a new constellation to an astronomer's eye. Words dance and weave, seduce and beguile, become glued in our memories, and inspire us to do better with our own words.

The book explores, without using technical jargon, 9 categories of patterns, and a dizzying array of sub categories, and distinctions, with tons of counter examples from other writers and famous speeches, and countless examples from Shakespeare's own plays, whether it's repetition, reverberation, reversal, or one of the others.

Here at last, you have the tools to craft your own speeches, letters, and even your conversations, modeling the master word smith.

Here is a pattern using parallel structure, some people..greatness.

Some people are born to greatness. Some people achieve greatness. Some people have greatness thrust upon them. Twelfth Night.

Reverberation:

Fourscore and seven years ago, our fathers set forth.

Repetition:

Murder. Murder. Murder most foul.

A horse. A horse. My kingdom for a horse.

Romeo. Romeo. Wherefore art thou, Romeo?

Reversal:

Fair is foul, and foul is fair.

Here are examples of rhymed pairs:

Willy nilly, pell mell, hurly burly.

And there are many many more.

If you're like me, you don't even have to read the entire book before you realise how rewarding it is.

Now I notice wordcraft techniques everywhere that I had never noticed before, and perhaps most importantly I hear with new ears. I have several books on this topic and this is the best of the bunch, and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

I believe you will enjoy it and I hope this was helpful.

Nine basic patterns of Shakespeare's language are revealed for students of both English and drama, offering a survey of how Shakespeare used words, phrases, expressions and images to solidify his ideas and plays. WORDCRAFT could have been recommended in our Literary Shelf area but is featured here for its broader applications to drama students at the high school, college and public performance levels alike: this audience will especially appreciate Shakespeare authority Scott Kaiser's revelations.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch