The History of English Podcast Episode 179: Defining Moments
Sep 24, 2024
Explore the early 1600s in England, a time rich with defining moments that shaped the English language. Discover the significance of the King James Bible and the first English dictionary. Dive into Shakespeare's 'Twelfth Night' with its themes of love and mistaken identity. Learn about Bartholomew Gosnold’s expedition to New England and the intriguing interactions with indigenous peoples. Unravel the political drama of the Gunpowder Plot and its cultural ramifications. This period truly redefined England and its language.
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Evolution of "Define"
- The word "define" originally meant "to end" or "to set a boundary".
- It evolved to mean "explain a word's meaning" by clarifying its limits.
Twelfth Night Themes
- Shakespeare's Twelfth Night explores themes of love, disguise, and social class.
- The play features cross-dressing, a love triangle, and satirical portrayal of Puritans.
Decline of Thou, Thee, Thy
- The pronouns thou, thee, and thy were declining in use.
- Using you avoided social complexities and became a generic pronoun.