Question

you will apply knowledge of language to understand how language functions in different contexts, to make effective choices for meaning or style, and to comprehend more fully when reading or listening. directions read the instructions for this self-checked activity. type in your response to each question, and check your answers. at the end of the activity, write a brief evaluation of your work. activity in your reading of twelfth night, you probably noticed that william shakespeare’s characters speak a language that is different from contemporary conversational english. in the table below, rephrase lines from the play into modern wording, changing word choice, sentence structure, and poetic devices as needed. then describe what is lost in literary richness and what is gained in accessibility. lines from twelfth night: cesario lady, you are the cruellest she alive if you will lead these graces to the grave and leave the world no copy. (act i, scene v) modern version differences lines from twelfth night: malvolio why have you suffered me to be imprisoned, kept in a dark house, visited by the priest, and made the most notorious geck and gull that ever invention played on? tell me why

Explanation:

To solve this, we'll rephrase the given lines from Twelfth Night into modern English and analyze the differences:

For the first quote (Cesario’s lines):

Step 1: Understand the original lines

Original: “Lady, you are the cruell’st she alive / If you will lead these graces to the grave / And leave the world no copy.”

• “cruell’st she alive”: Old English superlative + phrasing (most cruel woman alive).
• “lead these graces to the grave”: “graces” likely refers to beauty/virtues; “lead to the grave” = take to death.
• “leave the world no copy”: Don’t leave a (child/legacy) to carry on your beauty.

Step 2: Rephrase in modern wording

Modern Version: “Lady, you’re the cruelest woman alive. If you take your beauty and goodness to the grave and don’t leave any children (or a legacy) behind, you’ll be doing that.”

Step 3: Analyze “Differences”

• Lost (Literary Richness): Shakespeare’s poetic language (e.g., “graces” as a metaphor for beauty, the rhythmic/archaic phrasing, and concise poetic structure) is lost. The original has a more formal, lyrical tone.
• Gained (Accessibility): Modern wording makes the meaning clearer (e.g., explaining “copy” as “children/legacy” for modern readers) and easier to understand quickly.

For the second quote (Malvolio’s lines, partial):

Original (partial): “Why have you suffered me to be imprisoned, / Kept in a dark house, visited by the priest, / And made the most notorious geck and gull / That ever invention played on? Tell me why.”

• “suffered me to be imprisoned”: Let me be imprisoned.
• “geck and gull”: Old terms for “fool” or “dupe.”
• “invention played on”: Trickery/deception played on (me).

Step 1: Rephrase in modern wording

Modern Version: “Why did you let me be imprisoned, kept in a dark house, and visited by the priest? Why did you make me the most infamous fool that any trickery has ever deceived? Tell me why.”

Step 2: Analyze “Differences”

• Lost (Literary Richness): Archaic terms like “geck,” “gull,” and the dramatic, Elizabethan-era phrasing (e.g., “invention played on”) lose their historical and poetic flavor.
• Gained (Accessibility): Replacing archaic words with modern synonyms (e.g., “fool,” “deceived”) and simplifying sentence structure makes the anger/confusion in Malvolio’s tone easier to grasp.

Final Table (Example for Cesario’s lines):

Lines from Twelfth Night	Modern Version	Differences

Evaluation (Optional):

This activity helps bridge the gap between Shakespeare’s era and modern English. By rephrasing, we prioritize understanding, but we also recognize that some of the original’s artistry (wordplay, rhythm, historical nuance) is sacrificed for accessibility.

(Note: For the full Malvolio quote, follow the same process—rephrase the remaining lines and analyze differences similarly.)

Answer:

To solve this, we'll rephrase the given lines from Twelfth Night into modern English and analyze the differences:

For the first quote (Cesario’s lines):

Step 1: Understand the original lines

Original: “Lady, you are the cruell’st she alive / If you will lead these graces to the grave / And leave the world no copy.”

• “cruell’st she alive”: Old English superlative + phrasing (most cruel woman alive).
• “lead these graces to the grave”: “graces” likely refers to beauty/virtues; “lead to the grave” = take to death.
• “leave the world no copy”: Don’t leave a (child/legacy) to carry on your beauty.

Step 2: Rephrase in modern wording

Modern Version: “Lady, you’re the cruelest woman alive. If you take your beauty and goodness to the grave and don’t leave any children (or a legacy) behind, you’ll be doing that.”

Step 3: Analyze “Differences”

• Lost (Literary Richness): Shakespeare’s poetic language (e.g., “graces” as a metaphor for beauty, the rhythmic/archaic phrasing, and concise poetic structure) is lost. The original has a more formal, lyrical tone.
• Gained (Accessibility): Modern wording makes the meaning clearer (e.g., explaining “copy” as “children/legacy” for modern readers) and easier to understand quickly.

For the second quote (Malvolio’s lines, partial):

Original (partial): “Why have you suffered me to be imprisoned, / Kept in a dark house, visited by the priest, / And made the most notorious geck and gull / That ever invention played on? Tell me why.”

• “suffered me to be imprisoned”: Let me be imprisoned.
• “geck and gull”: Old terms for “fool” or “dupe.”
• “invention played on”: Trickery/deception played on (me).

Step 1: Rephrase in modern wording

Modern Version: “Why did you let me be imprisoned, kept in a dark house, and visited by the priest? Why did you make me the most infamous fool that any trickery has ever deceived? Tell me why.”

Step 2: Analyze “Differences”

• Lost (Literary Richness): Archaic terms like “geck,” “gull,” and the dramatic, Elizabethan-era phrasing (e.g., “invention played on”) lose their historical and poetic flavor.
• Gained (Accessibility): Replacing archaic words with modern synonyms (e.g., “fool,” “deceived”) and simplifying sentence structure makes the anger/confusion in Malvolio’s tone easier to grasp.

Final Table (Example for Cesario’s lines):

Lines from Twelfth Night	Modern Version	Differences

Evaluation (Optional):

This activity helps bridge the gap between Shakespeare’s era and modern English. By rephrasing, we prioritize understanding, but we also recognize that some of the original’s artistry (wordplay, rhythm, historical nuance) is sacrificed for accessibility.

(Note: For the full Malvolio quote, follow the same process—rephrase the remaining lines and analyze differences similarly.)