Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet: Station 2: Insults

Think about:

How is language different today?

Station 2: Insults

1. Watch the video on Shakespearean Insults

2. Look through the insult books and create your own insult.  Remember to explore the meaning (written on the back side of each page).

3. After trying out several different insults record your favorite insult and its meaning.

4. Share your insult with your group.  Why do you like it?  When would you use it?

Draw thy tool. My naked weapon is out.
William Shakespeare
Romeo and Juliet, 1. 1

Thou wilt fall backward when thou hast more wit.
William Shakespeare
Romeo and Juliet, 1. 1

He's a man of wax.
William Shakespeare
Romeo and Juliet, 1. 3

Small grey-coated gnat.
William Shakespeare
Romeo and Juliet, 1, 4

Not half so big as a round little worm.
William Shakespeare
Romeo and Juliet, 1. 4

The children of an idle brain, 
Begot of nothing but vain fantasy,
Which is as thin of substance as the air
And more inconstant than the wind.
William Shakespeare
Romeo and Juliet, 1. 4

You kiss by th' book.
William Shakespeare
Romeo and Juliet, 1. 5

He heareth not, he stirreth not, he moveth not:
The ape is dead.
William Shakespeare
Romeo and Juliet, 2. 1

Blind is his love, and best befits the dark.
William Shakespeare
Romeo and Juliet, 2. 1

She speaks, yet she says nothing.
William Shakespeare
Romeo and Juliet, 2. 2

Young men's love then lies
Not truly in their hearts but in their eyes.
William Shakespeare
Romeo and Juliet, 2. 3

These strange flies, these fashion-mongers, these 'pardon-me's'.
William Shakespeare
Romeo and Juliet, 2. 4

I will bite thee by the ear for that jest.
William Shakespeare
Romeo and Juliet, 2. 4

A gentleman that loves to hear himself talk, and will speak more in a minute than he will stand to in a month.
William Shakespeare
Romeo and Juliet, 2. 4

Scurvy knave! I am none of his flirt-gills [loose women], I am none of his skains-mates [cut-throat companions].
William Shakespeare
Romeo and Juliet, 2. 4

She, good soul, had as lief see a toad, a very toad, as see him.
William Shakespeare
Romeo and Juliet, 2. 4

He is not the flower of courtesy.
William Shakespeare
Romeo and Juliet, 2. 5

You rat-catcher.
William Shakespeare
Romeo and Juliet, 3. 1

They have made worms' meat of me.
William Shakespeare
Romeo and Juliet, 3. 1

What devil art thou that dost torment me thus.
This torture should be roar'd in dismal hell.
William Shakespeare
Romeo and Juliet, 3. 2

O serpent heart, hid with a flowering face.
Did ever dragon keep so fair a cave.
William Shakespeare
Romeo and Juliet, 3. 2

Beautiful tyrant, fiend angelical,
Dove-feather'd raven, wolvish-ravening lamb.
William Shakespeare
Romeo and Juliet, 3. 2

Thou cut'st my head off with a golden axe
And smilest upon the stroke that murders me.
William Shakespeare
Romeo and Juliet, 3. 3

A wretched puling fool, a whining mammet.
William Shakespeare
Romeo and Juliet, 3. 5

Hang! Beg! Starve! Die in the streets.
William Shakespeare
Romeo and Juliet, 3. 5