Quick History of English (told by Legos!!)

What are two things that you learned from this video about the English language?  How does this impact how we speak today?

Old English

Here is the original Beowulf in Old English.  Do you recognize any of the words?

Middle English

Does Middle English look a little bit more familiar?  Which words can you understand?

Early Modern English (Shakespeare)

(Click here for the written verse of Act 1, scene 7). For most of us, this would be the easiest to understand because it closely reflects the Modern English of today.  What do his facial expressions and the tone of his voice indicate about the speech? Is it funny? Sad?  How do you know?  What is different about Early Modern English and Modern English?