Unit 1: Shakespeare Speaks
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Session 21
William Shakespeare's daughter has fallen in love... again. But should she wear her heart on her sleeve - or keep her feelings hidden? We'll help you use the phrase wear my heart on my sleeve, and explore some other great phrases for talking about revealing - or hiding - your feelings. We also bring you plenty more heart idioms to expand your vocabulary.
Session 21 score
0 / 19
- 0 / 6Activity 1
- 0 / 8Activity 2
- 0 / 5Activity 3
Activity 1
The whole world can see how you feel!
Many of Shakespeare's characters conceal their true feelings.
Shakespeare often explored the theme of appearance in his plays and many of his characters wear masks or disguises to conceal their true identity. He was very interested in the idea that people and events are often not what they appear to be!
To do
Look at this image of Shakespeare's daughter, Iago from Othello and American actress Kristen Stewart. They all appear in this episode, but do you think they hide their feelings well? Or are they very open and honest about their feelings?
Then watch the video to find out if you are correct. (The answer is under the video.)
Watch the video and complete the activity
Narrator
It was a sunny day. William Shakespeare's daughter and Bess the barmaid are at the fair.
Daughter
Lalalalala…
Bess
You're very happy today aren't you my duck?
Daughter
Oh Bess, I'm in love.
Bess
You're not still after that Robert Harley are you?
Daughter
Nooooo! It's Henry Bull. He's wonderful: handsome and brave… and he loves me too… but Bess, father mustn't find out. Henry hasn't got any money. Father wouldn't approve.
Bess
Well my duck, you need to hide your feelings better then! You're wearing your heart upon your sleeve; the whole world can see how you feel! Oh! Hello Mr Will…
Daughter
Father!
Will
Good afternoon Bess; Daughter… and what are you two gossiping about? Who's wearing their heart upon their sleeve?
Bess
We were …err… discussing that evil Iago, in your play Othello. He wears his heart upon his sleeve, doesn't he Mr Will?
Will
Ah, yes, Othello, my tragedy. A very good topic for discussion. Iago says: I will wear my heart upon my sleeve…
Robert Harley as Iago
I will wear my heart upon my sleeve
For daws to peck at. I am not what I am.
Will
But, even though Iago talks about wearing his heart on his sleeve he doesn't actually intend to do it. Iago never reveals his true feelings, except perhaps to the audience, and even they cannot fully trust him!
Bess
Well, showing your true feelings certainly can lead to trouble.
Daughter
What feelings does Iago hide, father? Is he in love?
Will
No: quite the opposite. Iago pretends to be loyal to Othello so that he can destroy him! That's why he says: I am not what I am.
Narrator
We'll leave them there for now. Many of Shakespeare's characters conceal their true feelings. Some hide their love, while Iago, Shakespeare's most hateful villain, hides his plans to destroy everyone around him. Nowadays, the phrase to wear your heart upon - or on - your sleeve still means: to make your feelings and emotions obvious, even if it makes you vulnerable. In a 2015 interview, US actress Kristen Stewart, star of the Twilight movies, said:
Clip 1
I wear my heart on my sleeve. If I'm in a mood, my mood shows.
Narrator
It's often used to talk about love and romance.
Clip 2
When I told him I loved him, he broke up with me. I'll never wear my heart on my sleeve again.
Will
Now, dear daughter, who is this young man who's made you so cheerful?
Daughter
Oh… errr… nobody…
Will
Nobody…?
Bess
Didn't I tell you not to wear your heart on your sleeve?!
Daughter
Oh dear. To wear, or not to wear: that is the question…
Answer
Shakespeare's daughter and Kristen Stewart are both very open about their feelings - they wear their hearts on their sleeves! Iago pretends to show his feelings, but really he hides his feelings - he says "I am not what I am." Well done if you guessed correctly.
To do
Answer these questions about the video to find out how well you understood this episode.
To wear, or not to wear: that is the question…
6 Questions
Answer these questions about this episode and the meaning and form of the phrase wear my heart on my sleeve
Help
Activity
Answer these questions about this episode and the meaning and form of the phrase wear my heart on my sleeve
Hint
Daughter says: "He's wonderful: handsome and brave… and he loves me too… but Bess, father mustn't find out. Henry hasn't got any money. Father wouldn't approve."Question 1 of 6
Help
Activity
Answer these questions about this episode and the meaning and form of the phrase wear my heart on my sleeve
Hint
When Will arrives, Bess says "we were …err… discussing that evil Iago, in your play Othello." But is this really what Bess and Daughter were discussing?Question 2 of 6
Help
Activity
Answer these questions about this episode and the meaning and form of the phrase wear my heart on my sleeve
Hint
Will tells us that "Iago pretends to be loyal to Othello so that he can destroy him!"Question 3 of 6
Help
Activity
Answer these questions about this episode and the meaning and form of the phrase wear my heart on my sleeve
Hint
Does Bess think Daughter should continue to wear her heart on her sleeve?Question 4 of 6
Help
Activity
Answer these questions about this episode and the meaning and form of the phrase wear my heart on my sleeve
Hint
The narrator tell us that "the phrase to wear your heart upon - or on - your sleeve still means: to make your feelings and emotions obvious, even if it makes you vulnerable."Question 5 of 6
Help
Activity
Answer these questions about this episode and the meaning and form of the phrase wear my heart on my sleeve
Hint
In the second example, the woman says "When I told him I loved him, he broke up with me. I'll never wear my heart on my sleeve again."Question 6 of 6
Excellent! Great job! Bad luck! You scored:
How did you do?
4-6 correct - congratulations, you don't need to hide this score!
0-3 correct - oh dear, go back and try again - we won't tell anyone!
Next
On the next page we'll introduce you to some great idioms to talk about people who are open and honest, like Daughter, and people who hide the truth, like Iago.
Session Vocabulary
For more great Shakespeare content visit our partner,The OU
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Wear my heart on my sleeve
Meaning
Nowadays, the phrase to wear your heart upon - or on - your sleeve still means: to make your feelings and emotions obvious, even if it makes you vulnerable.Example sentence
I wear my heart on my sleeve. If I'm in a mood, my mood shows.___________________
Extra vocabulary
in disguise
the state of changing someone's appearance to hide their true identityloyal
always reliable and very supportive
vulnerable
easily hurt or harmeda mask
a covering used to hide or disguise your facebend the truth
say something that is not true (usually not a serious lie)be economical with the truth
say things that are not true, or to not tell everything that you knowkeep your cards close to your chest
not tell people what you are thinking or planninga poker face
a facial expression that doesn't show your thoughts or feelingslay/put (all) your cards on the table
tell people exactly what you are thinkingabove board
completely honest and legalupfront
completely honest and not hiding anythingan open book
completely honest and not hiding anythingpour your heart out
tell someone all your secrets and worriesmy heart sank
I suddenly felt very sad and disappointedhis/her heart's in the right place
he/she only has good intentionsmy heart's not in it
I don't feel very interested and enthusiastic
by heart
from memorya heart of gold
a kind and generous character
a heart of stone
an unfriendly and unkind character
____________________Shakespeare Speaks is a co-production between:
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