Continued from previous spread
What an interesting lesson in Old English History it is. I
can’t wait to share it with my teachers back in Shanghai. I
am truly intrigued by Shakespeare’s influence on the
development of English and want to learn more about him
and his work. So we decide that our next stop will be
Shakespeare’s New Place, his family home where he
spent over 30 years of his life.
We take the sightseeing bus and notice that it is quite
modern. Russie tells me that it was opened in 2016 to
mark the 400th anniversary of the playwright’s death.
There are many sculptures everywhere and a magnificent
bronze tree that takes centre stage in the heart of the
home.
The weather is gorgeous so we walk around the well-
maintained garden and I overhear a tour guide, telling a
group of students that Shakespeare invented over 1700
common words by changing nouns into verbs or
connecting words which had never been used together
before. I take out my notepad and start writing.
Shakespeare’s New Place
37