Another concept that must be kept in mind in order to read Shakespeare is anastrophe. The best definition of this word is simply, "changing the normal word order for poetic effect". When we come across examples of this, we may at first find them annoying. Why would someone write, "Came the snow..."? Why not simply, "It was snowing..."? Well, the answer is that it makes us think. One of the reasons Shakespeare has retained so much popularity 400 years on is that his work requires participation and effort. He's not only an example of creativity - he's a cause of it. And it begins at the most minute levels - word choice and word order. Here's an example from Antony and Cleopatra. In this scene, a messenger from Antony is arriving at Caesar's camp - a schoolmaster though, rather than a high-ranking member of the military, as would normally be the case. This could be interpreted as a reference to Octavius' age - and therefore, a subtle but calculated insult, or as Dolabella does, a sign of decline in the number of Antony's followers. Either way, notice the unusual word order, which once understood, gives the lines lasting beauty and interest.

OCTAVIUS CAESAR

Let him appear that's come from Antony.

Know you him?

DOLABELLA

Caesar, 'tis his schoolmaster:

An argument that he is pluck'd, when hither

He sends so poor a pinion off his wing,

Which had superfluous kings for messengers

Not many moons gone by.

(3.12)

One of my students once put it very simply: "Once you get it, you wouldn't change a word."