Hark! Who Goes There?

Hark! Who goes there?

How many times have we heard this phrase or even said it ourselves? Have you ever wondered what hark even means?  In his play, Hamlet, William Shakespeare simply intended the character Hamlet — who utters this word — to grab everyone's attention. In Act II Scene II, Hamlet says to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, "Hark, you Guildenstern — and you too (Rosencrantz); at each ear a hearer." In essence, Hamlet is saying, "Listen! Someone is coming!"

Shakespeare also brings hark to the ears of his audience in his play, Taming of the Shrew. In Act I Scene I,  Lucentio says to Tranio, "Hark, Tranio thou mayst hear Minerva speak." He references Minevra, the Goddess of Wisdom. So, this phrase can be translated to Lucentio saying, "Hey listen to your inner wisdom and do what your gut tells you to do."

Hark is listed in today's dictionary, while it may not be an everyday word we utter, it is defined as meaning to listen, lend an ear, pay close attention.