In Richard III, one of Shakespeare’s characters calls another an “elvish-mark’d, abortive, rooting hogback.” That last bit caused a round of chuckles from the fifth year seniors at the back of the class – they lived there, they said.
As weeks went by in the Lit class, they realized that so many of the senior houses near and dear to them were referenced in classic literature. Who knew Shakespeare was such an inspiration?
With first years soon needing to sign leases for their senior housing, it’s important that students are able to identify which houses are truly available to them, lest the Lexington landlords continue to try to swindle students out of their trust funds.
With that in mind, the Radish invites you to participate in our latest pop quiz: senior house or Shakespearean insult?
- Foggy Bottom
- Toad
- Applejohn
- MudHut
- Dickporch
- Lackgall
- Bean’s Bottom
- Stockfish
- Nostril
- Sloop
(Answers below)
- Senior house (and a once-smoggy D.C. neighborhood)
- Shakespearean insult (often in Richard III)
- Shakespearean insult (in Henry IV, meaning dry and withered)
- Senior house
- Senior house (Willy Shakes died before porches emerged)
- Shakespearean insult (meaning coward)
- Senior house (though possibly an insult too, he calls refers to many characters as “bottom”)
- Shakespearean insult (meaning dry)
- Technically both! What an icon
- Senior house (the word is used in Macbeth, though not as an insult)
The Radish 