Shakespeare works go back to approximately five hundred years ago and represent a true challenge for today's reader. However, today he is still available because his works represent life and lend themselves to various interpretations. Moreover, his characters are archetypes who show their humanity when they face difficult situations, and exploring these stories can help this generation of readers to make meaning of the real world. In addition, Shakespeare’s expressive language and powerful verse structure would seem difficult for a poor reader, but when he reads on, these tools can empower his reading skills more than any other type of literature.
Reading Shakespeare would take more time than reading contemporary texts, but Hall (2003, p. 14) says that it can be done by a skilful teacher who is equipped with a transcript of the Folio, a simplified modern text, an archaic vocabulary circle, and an understanding of how Shakespeare directs the characters in the form. In addition to learning the strategies and stances, readers have to tackle with the poetic texts and the melody throughout the work.
In addition to a lot of resources to help literature teachers to understand Shakespeare there should be an expert for further assistance. O’ Brien (1995, p. 3) suggests quality teaching strategies as well as background facts about Shakespeare’s life and language that are applicable in classes. She believes that teaching Shakespeare is a sticky business by addressing literature teachers’ concerns. She says that teaching Shakespeare is hard for the students as they mostly complain about it, because the characters are kings and queens and they talk funnily. Therefore, what makes Shakespeare difficult is the language. Most probably, the aud...
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...unnecessary parts when studying a single piece of work. She believes that teachers have to assess the capabilities and needs of the classes to make the lesson plans most appropriate to each class. For example, Nicholson (1990) narrates his experience according to which getting rid of the focus on the language helps his students to be relaxed. Additionally, he says that if teachers try to approach word study in a way that soothes the students, they would keep Shakespeare’s language alive. By guiding students through their uncertainties regarding Shakespeare’s verbal style, teachers prove that in practice, those students who are not that much engaged in studying a work’s language will gain more than the time when they spent on the literature. Therefore, the main challenge for teachers is to find ways to help students feel more comfortable with Shakespeare’s language.
Warren, Roger. Shakespeare Survey 30. N.p.: n.p., 1977. Pp. 177-78. Rpt. in Shakespeare in the Theatre: An Anthology of Criticism. Stanley Wells, ed. England: Oxford University Press, 2000.
Ornstein, Robert. “Shakespeare for Students.” Shakespeare for Students. Ed. Catherine C. Dominic. Vol. 2. Detroit: n.p., 1997. 404-05. Print. Rpt. of “The Taming of the Shrew.” Shakespeare’s Comedies: From Roman Farce to Romantic Mystery. Delaware: U of Delaware P, 1986. 63-72.
William Shakespeare’s dramatic and poetic techniques and his use of hyperbole are used to describe the characters emotions and weaknesses. The use of dramatic irony is used to create personal conflict. This is done throughout the play to describe the characters concerns and their situations.
Shakespeare, William, Stephen Greenblatt, Walter Cohen, Jean E. Howard, Katharine Eisaman Maus, and Andrew Gurr. The Norton Shakespeare. Second ed. New York: W.W. Norton, 1997. Print.
In today’s world the quality of the art form called writing is said to be somewhat diminishing, it is important for English literature to keep some studies of classic literature, such as Shakespeare. I think well rounded education must have a strong foundation in both modern and classical literature, for the foundation in classical literature, an in-depth study of Shakespeare’s works would be more than sufficient. Not only was Shakespeare so skilled in his writing that he has become a significant point in the history of literature, but a majority of his works were written on such basic human themes that they will last for all time and must not be forgotten.
The author of 154 sonnets, the author of 37 plays and the creator of over 1700 words, William Shakespeare is undoubtedly regarded as one of the most influential poet and playwright today. Many people have devoted their lives to studying Shakespeare’s work and even a university program is dedicated to the high-school students who wish to further their knowledge of him. Out of the numerous plays Shakespeare has written to this day, Hamlet was declared – as of November 23, 2008- his greatest play through a survey conducted by the Sunday Telegraph; however, the question of whether or not Hamlet, written 400 years ago, is a valuable and worthwhile text for students to study. In arguably the greatest play to ever be written, Shakespeare’s Hamlet, proves to be a suitable and beneficial text for teachers to study its themes, characterization and entertainment value with their students as it manifests aspects of our society that students can learn from, relate to, and further their ability to evolve as a person. Through the different themes of appearance versus reality, the uncertainty of life after death and the misogynistic tendencies that is attributed regularly in the play, readers can use this knowledge as a platform to gain awareness of the surrounding themes in their society and the effects it has on the people in it. Additionally, through the different characters Shakespeare has created in the play, Hamlet, Horatio and Polonius offers a parallel of the people its readers will often come across and associate with today. Lastly, through the classic plot of the tragic hero, the rich and alluring allusions, and Shakespeare’s use of dramatic irony, does a great deal to engage with their audience and to bring them into experiencing the s...
Clark, W.G., and W. Aldis Wirhgt, eds. The Complete Works of William Shakespeare. Vol 2. USA: Nd. 2 vols.
Shakespeare’s language is so different from the slang teens use today so by reading his plays, it can improve teens’ speaking abilities. If teens were to read Shakespeare’s plays, it could expand their vocabulary and they would use more academic
Dutton, R., & Howard, J.E. (2003). A Companion to Shakespeare’s Works.(p. 9) Maiden, MA: Blackwell Pub.
Cohen, Walter, J.E. Howard, K. Eisaman Maus. The Norton Shakespeare. Vol. 2 Stephen Greenblatt, General Editor. New York, London. 2008. ISBN 978-0-393-92991-1
Dominic, C. Catherine. Shakespeare's Characters for Students. Detroit - New York -Toronto - London: Gale Research, 1997.
Shakespeare’s plays are a product of the Elizabethan theatrical context in which they were first performed. A lot of pressure was put on Shakespeare as he wrote his plays because he was not allowed to upset the royal family. His style would have been different than others in those times and a lot more thought has gone into his writing than people listening would think. Usually, the audience take for granted the cleverness and thought of Shakespeare’s writing, however, now we have studied and gone into great detail about Shakespeare’s writing, we can appreciate it more than they did:
This was researched and written by James Hallam as part of the course on Shakespeare by Individual Studies. Copyright is retained by James Hallam. This material may freely be used, so long as the author and source are cited.
Across the Universe of Time: Shakespeare’s influence on 21st century society. It is harder to imagine a more universal writer than William Shakespeare. Rarely, if ever, is one of his many plays not being performed anywhere in the world and similarly rare is the tertiary English student who has not examined his work at length. His plays, sonnets and poems are common fodder for high school English departments across the globe.
Shakespeare can be shown to be a strong influence on many modern aspects of everyday life today, ranging from comedies, tragedies, history, modern television, and many other examples. Shakespeare is well known across the world and will continue to be an influence in the future. His true birthdate is unknown to this day, but his Baptized date was April 26th, 1564 in England.