Shakespeare’s works and the Shakespearean language are still important in today’s world. Therefore, students of today and of the future should be required to read and study Shakespeare. Reading Shakespeare’s work allows students to broaden their knowledge of literature while reading classic stories. Shakespeare’s diction allows students to form opinions and different translations of text while boosting their analyzing and close reading skills. The stories Shakespeare created and their impact on literature and other aspects of the world is a primary reason why students should read his works. Without the knowledge of Shakespeare’s well-known literature, students are at a disadvantage if his works are mentioned in other aspects of popular culture. …show more content…
Another prominent reason why students should be required to read and study Shakespeare is because of the old English language he uses and the diction he created. The unique and intricate choice of words allows for his audience to pull apart different meanings. Shakespeare’s style of writing has students diving into the story on another level. Furthermore, his language allows students to create their own opinions and translations of the text. “Studying Shakespeare doesn't have to be solely ‘exposure to great literature.’ it can be an opportunity for students to interact with a text in the American zeitgeist and form their own opinions” (Torres). An example of a passage that can be really pulled apart is at the end of Macbeth. “Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player That struts and frets his hour upon the stage And then is heard no more. It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing” (Shakespeare, 5.5.27-31). This quote from Macbeth causes the reader to question the meaning of life and the importance of …show more content…
“But he was very much of his time. Shakespeare’s works are full of problematic, outdated ideas, with plenty of misogyny, racism, homophobia, classism, anti-Semitism, and misogynoir” (MacGregor). The other side argues that if society is moving on as a whole, then the literature that is being studied should be modernized as well. Moreover, teachers may not see the importance of teaching topics like toxic masculinity and misogyny in Romeo and Juliet or Macbeth. It can be argued that topics like these have no place in the classroom and are not important for the benefits of students’ English interpretation. “Teachers are realizing that a lot of the curriculum in our classrooms privileges white, male, European voices, and are beginning to question Shakespeare’s relevance for students” (Torres). Though, it is important to expose students to topics like these because they will show up again in the future. If one shows it to them ahead of time and teaches them about it through the concept of a play or story, it will be easier for them to handle later on. Teachers can use Shakespeare’s work to teach students about harsh topics like
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
Shakespeare is a very old and classic type of literature which is great if you like that kind of writing. Although these reads can be very interesting and stimulate the brain I do not think that students should have to or be forced to read these pieces. The first reason is that most students have trouble reading these pieces because of the language they use throughout the writing which leads to not understanding the work. Another reason that students shouldn’t have to read Shakespeare is that these writings can be very inappropriate at times which is sometimes not suitable for a school environment. The final reason students should not have to read Shakespeare pieces is the fact that most students aren’t going to be excited about reading these pieces of literature.
Shakespeare is Important William Shakespeare’s plays are being made into box office film hits at an incredible rate. Films such as Much Ado About Nothing with Kenneth Branagh and Emma Thompson, Hamlet with Mel Gibson and Glenn Close, Othello with Laurence Fishbourne and Henry V with Kenneth Branagh have been seen by a surprising number of teenagers. Often they have not understood it all, or even half of it, but they have been affected by the powerful characters and by the Shakespearean magic which has affected audiences around the world for centuries. They want to know more, they want to understand, and what better motivation can any teacher ask for than that students WANT? That alone is sufficient reason for any English teacher to start a course in Shakespeare.
In September of 2008, Professor Michael Mack gave a speech to college freshmen at the Catholic university of America about his opinions on the importance of reading Shakespeare. Mack forges an effective argument that though reading Shakespeare is troublesome, it is well worth the effort through his use of counterclaims and rhetorical devices.
Shakespeare's works have persistently influenced humanity for the past four hundred years. Quotations from his plays are used in many other works of literature and some common phrases have even become integrated into the English language. Most high schoolers have been unsuccessful in avoidance of him and college students are rarely afforded the luxury of choice when it comes to studying the bard. Many aspects of Shakespeare's works have been researched but one of the most popular topics since the 1960s has been the portrayal of women in Shakespeare's tragedies, comedies, histories and sonnets.
India and China during the 1400’s shared many similarities. Chinese and Indian economies were highly developed and supplied much of the Old World with their manufactured goods. However, their political differences were more apparent. Both social systems had a present hierarchy with select people considered “higher” then others, India was not a unified empire during the time of the 1400’s, however China was. Other differences between the two were India had both political disunity and unity imposed by outside conquerors. According to Marks, “Although India looks like a “place” on a map because of its distinctive geography, it was never really politically unified until the mid-1500s, and then only tentatively because it broke apart again by the mid-1700s.” (Marks, 2007, p. 51 eBook). China’s social system did not have a social ladder. They had a simple three caste social ladder. The Bureaucrats and landowners were considered the highest class, then peasants and farmers, and then merchants. China’s social system gave individuals the opportunity to move their social status. The Indian caste system was stricter with a formal leader in the Brahmins, or priests, then the Warriors, Merchants
As students we can concur with you that the works of Shakespeare are some of the most challenging that we are obliged to study in school. He does not seem to use English at all and his works are almost always lengthy and tragic. However, you can benefit from reading and understanding his writings. The fact that you as a student dislike Shakespearean Literature is something that we are well aware of. As you get more involved in reading his works though, you will be able to developed sharpened comprehension skills, better understanding his style of writing and you feel a sense of fulfillment.
Shakespeare has created stories that are so powerful, emotional, comedic, tragic and romantic that they are still continuously remembered and studied in the modern era. Though the essence of his talents does not lie in the simple themes behind his plays, but more so in
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 impeccable style and craft of Shakespeare’s writing has always been looked upon with great respect, and it continues to serve as an inspiration to writers and thinkers today even as it did when it was being first performed in London. Shakespeare’s modern audience, however, is far less diverse than the one for which he originally wrote. Due to the antiquity of his language, Shakespeare’s modern readership consists mostly of students and intellectuals, whereas in Shakespeare’s own time, his plays were performed in playhouses packed with everyone from royalty to peasants. Because of this, Shakespeare was forced to write on many different levels, the most sophisticated of which appealed to his more elite audience members, while the more straightforward and often more crude of which appealed to his less educated viewers, and the most universal of which still appeals to us.
Literature is an art form, it is entertainment, history, and a medium of self-expression. There is something magical about the creative power that is within literature. With words alone, literature illustrates the rise of nations, the fall of tyranny, the power of true love, and the tragedy of unescapable fate. When discussing timeless literature, it is almost impossible to not bring up the works of William Shakespeare. However, while some are enthusiastic about discussing Shakespeare, many can’t help but sigh. Some find his work outdated, his language cumbersome, and question: for what purpose is society so fixated on his work? Despite complaints from a few contemporary readers, Shakespeare’s work exhibits quality and thoughtfulness that is
Studying literature helps people have logical conclusion by developing critical analyzing skill. Shakespeare is one of the most influential people in literature so it is very important to read Shakespeare because students need to know where modern day literature is mostly influenced by so there can be a better appreciation for modern
William Shakespeare's Relevance Today For as long as formal education has existed in Britain it has been a largely standard assumption that teaching the works of William Shakespeare is relevant and necessary. Perhaps the relevance of his writing is taken for granted, perhaps it is necessary to re-examine the role of Shakespeare for the modern audience. There are indeed many people who question the relevance of this 440 year old playwright to a 21st century audience, taking it even as far as perhaps the greatest heresy of all, questioning the necessity of GCSE pupils learning Shakespeare at all.
Throughout the United States and the entire world people are aware of Shakespeare; however, many people wonder why society wants their citizens to continue to read William Shakespeare’s plays and poems. Shakespeare continues to influence today’s environment and brings people together by speaking of a common author that most people know. All across the world, students must read at least one of Shakespeare’s works; which often develop those children who read his works into better writers. During the Elizabethan Era, William Shakespeare experienced an uneventful childhood and had a basic education; however, his life still seems to be shrouded with mystery and raises the argument that he was not only the most successful, but also the most mysterious playwright, actor, and poet from that time period.
Shakespeare got much recognition in his own time, but in the 17th century, poets and authors began to consider him as the supreme dramatist and poet of all times of the English language. In fact, even today, no one can match his works or perform as well as he did. No other plays have been performed as many times as Shakespeare’s. Several critics of theatre try to focus on the language of Shakespeare and to take out excerpts from the literary text and make it their own resulting in various persons, poets, authors, psychoanalysts, psychologists and philosophers.