Shakespeare is still relevant to today's highschool students because of the universal themes found throughout his work, the skills of literacy one can learn from his writing, and the iconic phrases and characters that are still prevalent in modern pop culture. Shakespeare's writing is known for conveying relatable and universal themes of human nature. The stories he wrote can be found everywhere in the world, unchanged or modified, as they speak of humanity with rawness and transparency, which is something anyone can connect with. Alan Craven, a literary scholar of the University of Texas at San Antonio, stated, "The language is rich, the characters are complex and many of his basic themes – love, treachery, honor, bravery and political intrigue …show more content…
Many of his characters and sonnets are known in their original and altered state, although never beyond recognition. "Outside of the classroom, there are movies, ballets, live theater and Shakespearean festivals. Even popular music and television commercials have been built around notable Shakespearean characters like Romeo and Juliet." (Why Do We Still Care About Shakespeare?) Characters, betrayals, and story arcs of Shakespeare's works are referred to or used as plot devices in multiple medias such as Disney's The Lion King, Harry Potter, and even The Muppet Show (Posts about Pop Culture on Shakespeare In Action). In fact, some of the words we commonly use today were first invented by Shakespeare. "If you search the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) — the definitive record of the English language — Shakespeare is often identified as the sole user or first user of a word or phrase." (Six Reasons Shakespeare Remains Relevant 400 Years after His Death) Shakespeare is even know for using words in unusual ways for his time, completely altering its meaning and causing us to use it in his context. This gives students a huge historical sphere to delve into, as words are used in both familiar and foreign fashions. For example, the word "uncomfortable" originated from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, at a time of great discomfort as King Capulet mourned the loss of his daughter-- a perfect moment for such vocabulary (20 Words We Owe to
To begin with “William Shakespeare was the most remarkable storyteller that the world has ever known” (Why was Shakespeare Important). Shakespeare created most, which include thirty seven plays that are his finest legacy he left on this world. He has improved the stage with many genres and told every kind of story including comedies, tragedies, histories, and many strange plays that muddled with the human imagination. Shakespeare told these stories so well that they have become unforgettable, and in the world of storytelling he has become the greatest. Shakespeare’s stories go beyond time and culture. Shakespeare’s inspiration is seen in many different modern stories. “Modern storytellers continue to adapt Shakespeare’s tales to suit our new world” (Why was Shakespeare Important).
...somewhat to fit the modern English language. William Shakespeare was truly a legendary author that helped expand the English language we speak today. His remarkable work will help teach and influence English for many years to come.
The Tragedy of Macbeth was written, produced and thought to have been first performed in 1606. The play itself dramatizes the physical and psychological effect of political ambition on those who seek power for their own good. The play begins with a brave Scottish general named Macbeth who receives a prophecy from 3 wicked witches who explain to him one day he will become the King of Scotland. With his mind consumed by ambition and dared on by his fellow wife, Macbeth murders King Duncan and takes the Scottish throne as his own. Shortly after Macbeth is hit with guilt and paranoia forcing in him into more and more murders to protect himself from suspicion. The madness and consequent civil
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.
Almost anywhere that you go in America or even the world, the people have heard of William Shakespeare. His name is probably one of the most common ones in our society today, and has been since his time. But has anyone ever raised the question why? Why do we, as a society, read William Shakespeare's plays? The answer is a simple one
“When you durst do it, then you were a man; And to be more than what you were, you would Be so much more the man.” Through his archaic language, Shakespeare conveys the concepts of masculinity and guilty conscience as Macbeth conflicts with himself. These key ideas within Macbeth are both provocative and intriguing as the tragedy connects with the audience, making it even more captivating and engaging. Despite being composed in the 1600’s, Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth, is still relevant today due to its durable and relatable themes as there is a peculiar intimacy between the play and its audience. As stated in the audio, the well-crafted piece connects to its readers as Shakespeare dramatizes Macbeths horror in prospect of killing Duncan.
Macbeth is a tragedy play written by William Shakespeare. The play is about a power hungry who got pulled into the world of power and crime, eventually drove him to insanity, madness, and later death. Although this play is written in 1700s, it still attracts many audiences due to the themes and its relevance to today’s society. The main theme presence in Macbeth is thirst for power. There are many sub-themes such as dictatorial, corruption and sexism. Many of these concepts are still regularly used and are still controversial today. It is easily related to the modern society in terms of human and their instincts.
Shakespeare has perhaps contributed the most to the English language of any writer known to man – literally. Over 1000 words and phrases that he coined as part of his plays and prose are now in common use across the globe. He changed nouns into verbs, verbs into adjectives, added on previously unheard-of prefixes and suffixes and in some cases made words out of nothing. Even culturally sensitive words such as ‘ode’ (The ANZACS) and scientific jargon (‘epileptic’) are in fact products of Shakespeare. Bernard Levin probably summed this up best when he wrote: “If you cannot understand my argument, and declare "It's Greek to me", you are quoting Shakespeare; if you claim to be more sinned against than sinning, you are quoting Shakespeare; if you recall your salad days, you are quoting Shakespeare; if you act more in sorrow than in anger, if your wish is father to the thought, if your lost property has vanished into thin air, you are quoting Shakespeare; loose, if you have been tongue-tied, a tower of strength, hoodwinked or in a pickle.
Even though that Shakespeare influenced the world over 400 years ago, his stories, sonnets and plays are all still relevant today. But why are William Shakespeare still so relevant today? It’s the idea and the issues that that Shakespeare addresses that constantly draw people towards him. Shakespeare had a very rare, but good, understanding of the daily situations and the many different emotions that human go through, which are portrayed in his characters.
By using just the right combination of words, or by coming up with just the right image, Shakespeare wrote many passages and entire plays that were so powerful, moving, tragic, comedic, and romantic that many are still being memorized and performed today, almost four centuries later. But the greatness of Shakespeare’s ability lies not so much in the basic themes of his works but in the creativity he used to write these stories of love, power, greed, discrimination, hatred, and tragedy.
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.’
Shakespeare’s plays were written in the 14th and 15th century in England, yet until this day it still has a huge influence on American English class. Why? Well because Shakespeare has a universal appeal with a rich language, complex characters with a theme that is timeless. Shakespeare should be taught more, one play per semester because it is part of American literature culture, it challenges students reading levels and as it expands students vocabulary and enriches their speaking. Shakespeare plays are relevant today as the themes of the plays involved what teenagers like and experience such as love, betrayal, courage,politics and corruption.The themes can be set in such basic forms that the plays are universal and timeless, it can set in
In Shakespeare's time, the daily phrases and words such as ‘thee and thy’ are so disparate and archaic from the English language today. Since Shakespeare's time and the modern time today barely speak alike, is it even worth it to learn about his writing style? Shockingly, high school students should be required to study the
Shakespeare’s ability to mold the English language into eloquently written poetry gave him the ability to affect the language as he did. Hundreds of clichés that are used daily by English speakers were invented in Shakespeare’s writings. Few people are aware, but expressions such as “dead as a doornail” (Henry IV, Part II) or “something wicked this way comes” (Macbeth) can both be accredited to Shakespeare. In The Story of English, Bernard Levin writes that “if [the reader] cannot understand my argument, and [declares] ‘It's Greek to me’, you are quoting Shakespeare” (McCrum, Cran, MacNeil 99). Levin is simply reminding the reader that much of common English speech can be traced back to idioms used in Shakespeare’s writing. Shakespeare even took the liberty to invent words of his own, supposedly inventing over one thousand commonly used words. Shakespeare was able to create words in multiple ways, including changing nouns into verbs, changing verbs into adjectives, connecting words never before used together, adding prefixes and suffixes, and coming up with words that were completely original (pathguy.com). Shakespearian words include “assassination” and even “obscene” (McCrum, Cran, MacNeil 99), and other such words that are used by English speakers daily. Although a number of writers have used the English language to their advantage, no writer has taken the language to the level that Shakespeare was able to do.
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.