Question:

Should i read all of Shakespeare's plays?

by  |  earlier

0 LIKES UnLike

so i have currently read Merchant of Venice and Romeo and Juliet for school and then i have also just read Much Ado About Nothing for fun. i liked them and all but i'm wondering if it's a problem that i don't understand the plays line by line but i understand the plot and everything that is going on. so basically just tell me if you think i should read the rest of his stuff. i'm kinda interested but not quite sure if i really want to. thanks.

 Tags:

   Report

4 ANSWERS


  1. In the time we live in now compared to the time that Shakespeare lived in, we wont be able to understand his writing line by line because there is such a difference between their old english and the current english language. If you can understand the basic story and plot of the plays, I think you should be fine for school. It is fun to look deeper into the meaning of the old english words and try to figure out what he was trying to say with metaphors and things like that, but it's not something that is necessary to understand his writing.

    I have also had to read Romeo and Juliet for school, and have since only read one or two of his other plays. You don't have to continue reading his writing if you don't want to. If you find that after reading his plays, you are more interested in it, then go for it! But if you find them boring or confusing or hard to understand, there are plenty more books out there that can grab your attention.

    If you find that you want to read more of Shakespeare's plays, I would recommend "A Midsummer Night's Dream". It is very good and surreal.


  2. When it comes to stuff you choose to read in your spare time, you don't have to read anything you don't want to.  

    Shakespeare's almost impossible to understand line by line because we don't use language in the same way people did when he was writing.  Also, it was poetry even at the time he wrote it, so everything is metaphor.  Reading all his plays will undoubtedly help you to be a well-read person, but I can't help thinking that if you don't want to, why bother?

  3. I agree with everyone else in that as long as you understand what's happening, you're on good ground. Shakespeare had some great turns of phrase, don't get me wrong, but what's important is that you follow along, and it sounds like you've done that.

    As far as reading ALL of his plays... NO! Turn back! Shakespeare was awesome--one of the greatest writers in the world, of course--but in no way do I recommend every single play. Some of the later histories, etc... well, there's just no real reason to read them unless you're a rabid fan of Da Bard. If you really want to continue your Shakespeare education, I think the following plays make up a pretty representative collection of his best works. I'm sure I'll forget some, so others, feel free to add!

    Hamlet (I had to read this 11 times. Yikes.)

    Taming of the Shrew

    Julius Caesar

    Richard III

    Othello

    King Lear

    A Midsummer Night's Dream

    Twelfth Night

    Titus Andronicus (not his best, but bloody and fun!)

    Henry V

    The Tempest

    Antony and Cleopatra

    Macbeth


  4. You don't have to know exactly what each line means to be able to read it. If you understand what's going on, that's good enough.

    Read Titus Andronicus. It's great!

Question Stats

Latest activity: earlier.
This question has 4 answers.

BECOME A GUIDE

Share your knowledge and help people by answering questions.