Reading Circle Community Group
A group for folks in all walks of life in any situation that want to expand their minds or occupy themselves away from a pressing matter and delve into reading good literature. Activities will include but are not limited to discussions on books read, recommendations on what to read, and critical analysis to broaden appreciation for old and new literature.
hello
i guess this is really dumb, but i am having issues with my English class. see i am homeschooling this year, and i am having issues with Shakespear and reading it and then answering the questions. my teacher really cant help me, and its just really getting fustrating, and i'm loosing my paitence with it at the moment and the course in general.
does anyone know of any resources or places, that can help understand Shakespear? (i have a great hatred for this man now, fourth play i've read by him, and i hate it, just as much as the others)
but yeah, if anyone knows any resources or ideas or websties, on how to help understand Shakespear better, taht would be great.
thanks a bunch
Morose-Mary
i guess this is really dumb, but i am having issues with my English class. see i am homeschooling this year, and i am having issues with Shakespear and reading it and then answering the questions. my teacher really cant help me, and its just really getting fustrating, and i'm loosing my paitence with it at the moment and the course in general.
does anyone know of any resources or places, that can help understand Shakespear? (i have a great hatred for this man now, fourth play i've read by him, and i hate it, just as much as the others)
but yeah, if anyone knows any resources or ideas or websties, on how to help understand Shakespear better, taht would be great.
thanks a bunch
Morose-Mary
It is difficult to read Shakespeare is high school or even as a younger college student, because you have no semblance of the context in history as far as politics, foreign relations, language evolution, and culture.
I was not keen on Shakespeare in high school either. I am ashamed to admit it, but I thought reading it was drudgery. I had nothing with which to base what I was reading and had a rudimentary understanding of the language because teachers are told to have students read it, but not understand the rich history from which it comes.
Later on in life I became an English major and with the ability to focus on Shakespeare's time frame and that which preceded it, I came to understand why we still read him today, some four hundred years later and why I am certain we will continue to read his works. It is still my favorite time period, to this day.
As much as I am not keen on relying on 'study guides' to aid in reading works, in order to begin to get acclimated to Shakespeare, I highly suggest this website and to tackle each play in the way:
Go to Sparknotes.com and search for Shakespeare's works either by title or by author. Choose the play you are currently studying and click on it.
Read the Sparknotes explanation and summary on each Act and Scene as it is broken down and once you finish the analysis on that particular scene, go to the actual play itself and read the Act and Scene in it's entirety as Shakspeare wrote it. You will find that while it does take longer, you will begin to gain an appreciation for what you are reading. When things make sense, people tend to enjoy them more. Not understanding leads to frustration and this way, you will have an understanding of what is happening and why. Don't try to skip the actual play and rely solely on the Sparknotes, because you will find that your understanding will not be complete. The study guide should only be used as a way to help you decode some of the themes and happenings going on in the play. You must still read the actual play.
I also hope that the versions of the plays you read have footnotes with detailed explanations on some of the lingual nuances and historical references. Don't skip them---read them. If your texts do not have footnotes, you ought to obtain copies of the plays that do.
Good luck to you and Shakespeare really is quite wonderful. It just takes some work and time in getting acquainted with him.
~Debbie
It is difficult to read Shakespeare is high school or even as a younger college student, because you have no semblance of the context in history as far as politics, foreign relations, language evolution, and culture.
I was not keen on Shakespeare in high school either. I am ashamed to admit it, but I thought reading it was drudgery. I had nothing with which to base what I was reading and had a rudimentary understanding of the language because teachers are told to have students read it, but not understand the rich history from which it comes.
Later on in life I became an English major and with the ability to focus on Shakespeare's time frame and that which preceded it, I came to understand why we still read him today, some four hundred years later and why I am certain we will continue to read his works. It is still my favorite time period, to this day.
As much as I am not keen on relying on 'study guides' to aid in reading works, in order to begin to get acclimated to Shakespeare, I highly suggest this website and to tackle each play in the way:
Go to Sparknotes.com and search for Shakespeare's works either by title or by author. Choose the play you are currently studying and click on it.
Read the Sparknotes explanation and summary on each Act and Scene as it is broken down and once you finish the analysis on that particular scene, go to the actual play itself and read the Act and Scene in it's entirety as Shakspeare wrote it. You will find that while it does take longer, you will begin to gain an appreciation for what you are reading. When things make sense, people tend to enjoy them more. Not understanding leads to frustration and this way, you will have an understanding of what is happening and why. Don't try to skip the actual play and rely solely on the Sparknotes, because you will find that your understanding will not be complete. The study guide should only be used as a way to help you decode some of the themes and happenings going on in the play. You must still read the actual play.
I also hope that the versions of the plays you read have footnotes with detailed explanations on some of the lingual nuances and historical references. Don't skip them---read them. If your texts do not have footnotes, you ought to obtain copies of the plays that do.
Good luck to you and Shakespeare really is quite wonderful. It just takes some work and time in getting acquainted with him.
~Debbie