How to Read Shakespeare: Five Easy to Use Strategies

Summary

This video provides practical tips for making Shakespeare's works more accessible and enjoyable for readers. It emphasizes the importance of not stressing the initial exposition, focusing on key characters, and considering the original staging of the plays. The speaker encourages readers to pay attention to off-stage actions and analyze monologues, which reveal crucial character insights. Additionally, it advises navigating dense language by concentrating on essential plot points while allowing for a deeper understanding of the text. These strategies aim to transform the experience of reading Shakespeare from daunting to rewarding.

Takeaways

• 😀 Reading Shakespeare can be challenging, but the difficulty is part of the reward, similar to a tough video game.
• 😀 Don't stress about the beginning of plays; Shakespeare often repeats exposition to help readers catch up.
• 😀 Many minor characters may not be critical to the plot, so it's okay if you can't remember all of them during your first read.
• 😀 Original staging matters; Shakespeare's plays relied on language and subtle cues to convey setting without modern effects.
• 😀 Look for off-stage actions that influence the plot, as many key events happen outside of the audience's view.
• 😀 Long monologues can provide valuable character insights and should be read carefully for their emotional depth.
• 😀 Focus on highlighted phrases or parentheticals to grasp the main ideas and plot without getting lost in archaic language.
• 😀 Shakespeare's audience included many who were not literate, which influenced the structure and repetition in his plays.
• 😀 Understanding the context of the plays, including performance aspects, can enhance the reading experience.
• 😀 Approach reading Shakespeare with patience and permission to ease into the world of the play, allowing for gradual understanding.

Q & A

Why do many people find Shakespeare dull and torturous?

Many people perceive Shakespeare as dull and difficult due to the complexity of his language and the challenging structure of his plays.

What analogy is used to describe reading Shakespeare?

Reading Shakespeare is compared to playing a tough video game, where part of the enjoyment comes from overcoming challenges.

What is the significance of the exposition in Shakespeare's plays?

The exposition is crucial because it sets up the story, and Shakespeare often repeats key information to aid understanding, especially for audiences who might arrive late.

How does Shakespeare accommodate late arrivals in his plays?

He repeats exposition throughout the plays, ensuring that those who miss the beginning can still follow the storyline.

What should readers focus on when introduced to secondary characters?

Readers should not worry too much about remembering secondary characters on a first read, as they may not be central to the main plot.

Why is it important to keep the original staging in mind?

Understanding that Shakespeare's plays were performed without modern lighting or scenery helps readers appreciate how settings are established through language.

What role does off-stage action play in Shakespeare's works?

Off-stage action is significant as many key events occur outside the visible action of the stage, and understanding this helps readers grasp the full narrative.

How should readers approach monologues in Shakespeare's plays?

Readers should engage with monologues carefully, as they often contain important character insights and emotional depth that are central to understanding the play.

What is advised regarding the archaic language in Shakespeare's texts?

While Shakespeare's works contain archaic words and phrases, readers are encouraged to focus on the overall plot and character dynamics rather than understanding every single word.

What practical tip is given for reading Shakespeare's plays for the first time?

A practical tip is to navigate parentheticals and focus on highlighted or essential parts of the text to grasp the plot effectively.