Comments on: How I Read a Shakespeare Play http://www.girldetective.net/?p=4332 Reading, Writing, Movies and Mothering in Minneapolis, Mostly Mon, 11 May 2026 18:57:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: girldetective http://www.girldetective.net/?p=4332&cpage=1#comment-26485 girldetective Sun, 26 Feb 2012 14:42:56 +0000 http://www.girldetective.net/?p=4332#comment-26485 Jennifer! You are not stupid! (I have a personal mission to get women to stop saying things like "maybe this is stupid" or "I'm so stupid." It's inevitably said by some of the most intelligent, accomplished women I know.) Shakespeare is hard--it's like a different language. And it's a skill--the more you do it the easier and more pleasurable it gets. My friend M at Mental Multivitamin says the No Fear Shakespeare series can be a good, low pressure entry to reading the plays. I bet if you got Coriolanus, gave yourself an afternoon with it, you'd get a retrospective expansion on the movie, plus a great basis for when you watch the DVD and a boost to your confidence. A good production will make the archaic language accessible. My gateway to Shakespeare was Branagh's Henry V, which I saw, then read. Jennifer! You are not stupid! (I have a personal mission to get women to stop saying things like “maybe this is stupid” or “I’m so stupid.” It’s inevitably said by some of the most intelligent, accomplished women I know.) Shakespeare is hard–it’s like a different language. And it’s a skill–the more you do it the easier and more pleasurable it gets. My friend M at Mental Multivitamin says the No Fear Shakespeare series can be a good, low pressure entry to reading the plays. I bet if you got Coriolanus, gave yourself an afternoon with it, you’d get a retrospective expansion on the movie, plus a great basis for when you watch the DVD and a boost to your confidence.

A good production will make the archaic language accessible. My gateway to Shakespeare was Branagh’s Henry V, which I saw, then read.

]]> By: Jennifer Reese http://www.girldetective.net/?p=4332&cpage=1#comment-26481 Jennifer Reese Sun, 26 Feb 2012 02:55:08 +0000 http://www.girldetective.net/?p=4332#comment-26481 I haven't read Shakespeare since college. I did see Coriolanus with Ralph Fiennes a few weeks ago and felt very stupid because I couldn't understand half the dialogue. I aspire to read Shakespeare again but somehow the urge never strikes. I haven’t read Shakespeare since college. I did see Coriolanus with Ralph Fiennes a few weeks ago and felt very stupid because I couldn’t understand half the dialogue. I aspire to read Shakespeare again but somehow the urge never strikes.

]]> By: Tom http://www.girldetective.net/?p=4332&cpage=1#comment-26480 Tom Sat, 25 Feb 2012 16:39:33 +0000 http://www.girldetective.net/?p=4332#comment-26480 Curiously, I just heard a reference on NPR this morning to Star Trek VI. I paraphrase, To fully appreciate Shakespeare you need to read it in the original Klingon. Curiously, I just heard a reference on NPR this morning to Star Trek VI. I paraphrase, To fully appreciate Shakespeare you need to read it in the original Klingon.

]]> By: Amy http://www.girldetective.net/?p=4332&cpage=1#comment-26473 Amy Thu, 23 Feb 2012 15:03:18 +0000 http://www.girldetective.net/?p=4332#comment-26473 Well, I was 19. That might have helped. I want to say it was 5 or 6 plays and a batch of sonnets. Well, I was 19. That might have helped. I want to say it was 5 or 6 plays and a batch of sonnets.

]]> By: girldetective http://www.girldetective.net/?p=4332&cpage=1#comment-26472 girldetective Thu, 23 Feb 2012 14:35:14 +0000 http://www.girldetective.net/?p=4332#comment-26472 Amy, I was just thinking this morning that I _wouldn't_ like to read all his works at once, since many of the comedies are so similar. I imagine spreading them out would make them more distinct. Reading a whole bunch at once would make me woozy, I think. Amy, I was just thinking this morning that I _wouldn’t_ like to read all his works at once, since many of the comedies are so similar. I imagine spreading them out would make them more distinct. Reading a whole bunch at once would make me woozy, I think.

]]> By: Amy http://www.girldetective.net/?p=4332&cpage=1#comment-26471 Amy Thu, 23 Feb 2012 13:26:17 +0000 http://www.girldetective.net/?p=4332#comment-26471 Sadly, it's been years since I read Shakespeare, although he's on my list for this year. This is helpful. I remember taking lots of Shakespeare classes in college; the best one was from a professor who made us read the entire semester's worth in the first two weeks--that was a LOT of reading--but then we spent the rest of the semester looking at his works as a whole, not piecemeal. Very eye-opening. Sadly, it’s been years since I read Shakespeare, although he’s on my list for this year. This is helpful. I remember taking lots of Shakespeare classes in college; the best one was from a professor who made us read the entire semester’s worth in the first two weeks–that was a LOT of reading–but then we spent the rest of the semester looking at his works as a whole, not piecemeal. Very eye-opening.

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