How do I read Shakespear?

Answer 1

By far the best way is not to read it at all, but to try to watch it. Remember, they are plays, and were never intended to be read.

There are loads of adaptations of his plays (including lots of relatively modern ones). Watching will allow you to get a sense of the story, and quickly get the 'ear' to catch what the actors are saying.

Then I'd start to take the play scene by scene (there are no chapters in a play!) and work through the language.

Most people find that it takes then quite a while to get their head into the language. And they don't understand much until they do, so anything that gets you there faster is better, and imho seeing actors perform the play is the standout best way,

Answer 2

You should read them aloud to get a real understanding of the language and intent. I would try and get an annotated version of the plays, such as the Arden or Riverside Shakespeares. They give very in-depth background in the historical context of the plays as well as that of the language used. It isn't Old English, but it is a different style of usage that your ear will be used to hearing. Some of the words meant different things in Shakespeare's time than they do now, and not knowing that can really alter the meaning of the dialogue. I would read a play aloud first, then see a filmed or live version of it. It will make the live version somewhat easier to follow. Also, it is good to remember that Shakespeare was not always writing in prose, as most modern playwrights do. He was often writing in verse, and sometimes switched back and forth between verse and prose in the same scenes. Reading aloud will help you get the rhythm of the language, which is often as important to understanding as the words themselves.

Answer 3

I got my college degree in English and elementary education. This, of course, meant lots of reading the classics. The only way that I could make it through Shakespear was to read it out loud. Also, I would look at the Cliff's Notes first so I knew what I was actually reading.

Answer 4

Take a book written by the mentioned writer.

If you want to read Shakespeare's works, pay attention to the advice prior to this answer.

Answer 5

I would try getting an MP3 or CD of a performance and read along with that. Hearing the inflection helps you understand the script much better. Oddly enough, that's what I did while working on my on-air delivery. They work along the same line--interpreting a script and changing it into sound to where the point comes across.

Answer 6

A chapter at a time. Read cliffnotes or sparknotes summaries for each chapter first, then read the chapter, then read the analysis. That way, you will know what is going on, while you read, and sometimes, their analysis will pick up on something that you miss.

Answer 7

It may be hard to read becuase it might contain old english phrases or/and words.Try having a old english dictionary or profesionnal with you if there are such things.Or just read a translation of it.

Answer 8

Remember that Shakespearian sentence structure is different from modern sentence structure, with the object before the verb instead of after it. (Like Yoda)
So, instead of "He went home," it would be "Home he went."
Macbeth: "All our yesterdays have lighted fools the way to dusty death...." could be "Fools have been led to death by our past examples."
Keep that in mind, also, sentences that are longer often have a lot of modifiers and descriptors in the middle.
"Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, or take arms against a sea of troubles, and by opposing, end them." could be "Is it nobler to suffer or to end my suffering?"

Answer 9

I prefer reading left to right top to bottom, but yeah you can be different!

Answer 10

Very slowly. Its worth the effort.