Why shouldn't students study Shakespeare in school?

Question

Can i have some reasons why we shouldn't study Shakespeare's writings and plays?

Answer 1

I can think of absolutely no reason why one shouldn't read his work. The plots and themes are still relevant to today's society and one should at least be familiar with his work to be considered culturally literate.

Answer 2

There are no reasons, other than those dreamt up by lazy, unimaginative school children.
I enjoyed studying Shakespeare at school! Sure, the teacher reading it out badly from a book was dull, but that's no excuse not to make the best out of the experience yourself.
There are numerous films, animated versions and modern day re-written versions. A favourite of mine was Macbeth that was set on a modern day Glaswegian housing estate.
I believe that it is perfectly enjoyable for anyone with an imagination, especially when you consider a majority of the man's work was comedy! And you don't have to be an old crumbly to enjoy it, I was 8 when I first encountered Shakespeare (animated version of The Tempest) and I'm only 26 now.

Answer 3

There is no rational argument that any school board can make to take Shakespeare out of the curriculum. I Will admit that some of his work has a very dark & intense theme (Macbeth & Othello) but if you look at something like a A Midsummers Night Dream or Romeo & Juliet (ok this is sort of a tragic love story). Once you get past the language you see that the man is a liturary genius that NO modern writter (ok maybe on Frank Herbert creator of Dune) has come close to achieving. His work has survived for countless centuries & undoughtedly many more to come

Answer 4

Shakespeare got there with the firstest and the mostest. His plays examined and described most of the facets of the human condition. It could be argued that some of his plots were contrived and some of the poetry was not all of a uniformly high standard...but it did have intensely popular appeal. Therein lies his genius and lasting legacy..but also the tyranny. Subsequent writers have been defined, limited and confined by comparison with his works. Some merely peevish and some justified.
We should study Shakespeare with respect but not with blinded over-reverence, much as we would say any 16/17th Cent culture. So by all means,read, perform and enjoy, but without neglecting the other significant literary figures.

Answer 5

Do you mean study Shakespeare as actors, or as literature students? His plays are the highest expression of dramatic art in the English language. Beautiful poetry, universal themes, vibrant characters...they're great, even if you're just reading them for pleasure. As acting texts, they're essential for the development of any would-be performer. Simply put, they require MORE of an actor than any other texts. Shakespeare taxes an actor's physical, vocal, and imaginative skills like no other writer. If an actor can master the fundamental performance skills required to play these texts effectively, he/she will find that any other writer is well within his/her scope.

Answer 6

To be honest, I dont think they should read them because they are boring and hard to follow due to the language. My worst memory of english at school is having to study twelfth night.
I believe that children may take more interest if the books that they studied were more up to date.
As much as I am an avid reader I cant stand William Shakespeare.

Answer 7

Well, if it is argument for argument's sake:

1 because the language is too difficult to grasp at once
2 because it has a few rather unsavory things about it
3 the stories are strong and unapologetic
4 because even the stage directions can confuse
5 because it is not easy to paraphrase
6 because there is an undercurrent of pessimism, world-weariness and morbidity
7 because it is difficult for children to envision onstage (sorry, I am leaving out the sonnets)
8 because he is too sophisticated for students
9 his humor is adult humor and way beyond them (for ex: when a count proposes marriage to Beatrice in "Much Ado" she replies to him that she could not because he is too rich for everyday.... a perfect soft reply, and so deft ... or when Beatrice in the same play has for her cold "Positus Benedictus" (something quite similar) and the name of it makes her do a double take ... very droll, very sweet writing)
10 because the "funny parts" are very often very sad at the same time.... and that is where his genius lies ... I think
11 it is not student fare (that may be more of an opinion than an argument)

I hope this is a good argument.
I happen not to agree. I think these arguments are all bosh. However, that is not what you asked.

Peace & Love

Answer 8

A person has to be able to read and write english to study Shakespeare.

Answer 9

A number of years ago I would have found your question staggering but in 2007 I am barely surprised. I am in my 50s, I first read Shakespeare when I was 11 at a grammar school in UK, went regularly after that to Stratford, have seen almost all his plays in London and other venues, and think he is absolutely enthralling. He can write about EVERYTHING and some of his writing is perfect. If young people now don't HAVE to read him, they are missing something INVALUABLE.

Answer 10

I know it seems boring, but I don't think you can convince your teachers not to make you study it. Because Shakespeare's writings were kind of the foundation of English literature.

Answer 11

Some would say they are too old and far removed from our modern experience, but they are so well written and the characters are so interesting that I can't see why we should remove them from school. Shakespeare's language takes some work, and not many of us would expend that labor if we were not assigned the play.
Personally, I think he was a genius. Keep reading.
Love you, Sammy