Shakespeare-Cliffs Complete or Spark No Fear?

Question

If I am looking for a readable version of Shakespeares works what would you recommend. Cliffs Notes have their Shakespeare Cliffs Complete and Spark Notes has their No Fear Shakespeare. Which one is the best-what would you recommend?

Answer 1

What is wrong with just reading Shakespeare? It is written in English. Why do you require a translation? Kids got through school for a very long time reading the original and we managed to do it without any kind of cheat sheets. Just give it a try. It is not that hard to read and understand. In reality, most students these days just put up mental road blocks and simply decide they don't understand it because they don't want to understand it. Most never even try. The truth is there is nothing in Shakespeare that doesn't equate with today's world. Same words - same situations. Shakespeare just chose his words more carefully. Pax - C

Answer 2

I have always had good luck with the No Fear versions. They have a modernized version on one side and the original on the other side. I would read the original first and then read the modern it helped a lot especially with some of the slang. I have never seen or used the Cliff's version so I don't really know about it but I would recommend the No Fear to someone else.

Answer 3

They both have their merits, here are some other links that you might like to look at.

http://www.cummingsstudyguides.net/xShakeSph.html#top

William Shakespeare

Our aim is to help students of all ages understand Shakespeare's language. From translating full Shakespeare plays and short quotes and phrases in to modern English, to providing in depth articles on Shakespeare's life and times, we're here to help make Shakespeare accessible.

http://www.nosweatshakespeare.com/index.htm

SHAKESPEAREAN TRAGEDY

http://www.clicknotes.com/bradley/index.html

Summaries

http://www.field-of-themes.com/shakespeare/shakesum.htm

http://litsum.com/author/william-shakespeare/

http://www.bardweb.net/plays/index.html

Shakespeare Essays

http://www.bignerds.com/category.php?cat=shakespeare

http://www.freeessays.cc/db/42/shakespeare/index.shtml

http://www.field-of-themes.com/shakespeare/shakeessays.htm

DISCLAIMER: I did NOT write these essays.
Also, I would like to remind you that plagiarism is illegal.
These essays should only be used for reference.

Answer 4

Neither. I'd suggest finding a copy of his works that has the original writing on one side and more modern, easier to understand writing on the other.