it's a good question
2007-12-10 02:07:22 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Theater & Acting
by the way i read some plays, and i'm in 9th grade, and the teacher kept asking the question. i kept giving answrs like "he was good at writing them" but he would just fire back with "there were plenty of good writers at the time"
so i asked it on here cuz he was pissing me off
2007-12-10 11:25:32 · update #1
Because thats how long it takes to figure his crap out.
No seriously, he's the only one who wrote as much as he did from that long ago. People marvel at the meaning and most importantly, the way it was written. It's like figuring out a puzzle. If you can master Shakespear, than you can talk snooty and uppity with the best of em'.
2007-12-10 02:13:18 · answer #1 · answered by Solange 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Finding commonality and relevance in archaic literature provides perspective and insight into modern life. The themes of love, politics, power, or heroic tragedy still pervade our daily existence. Pick up the paper and find a story about a hero who has fallen on hard time or a modern novel about love triangles. Shakespeare enables us to step back and say, "there is nothing new under the sun." So many people deride modern life as corrupt and base. A knowledge of the themes of Shakespeare enables you to know that statement is false. This knowledge can provide just a bit of serenity in your heart.
Shakespeare was a particularly eloquent poet and author when it came to exposing the human condition. But, he meant for you to watch and listen to his plays. Go to see a performance of a play you are reading. You will understand the story much better, and you will enjoy it more. It might just motivate you to read it afterward.
2007-12-10 10:21:43 · answer #2 · answered by birthnoth 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because they are works of stunning genius.
He created the first "real" stage characters with elements and emotions in each that audiences can identify with.
Then of course there is the beauty and linguistic skill of the language. Again, it is real people speaking which you only fully appreciate when it's heard and not read.
And his output of nearly 40 plays in so short a period. Even the weaker ones surpass anything else written at the time. All this from a man who had just a basic formal education.
2007-12-10 10:29:33 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because they are great stories in beautiful language. The best way to appreciate Shakespeare's work is by seeing it performed live on the stage. Locally we have a fine summer Shakespeare festival. Over the years I have seen some wonderful productions (and some interesting failures) of the even the lesser known works.
2007-12-10 10:11:39 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Because the ideas in Shakespeare's Plays are still relivant today. The Language is beautiful even though some people can't understand it, its all about analyization with that. But they are also timeles stories with brilliant ideas.
2007-12-10 12:51:31 · answer #5 · answered by Drivingthebus 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because they are still relevant. I read them back in elementary school just because and learned that alot of movies, television shows, and music make references to his works. You'd be sadly lost if you didn't read his more popular works as they come in day to day life all the time.
For whatever reason his works moved people. They inspired people. I personally love the language, the humor (very intelligent might I add), and the man could spin a tragedy like it is no one's business.
2007-12-10 10:12:49 · answer #6 · answered by Gloria H 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Because we weren't alive 400 years ago to read them then.
Pretty much every theme, from every story was first explored, or at least written down, by Shakespeare.
2007-12-10 10:17:51 · answer #7 · answered by Mosh 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All sorts of reasons.
His plays deal with the eternal stories of life - love, death, jealousy, hatred, war, peace, humour, sex, etc.
The plots are mostly brilliant - and still used today for the basis of many films (eg. West Side Story, Forbidden Planet).
He invented many words and phrases that we still use today without thinking about their origin. (eg. critic, bedroom, mountaineer are all first recorded as written by him).
He has some cracking insults (eg. Thou lump of foul deformity! - Richard III (1.2.58)
2007-12-10 10:22:00 · answer #8 · answered by the_lipsiot 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because his work is considered classic literature. And anyone who is intelligent as well as well educated reads them.
2007-12-10 10:11:25 · answer #9 · answered by Big Bear 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
because his works pose serious problems,even today these problems are active,.his works are immortal
2007-12-10 10:20:47 · answer #10 · answered by mary 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋