What do you think of Shakespeare?

[redhatman]

Ok guys, for about the next 6 weeks in school we are reading Julius Caesar by Shakespeare. I dont even know where to start on my rant with this... It seems so stupid, but maybe its because I'm not much of a World history/crappy english guy.

I understand shakespeare was about 500 years ago, and I also understand he speaks very differently. And yet, he is telling a story from nearly 2000 years ago. What is the point in this?

I can't understand what hes saying, and when I can, its some insignificant stuff that doesn't pertain to anything that hasnt been solved yet in the last 1800 years or so.


:end rant:


What do you guys think? Positive advice?

 

[ImBroken]

I'd go rent the movie..

 

[redhatman]

I'd go rent the movie..

Exactly what I was thinking during school today...

 

[RevoME]

Exactly what I was thinking during school today...

I struggled with this guy long and hard, I'd recommend the movie first and then actually sit down and read some stuff about him.
In my case it became easier once I had figured a way to see him, then the texts made more sense. He actually wrote quite some cool stuff and every once in a while you see people referring to him in funny ways.:write:

Just my 2ct's...

 

[aj200415]

I'd go rent the movie..

first off, dont do it!! i tryed!! gonna cause more problems than it helps!!!....
second, i had to do this also bout a year and a half ago in school, and it was hard because i also have ADD and i could not understand it, so i couldent concentrate!

 

[TalonOne]

You are privileged to be there.....take the time to enjoy one of the masters......I know I sound corny and all....but dont waste what is in front of you....others have died for the opportunity you have.

So what do I think of ol Wil......learn from him.

 

[jetmechG550]

Me personally, I think Shakespear was a complete idiot. Nothing will change that. I see no purpose in why schools today teach that poop. It's exactly that and nothing more. I was an honor student in high school and carried extra loads in college so if you think I'm some sort of hick and don't understand your wrong. Teaching shakespear or most other literature serves no purpose in any career field except being a librarian or lit teacher. Really, in 14 years in aviation, NO piece of literary work has ever helped me make something hurdle across the sky at over 600 mph or helped me manage over $120 million in "iron." It doesn't help me when we have to put together a $10 million a year budget, nor does it help me start my BMW when it's time to go home and enjoy a nice bottle of wine. I confronted my instructors then and would do the same now, when you ask why or what's the purpose, they can't tell you or you get, cause it's the curriculum. Ever heard of change? Sorry for my rant but it's still something that grips my nuts!

 

[Tarant]

I have no real problem with the guy, Some of his work is kind of neat. the poblem I have is people are always comparing everyone to him, The act like he is the only one who ever did a sonnet or poem or play. I can understand why they teach his work in school but what I can't understand is why so much. I am Senior in High school and I have had Shakespeare lessons that lasted weeks, all 4 years of highschool. I just dont understand why people think so highly of a man who couldn't even spell his own name correctly.

 

[4u2nv]

we had to read it to and it made NO sense to me. Was a huge waste of time. We ended up watching the movie in class, and even that didnt make much sense to me.. Good luck..lol

 

[wannarunem]

awhhh man...i feel your pain. Do what i did, go to your local book store and purchase the popular Cliff Notes for this reading. It will help you tremedously. It summarizes the whole reading for you. Read each act out of your text book...and then read the Cliff Note for that act. Do this and you will thank me later...lol Link below shows what you will look for at your book store.

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Julius-Caesar-Cliffs-Notes-Martha/dp/0764585959"]Amazon.com: Julius Caesar (Cliffs Notes): Books: Martha Perry,James E. Vickers[/ame]

http://www.cliffsnotes.com/WileyCDA/LitNote/id-43.html

 

[hamz9561]

Shakespeare writes about the common man and his problems. His plays were the movies of his time. Our school not only had us read the plays on our own, but read them aloud and then we watched the movies. Try and enjoy the experience.

Shakespeare has influenced Hollywood. The movie 10 Things I Hate About You is a remake of Taming of the Shrew. Get Over It is a remake of A Midsummer's Night Dream.

 

[Buggyracer28]

ooo boy... I had to read that poop last year. We spent like a whole 2 months on it, videos and everything. I also learned that Shakespeare might not have written the plays. Some other dude wrote them, but I'm not sure if they are 100% correct about that.

Just read the book and you'll be fine...

 

[digger]

Nothing positive about it. No sense in it. Just one of those things you have to do. Fact of life....

Maybe I shouldn't say it like that. I mean it is hard to understand, but you really have to work the brain to figure out what is going on. Been almost 30 years since I have read it. Damn, I'm old.....

My advice would be read the book. Try your best to understand it.
Use the cliff notes and movie only as a last resort.


I used to like reading a little. I never made good grades in school.
Got a copy of Mary Shelly's "Frankenstein.(sp?)"
Got a copy of the original Tarzan, can't remember who wrote it. Didn't have to read either one. Just interesting.

Been a long time, but I don't think the any movie was close to the books.

Good luck with Shakespeare. You'll make it.

 

[FastEddy]

Quoting Shakespeare will get you laid......
By someones grandmother.

I was forced to read and act Shakespeare in school. I made myself enjoy it and it didnt kill me.

 

[RevoME]

Quoting Shakespeare will get you laid......
By someones grandmother.

I was forced to read and act Shakespeare in school. I made myself enjoy it and it didnt kill me.

Grandmothers Rock!
It has not helped me in Aviation either... but if you have to do it, you have to do it. I didn't want to learn about a lot of things in aviation, but some stuff from school helped me hammer it in my head, to know it for a stupid test. Only the important stuff sticks. How about everyone contributes a Shakespeare here and gives the person that asked the question his take on it?
Would that help?

 

[Candyman]

Shakespeare isn't as bad as people think. It's just a matter of perspective. His messages are just as pertinent today as they were 400 years ago. It's just the language that's different. Sure he sounds like a flamboyant pansy. But everyone did back then. Just imagine what he'd think if he were here today and had to listen to rap. He'd say the same thing. The biggest thing is to take a minute to get your mind set. Once you get it, it's easy.

 

[Monkey Wrench]

Pat, a few things to keep in mind:

1. If you do not at least TRY to understand and enjoy Shakespeare, you'll miss out on some killer lines you can throw at the women! Just need to translate them to today's nomenclature, but he had some cool lines!

2. Keep in mind that Shakespeare wrote in a rhythm (I want to say iambic pentameter, but I could be wrong). Think of it this way, it's really, really, really old white guys rapping.

3. Go rent the movie Renaissance Man starring Danny DeVito. Seriously, this move will truly help you to study and enjoy Shakespeare. The premise is that Danny's charachter is hired by the US Army to work with some recruits that are having issues processing information, etc. Danny's character actually teaches them Shakespeare. Honeslty, it's a good moive and it's not a movie about one of Shakespeare's plays.

4. Cliff's Notes are OK for helping understand the material but are no substitute for taking the time read it yourself. Shakespeare can be a little tough to understand because the words had different meanings in his time then they do now, but as has been said, the message is still pertinent today. You still hear about young lovers killing themselves because their respective parents forbade the relationship, right? Romeo and Juliet.

5. Above all else, try to keep an open mind. I admit, knowing Shakespeare specifically has not had much of a direct impact in my life, but then again neither has math or science. I appreciated Shakespeare's use of language to tell a story and that is something that gets lost a little more every day. I've seen proposals and others in the business world just hack the poop out of the english language. Do I think that's because they were never exposed to Shakespeare? No, but maybe if they'd been taught to at least appreciate the language a bit more, they wouldn't be hacking it to death now.

Look, it's going to be a bit painful and no doubt your teacher will emphatically claim that certain assertions as to what Shakespeare meant by this or that passage mean exactly this or that, but in my opinion, what makes Shakespeare special is that his writings can be viewed from many different ways and all be right!

Again, do yourself a favor and rent Renaissance Man. There are several good scenes that will teach you how to read and enjoy Shakespeare.

 

[msly]

http://www.alchemistmatt.com/shakespeare/shakespeare.html

http://www.shakespearehigh.com/classroom/guide/

 

[AC48]

In my opinion, Shakespeare is merely a task that must be done to graduate high school. I was an honor student in high school, and the single most difficult thing for me to understand was him. It made less sense to me than AP Calculus. I think they put it into high school because if you can understand that crap, you can understand anything. IMO, watching the movies is the best way to go. The movies suck, but watching the characters do stuff, and relating what they do to the words that come out of their mouthes help me to begin to understand what they might possibly be talking about.

Now that I made it past high school and am in a great college studying Mechanical Engineering I made a promise to myself that I will never read a single thing written by that man ever again. And as jet said, that is in no way going to hurt any area of my life including my career. I honestly haven't even thought about him until this thread.

 

[redhatman]

Yeah, thanks guys. I think I'm getting to caught up in social matters as far as friends and family, and then on top of that trying to keep up my BL Lipo RC18T amazing everyone. LOL, I think I'm starting to somewhat understand shakespeare.

How about everyone contributes a Shakespeare here and gives the person that asked the question his take on it?
Would that help?

Revo...what do you mean by this?