Shakespeare: One Of The World's Greatest People.

[WinePusher]

So, what's everybodies favorite Shakespeare play???

For me, I'd say Macbeth and/or Julius Caesar. All my teachers and professors say that Hamlet's their favorite, but I really despise Hamlet. It was way to long to make any sense.

[Lux]

I was bored with Hamlet... I feel like I should read it again now that I'm not 15, I might be able to understand it in a new level or whatnot. I'm not that big a fan of Romeo and Juliet either.

My favorite would be either A midsummer night's dream, or The merchant of Venice. Or Otello... I love Shakespeare.

Ooo, good taste. Hamlet and Romeo & Juliet simply are just to overated and cheesy. Loved Othello, and the Merchant of Venice, but I've never read Midsummer Night's Dream.

Thank you You should read it if you get a chance.

I saw an awesome book with all the Shakespeare plays in English. I plan on buying it with my next paycheck, and hopefully I can understand it well enough (English is not my first language - ahem, clearly - and Shakespearian English is particularly difficult, but I like to read in the original language if possible).

[Goat]

I was bored with Hamlet... I feel like I should read it again now that I'm not 15, I might be able to understand it in a new level or whatnot. I'm not that big a fan of Romeo and Juliet either.

My favorite would be either A midsummer night's dream, or The merchant of Venice. Or Otello... I love Shakespeare.

Ooo, good taste. Hamlet and Romeo & Juliet simply are just to overated and cheesy. Loved Othello, and the Merchant of Venice, but I've never read Midsummer Night's Dream.

Thank you You should read it if you get a chance.

I saw an awesome book with all the Shakespeare plays in English. I plan on buying it with my next paycheck, and hopefully I can understand it well enough (English is not my first language - ahem, clearly - and Shakespearian English is particularly difficult, but I like to read in the original language if possible).

I was involved in a production of 'Shakespeare in the Park' many many years ago. The local university put a production on for free, and the crowds gathered and put money in a hat. It was done as a "Salute to early holiwood'... and was very successful. We had people return over and over again, and at one point, had probably 700 people watching.

[Furrowed Brow]

How much of Shakespears's plays did Shakespeare actually write. I'm not sure.

He left a will and his second best bed to his wife apparently. So I accept that some fellah existed, and I also accept he was a playwrite and actor.

The body of work attributed to Shakespeare is undoubtedly of great cultural importance and probably out does scripture for the ideas and langauge it has given the English speaking world.

I must be one of the few who must admit not to enjoy Shakespeare. It is more like cod liver oil. I know it is probably good for me, but can't say it gives me pleasure.

[Cathar1950]

How much of Shakespears's plays did Shakespeare actually write. I'm not sure.

He left a will and his second best bed to his wife apparently. So I accept that some fellah existed, and I also accept he was a playwrite and actor.

The body of work attributed to Shakespeare is undoubtedly of great cultural importance and probably out does scripture for the ideas and langauge it has given the English speaking world.

I must be one of the few who must admit not to enjoy Shakespeare. It is more like cod liver oil. I know it is probably good for me, but can't say it gives me pleasure.

I hate reading his stuff but the plays are much better to watch. It dawned on me one day that they were meant to be watched not read.

[cnorman18]

How much of Shakespears's plays did Shakespeare actually write. I'm not sure.

He left a will and his second best bed to his wife apparently. So I accept that some fellah existed, and I also accept he was a playwrite and actor.

The body of work attributed to Shakespeare is undoubtedly of great cultural importance and probably out does scripture for the ideas and langauge it has given the English speaking world.

I must be one of the few who must admit not to enjoy Shakespeare. It is more like cod liver oil. I know it is probably good for me, but can't say it gives me pleasure.

I hate reading his stuff but the plays are much better to watch. It dawned on me one day that they were meant to be watched not read.

Would that more English teachers understood that.

For anyone unfamiliar or un-fond of Shakespeare who wants to learn to appreciate him, some good DVDs of high-quality productions of the plays are a MUCH better bet than any collection of his works. Appreciating the written plays comes AFTER learning to appreciate them as performed by competent actors. Kenneth Branagh's Henry V is a personal favorite of mine, and anything with Lord Olivier is guaranteed to be first-class, particularly his Othello. He's the first and only actor ever to have been made a Lord (though many have been knighted), and there's a reason for that.

[Lux]

I must be one of the few who must admit not to enjoy Shakespeare. It is more like cod liver oil. I know it is probably good for me, but can't say it gives me pleasure.

Do you enjoy reading other plays? Most readers I know don't really like reading plays, even by Shakespeare. It's not a very common interest.

I've loved reading plays since I was about 12, and the answer I get when I tell that to people is usually "Really? ".

[LiamOS]

Thank you You should read it if you get a chance.

I saw an awesome book with all the Shakespeare plays in English. I plan on buying it with my next paycheck, and hopefully I can understand it well enough (English is not my first language - ahem, clearly - and Shakespearian English is particularly difficult, but I like to read in the original language if possible).

Aja, su primera lengua es el Espanol? (Lo siento)
I didn't actually notice that English wasn't your first language, and simply assumed that you'd spoken it from birth.

Evidently Spanish is not my first language, but oddly enough neither is English.
Of course, I've been speaking English primarily since I was five, so it's essentially my first language now.

[Zzyzx]

.
Lucia,

I am surprised that English is not your first language (even knowing your country of residence) because you have far better command of English than many native speakers. Kudos.


Z

[Lux]

Aja, su primera lengua es el Espanol? (Lo siento)

Hey nice

I didn't actually notice that English wasn't your first language, and simply assumed that you'd spoken it from birth.

Thank you. I had English in primary school (ages 8-12) and my mother helped (she's from the USA), but my first language is Spanish.

Evidently Spanish is not my first language, but oddly enough neither is English.
Of course, I've been speaking English primarily since I was five, so it's essentially my first language now.

Actually what you wrote in Spanish was perfect, except maybe for the fact that you were being too polite. English makes no distinction between polite and casual address (everyone is "you"), Spanish does.

(Spanish lesson over)

What is your first language? I never would have guessed it wasn't English.

Lucia,

I am surprised that English is not your first language (even knowing your country of residence) because you have far better command of English than many native speakers. Kudos.


Z

Thank you very much. This forum has helped me improve my English, definitely. But I still rely on the Spell Check button...

Sadly enough the part about native speakers not commanding their own language too well (and not really caring that they don't) is true everywhere. Add to that the fact that I'm a bit of a nerd.

[LiamOS]

I've never really grasped the formal and informal aspect, but being too polite is something that usually doesn't happen.

And my first language was Irish, although it's functionally useless, so obviously my English developed to a far superior level.