MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Should high school students have to read Shakespeare?

Xanthe · 03-26-2011, 05:26 PM

IIRC, the only Shakespeare we did in high school was Julius Caesar. Everyone had to memorize the "Friends, Romans..." speech and say it in the front of the class.

Most of my exposure to Shakespeare has been on PBS and the various films - Olivier's "Hamlet", Burton & Taylor's "Taming of the Shrew", Branagh's "Henry V", for example.

While I enjoy his work, it lights no spark within me. I think I like it best when I'm listening to a radio play of it, rather that reading it myself or watching it on the screen. When I'm hearing it read with its correct rhythms and my mind is filling in the visuals. The same thing works best for me with poetry.

03-26-2011, 05:26 PM	#92
Xanthe Plan B Is Now In Force Posts: 1,894 Karma: 8086979 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Surebleak Device: Aluratek,Sony 350/T1,Pandigital,eBM 911,Nook HD/HD+,Fire HDX 7/8.9,PW2	IIRC, the only Shakespeare we did in high school was Julius Caesar. Everyone had to memorize the "Friends, Romans..." speech and say it in the front of the class. Most of my exposure to Shakespeare has been on PBS and the various films - Olivier's "Hamlet", Burton & Taylor's "Taming of the Shrew", Branagh's "Henry V", for example. While I enjoy his work, it lights no spark within me. I think I like it best when I'm listening to a radio play of it, rather that reading it myself or watching it on the screen. When I'm hearing it read with its correct rhythms and my mind is filling in the visuals. The same thing works best for me with poetry. Last edited by Xanthe; 03-26-2011 at 05:29 PM.