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Old 06-09-2009, 06:52 PM   #51
ahi
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pdurrant View Post
If Shakespeare had written novels, reading them would be the correct way to appreciate them. But he wrote plays. If you want to appreciate them, you should go and watch them performed.

I think this is where Tolstoy made his big mistake in trying to appreciate Shakespeare.

Now the sonnets are meant to be read - but one at a time, not in great blocks.

Paul
Did you read the full essay? Because I didn't get the impression that was the problem.

Not to mention that Shakespeare's original intention/medium aside, he is (as per wikipedia, and doubtless other sources too):

Quote:
(Shakespeare is) widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language
Tolstoy didn't think he deserves such honour, and he gave a few dozen pages' worth of reasons why.

- Ahi
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