Why Study Shakespeare’s Poetry?
My early exposure to Shakespeare was rather uncomfortable. As I worked through his poetry and plays in my high school English courses, I kept thinking why do I have to read this drivel? Let’s face it, Shakespeare’s English is not today’s English. His work is difficult to read. While I appreciated some aspects of his work (I have always loved Romeo and Juliet — the movie), reading it was a chore. But in college, as an English major, an entire course on Shakespeare was mandatory. I took a three-week, condensed class (about six hours a day), and finally, it clicked. I realized that Shakespeare’s writing is masterful and timeless. Sure, you have to work a little harder to get through it, but the payoff is great: • Expose your mind to Shakespeare’s wit and rhyme. • See what kind of writing warrants accolades for four centuries. • Study works that incorporate mythology and cultural and biblical elements. • Challenge your language and reading skills with Shakespearean words and phrases. • Bet
