1. Shakespeare is a complex literature that is often very hard to read and comprehend at the same time. To even remotely understand what you are reading you must realize that as an author, he wrote in an old English time, which means that his words do not exactly mean the same things now as they did back when he wrote them. Looking onto the side notes and looking up strange confusing words will help you to develop your reading skills as a Shakespearian reader. In Shakespearian literature, many letter were taken out and replaced with apostrophe marks. “I am glad on ‘t” (2.1.33) is meant to be read as “I am glad on it”. Read these words as if the letters were there and the text will be much easier to understand.
2. Shakespeare starts each of his plays with the middle of an event. After the characters are introduced and you have read a page or two of the first scene of the first act. You must interpret what you know and ask yourself what you don’t understand. Once you identify what you don’t understand, look it up. Look on the inside cover to see what the play is about, how the characters are lain out and what the start of the play pertains to.
3. To comprehend Shakespeare, you must know that he has a much hidden sense of humor, and many underlying meanings to his characters diction and syntax choices. He is also very sexual in nature including hidden innuendos throughout the text. Iago blatantly states that Othello “an old black ram” (1.1.90) is having affairs with his wife, “tupping your white ewe” (1.1.91). He is not self-conscious of this harsh language and continues with his laughable innuendos throughout the play.
4. As with all literature, you should read the intro to each story, act, scene, play. With this particular piece, the side notes are very helpful in identifying what the hidden meanings are of the foreign words. To truly comprehend him, you must read, reread and slowly pick apart each piece to get the full effect Shakespeare can have. When a word is confusing, has a strange tone or sounds weird, you should look it up. Some books come with side notes and the side notes decipher each element of the plot line.
5. Take notes and make lists. When a new character is presented you should make sure you understand their correspondence with the current character in the play. Using stick notes, place them at lines where you understand and comprehend the text and at places where you aren’t sure what is being said. Write down questions, reread the text that is confusing and if you can’t figure out what is being said go to an outside internet source. There are descriptions everywhere of Shakespeare that break down each of his plays to an easier level of understanding.
6. Most important out of everything you learn, always be confident in yourself. If you think you know what is happening, make a point of expressing it. If you are not completely positive about a scene or happening in the play, make a theory and find evidence to support your theory. By looking up evidence you will further your understanding of the Act and playwright as a whole.
2. Shakespeare starts each of his plays with the middle of an event. After the characters are introduced and you have read a page or two of the first scene of the first act. You must interpret what you know and ask yourself what you don’t understand. Once you identify what you don’t understand, look it up. Look on the inside cover to see what the play is about, how the characters are lain out and what the start of the play pertains to.
3. To comprehend Shakespeare, you must know that he has a much hidden sense of humor, and many underlying meanings to his characters diction and syntax choices. He is also very sexual in nature including hidden innuendos throughout the text. Iago blatantly states that Othello “an old black ram” (1.1.90) is having affairs with his wife, “tupping your white ewe” (1.1.91). He is not self-conscious of this harsh language and continues with his laughable innuendos throughout the play.
4. As with all literature, you should read the intro to each story, act, scene, play. With this particular piece, the side notes are very helpful in identifying what the hidden meanings are of the foreign words. To truly comprehend him, you must read, reread and slowly pick apart each piece to get the full effect Shakespeare can have. When a word is confusing, has a strange tone or sounds weird, you should look it up. Some books come with side notes and the side notes decipher each element of the plot line.
5. Take notes and make lists. When a new character is presented you should make sure you understand their correspondence with the current character in the play. Using stick notes, place them at lines where you understand and comprehend the text and at places where you aren’t sure what is being said. Write down questions, reread the text that is confusing and if you can’t figure out what is being said go to an outside internet source. There are descriptions everywhere of Shakespeare that break down each of his plays to an easier level of understanding.
6. Most important out of everything you learn, always be confident in yourself. If you think you know what is happening, make a point of expressing it. If you are not completely positive about a scene or happening in the play, make a theory and find evidence to support your theory. By looking up evidence you will further your understanding of the Act and playwright as a whole.