I've read MacBeth and Romeo and Juliet, both for english in the same year *dies* it was hard going and hard reading, but once you get past the language it's such a good story and there's a lot you can say about it, (hence why i spent half of year 10 writing essays) I really enjoyed them, but they haven't made me want to pick up another one of his plays.
Light travels faster than sound. That is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience
Much Ado About Nothing and The Twelve Night are my favorites, though I do like several others.
I saw the former in theatre at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. So hilarious.
And I think Romeo and Juliet is so overdone. It isn't that romantic, people. >.>
They're good, but I prefer them when acted out. For that's what they were originally intended for no? The language can be confusing, but a read through again and again, can get one used to it.
I read Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, and Julius Ceasar. I read R&J in ninth grade and our english teacher had us rewrite the first scene of the first act into modern day terms. We had the freedom to change all the situations and places in any way we wanted as long as the same theme was present. I had a lot of fun with mine. I always wanted to do the whole thing and convert it from stageplay to screenplay but I never did.
Macbeth and Julius Ceasar were alright but the english teacher I had those ones with didn't let us get anywhere near as into them.
"Sorry I didn't recognize you. I've changed a lot." Oscar Wilde
I haven't read Julius Cesear - I read most of his work though.
I really didn't like Hamlet...I found it really quite odd, and in the same kind of vein as Macbeth, except I liked that.
I've almost read through the gamut of his plays or atleast the ones in my Works of Shakespeare edition. My favorites would have to be Macbeth, Taming of the Shrew, Julius Caeser, Hamlet, Much Ado About Nothing, The Merchant of Venice, Merry Wives of Windsor, Othello, Richard III, and The Tempest.
Romeo and Juliet is destested because a. it's part of the school circulum, I had to read it twice for class, once in 5th grade, the other freshmen year; and b. not many people want to sit and disect something for class, especially as a freshman, I know I totally tuned out. Plus Romeo and Juliet isn't one of his best plays in my opinion, and it's over done, pounded into kid's heads everywhere. But I have to say Mercutio's monologue about Queen Mab is some good stuff.
If I had to pick an absolute favorite it would be Much Ado About Nothing, the word-play in it is amazing. Shakespeare was a true wordsmith; true he borrowed from classic greek and roman plays, and when he found a template that worked he used it over and over again. It is also very interesting to see the effect of monarchy on his works. Almost each play ends with the ruler (king, prince, duke...) cleaning up the mess, and putting everything right again.
On another note, has anyone here seen The Reduced Shakespeare Company?
Fraser: Stop stealing the blanket. [Diefenbaker whines] Fraser: You're an Arctic Wolf, for God's sake. (Due South)
Hatter: Do I need a reason to help a pretty girl in a very wet dress? (Alice)
"Adam, why do you think every women in Shakesphere wears hideously ugly wigs, and barfs everywhere?" (paraphrased from The Reduced Shakespeare Company's The Complete Works of William Shakespeare)
Last edited by Caligula's Launderette on Sun Feb 26, 2006 10:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Fraser: Stop stealing the blanket. [Diefenbaker whines] Fraser: You're an Arctic Wolf, for God's sake. (Due South)
Hatter: Do I need a reason to help a pretty girl in a very wet dress? (Alice)
I've only read two Shakespeare plays. Between R&J and A Midsummer's Night Dream; Midsummer's Night's Dream was ten times better. It's an awesome story by far but it's been a long time since I've read it. The only thing that stands out in my head is when a fairy(I think)changes a guys head into a donkey, lol. And he's completely unaware of it.
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