by Eric Goudie

Created on: November 03, 2009   Last Updated: December 22, 2010

The dreaded Shakespeare. His very name strikes boredom into many a teenager's heat-oppressed brain. But Bill Shakespeare's reputation as confusing, convoluted and corny is completely unjustified, the result of too many decades of lacklustre teaching and many unnecessarily stressed-out students. Luckily there are a few simple things you can learn that will make The Bard's plays interesting, fun and easy to learn.

Get rid of the stereotype. Many students think that Shakespeare is boring because almost everyone tells them that Shakespeare is boring. Since when do you have to think like everyone else? Check your pre-conceived notions at the door and judge Shakespeare for yourself. It's not that old. Contrary to popular belief, Shakespeare's plays aren't written in "Old English." They are written in the same alphabet and using most of the same words we use today. In fact everything written after about the year 1500 is considered "Modern English." If you could have conversation with Shakespeare himself you would likely have no trouble understanding what he was saying. You don't have to know every word. That's why they have footnotes at the bottom of the page. And chances are that any word you can find in Shakespeare you an also find in the dictionary, so if there's no footnote just look it up.

Re-reading is okay. The Scholars who wrote detailed criticisms and essays about Shakespeare didn't do so after reading the play just once. Read the play to find out what happens and then read through it again to actually understand what happens. You'll be surprised how much easier it is to recall details and answer questions afterwards. It's all in the lines. The secret to understanding a Shakespearean play is to read (or speak) the lines the way they were meant to be performed. Shakespeare wrote primarily in blank verse, using as structure called iambic pentameter. Click here for some examples of how to divide up and say these types of lines. Don't try to do it all at once.

All Shakespearean plays are neatly divided into five acts, which are then further divided into several scenes. Read the play in chunks if you have trouble taking in the entire thing at one sitting. Make pictures in your mind. Shakespeare's plays are chock-full of imagery, so use your imagination and the words on the page to "see' the play in your mind. You don't necessarily have to imagine you are watching a play being performed on stage - imagine the action unfolding before you in real life. Don't go for

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