How do I start reading Shakespeare?

Many people have said they find reading Shakespeare a bit daunting, so here are five tips for how to make it simpler and more pleasurable.

1. Ignore the footnotes. If your edition has footnotes, pay no attention to them.
2. Pay attention to the shape of the lines.
3. Read small sections.
4. Think like a director.
5. Don’t worry.

What is the best order to read Shakespeare?

You could do Much Ado, Macbeth, Midsummer, Twelfth Night, Henry V, Comedy of Errors, and Romeo and Juliet. After this, you’ll be able to read the rest in any order. If you feel able to read Shakespeare pretty well, you probably want to start with the best plays.

What should I start with Shakespeare?

If you are about to read Shakespeare for the first time then choosing the right play will help tremendously. Luckily variety is not a problem. I’d recommend starting with one of the most popular ones. Something like ‘Romeo and Juliet’, ‘Macbeth’, ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, ‘Othello’ or ‘The Merchant of Venice’.

What do I need to know before reading Shakespeare?

Study Advice: 5 Tips for Reading Shakespeare

• Don’t be intimidated.
• Look up a summary of the plot before going in.
• Watch the plays being performed by actors who know what they’re doing.
• Read the words out loud to yourself.
• Don’t get stuck on details.

How do you read Shakespeare works?

Is Hamlet a hard read?

Hamlet question. Hamlet is both the longest and the most linguistically difficult of all of them so it might not be the best place to start. Of the tragedies Julius Caesar is the shortest and most accessible one when it comes to readability.

How can I learn English play?

To help students learn how to annotate fiction, I like to take a step-by-step approach to teaching annotation.

1. Highlight the character’s names and notice the difference in the voices.
2. Have students read aloud.
3. Repeat readings over and over again.
4. Watch performed scenes of the play.
5. Look for figurative language.

What are the best books to start reading Shakespeare?

Nothing, naturally enough. By all means, read the popular works first: Twelfth Night, As You Like It, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth, The Tempest, and don’t forget to read Antony and Cleopatra early on as well, since it continues more or less directly from Julius Caesar.

Should I read Shakespeare’s plays in order?

You only get 1\% of Shakespeare’s power when confined only to the written page. In this guide, along with the recommended reading order for Shakespeare’s plays, I will recommend some of the best film versions for each of the plays. I encourage you to either read along while watching, or read before or after viewing.

How do I start exploring Shakespeare?

In exploring Shakespeare, you should both read the plays, and see staged productions and films. I strongly recommend seeing them on stage; the language is far less difficult when spoken.

Are all of Shakespeare’s books worth a read?

All of Shakespeare’s books are worth a read; each of them is special, making it very difficult to curate a list of his best works. While you may want to start with the Complete Works of William Shakespeare, it could be a bit much for a first-timer. Hence, here’s a list of the most popular Shakespeare plays ,to begin reading.