Tips & Tricks to Reading Shakespeare
I despise reading Shakespeare. DESPISE IT. I would rather run a marathon before reading a Shakespeare play.
I am certainly not the most confident student reading Shakespeare plays. I often find myself in pool of confusion. I mostly struggle with diction and plot comprehension, which was extremely difficult during the first few acts of Othello: one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays.
Now you are probably asking, why read a play you have no interest in? Well that sad and dream crushing answer happens to be high school: the four years of your life where nothing makes sense.
Othello was quite the issue for me. From the look on my face when I found out I had to read another Shakespeare play, you’d think my teacher told me to jump over the Eiffel Tower. I could hardly understand what was going on during the first couple of acts. For example, when Desdemona says “Oh, fie upon thee, slanderer” (II. ii. 126), I have not the slightest clue what she is trying to say.
Very frustrated and confused I decided to pause from my reading. I was just barely able to calm myself down and take a breath. THEN IT HIT ME LIKE A BRICK. I noticed that taking a time-out helps me to refocus and problem solve. Surprisingly my ditzy self couldn’t figure that out before.
Throughout the rest of the reading and having practice this “break” ritual, I feel much more confident while reading Shakespeare. Now when I read a line such as “We must to the watch” (II. ii. 12), I can clearly interpret it to mean something close to “It’s time to go stand guard.”
My other huge problem was trying to figure out what combined or shortened words translated to. Sadly, it took me a little while to understand “‘tis” (II. ii. 73) meant “it is.”
After memorizing shortened words and Shakespeare’s language, I became a master and will be able to recognize any single one throughout other Shakespeare plays.
Along with my new found vocabulary, I plan to bring many other reading strategies along with me:
I used to despise reading Shakespeare plays, but after learning these simple tips and tricks―I suppose it’s not all that bad.
I despise reading Shakespeare. DESPISE IT. I would rather run a marathon before reading a Shakespeare play.
I am certainly not the most confident student reading Shakespeare plays. I often find myself in pool of confusion. I mostly struggle with diction and plot comprehension, which was extremely difficult during the first few acts of Othello: one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays.
Now you are probably asking, why read a play you have no interest in? Well that sad and dream crushing answer happens to be high school: the four years of your life where nothing makes sense.
Othello was quite the issue for me. From the look on my face when I found out I had to read another Shakespeare play, you’d think my teacher told me to jump over the Eiffel Tower. I could hardly understand what was going on during the first couple of acts. For example, when Desdemona says “Oh, fie upon thee, slanderer” (II. ii. 126), I have not the slightest clue what she is trying to say.
Very frustrated and confused I decided to pause from my reading. I was just barely able to calm myself down and take a breath. THEN IT HIT ME LIKE A BRICK. I noticed that taking a time-out helps me to refocus and problem solve. Surprisingly my ditzy self couldn’t figure that out before.
Throughout the rest of the reading and having practice this “break” ritual, I feel much more confident while reading Shakespeare. Now when I read a line such as “We must to the watch” (II. ii. 12), I can clearly interpret it to mean something close to “It’s time to go stand guard.”
My other huge problem was trying to figure out what combined or shortened words translated to. Sadly, it took me a little while to understand “‘tis” (II. ii. 73) meant “it is.”
After memorizing shortened words and Shakespeare’s language, I became a master and will be able to recognize any single one throughout other Shakespeare plays.
Along with my new found vocabulary, I plan to bring many other reading strategies along with me:
- Reread lines
- Look-up definitions or examples
- Substitute sophisticated words for more comprehendible synonyms
- Know your Shakespearean language
- Don’t be afraid to scan a summary after your first read
- Read aloud
I used to despise reading Shakespeare plays, but after learning these simple tips and tricks―I suppose it’s not all that bad.
Just Because Your Name is on the Cover, Doesn't Make You The Star.
Shakespeare’s play is titled “Othello.” This clearly points out to readers who the protagonist of the play will be before even opening up the cover. However, just because Othello is the protagonist doesn’t necessarily mean he is the main character of the play. In fact the main character happens to be the antagonist, Iago. Readers are soon able to determine this after Act II Scene 1 when he admits his hatred for Othello not only because he didn’t receive the promotion (I. i. 45-46), but also he has the suspicion Othello slept with his wife (II. i. 316-323). Not to mention Shakespeare distinguishably pronounced that Iago is certainly the antagonist of the play through the use of many writing techniques: asides and soliloquies. Shakespeare has opened the audience's’ perspective to what Iago’s plans for Othello were by writing Iago so many soliloquies and asides. Because of the audience’s excessive knowledge of Iago, it makes him the star of the show (more commonly known as the “main character”). Shakespeare’s play was not named after Othello simply because he could have been the main character, but for the numerous differences and mistakes he has throughout the entirety of the play. |
Who is to Blame?
Shakespeare has made it very clear that Iago is the antagonist of the play, however does this necessarily mean he is to blame for the tragic outcome?
Desdemona and Othello were deeply in love, yet their marriage--in fact their relationship--was still very new. Othello was put in the position to listen to Iago and his false accusations, but he wasn’t forced to believe they were true.
Othello grew suspicion from only the “facts” Iago had given him. Not once does Othello ask his sweet Desdemona if she was truly cheating on him--well not until he is already killing her.
Othello would make up excuses such as his headache being the cause of his distress (II, ii, 36), rather than just being upfront and asking Desdemona if what Iago said was true. Instead Othello chooses not to communicate with Desdemona, leaving him heart-broken and worrisome.
Bad communication also occurs on Desdemona’s side. She could have simply asked Othello what was wrong rather than assuming it was simply work.
If Desdemona and Othello simply communicated like a well-rounded married couple, they would have been able to avoid their tragic outcome.
Shakespeare has made it very clear that Iago is the antagonist of the play, however does this necessarily mean he is to blame for the tragic outcome?
Desdemona and Othello were deeply in love, yet their marriage--in fact their relationship--was still very new. Othello was put in the position to listen to Iago and his false accusations, but he wasn’t forced to believe they were true.
Othello grew suspicion from only the “facts” Iago had given him. Not once does Othello ask his sweet Desdemona if she was truly cheating on him--well not until he is already killing her.
Othello would make up excuses such as his headache being the cause of his distress (II, ii, 36), rather than just being upfront and asking Desdemona if what Iago said was true. Instead Othello chooses not to communicate with Desdemona, leaving him heart-broken and worrisome.
Bad communication also occurs on Desdemona’s side. She could have simply asked Othello what was wrong rather than assuming it was simply work.
If Desdemona and Othello simply communicated like a well-rounded married couple, they would have been able to avoid their tragic outcome.
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All images seen on this page are provided via the internet and are individually linked.