Based on what we've read so far, what appreciation do you have for Shakespeare? For his writing? What have you enjoyed most, so far. What's difficult about Shakespeare?
So far, I have started to appreciate how poetic shakespeare's writing is. The perfection of his writing shows that he must have put at least a year into making one play or story. It gives the play a sophisticated mask, but if you listen or read closely, it is loaded with dirty, messed up jokes. I have enjoyed the jokes and seeing how strange the play is to the modern world. The difficulty of Shakespeare is the fine things that you have to take a minute to analyze. It is like knowing understanding someone speaking latin, but you cant actually translate it.
When reading Shakespeare (ex. Romeo and Juliet), I appreciate that he uses both humor and conflicts in his plays and writing. He seems smart when writing poetry, and he adds in humor to represent everyday life in the Elizabethan era. I enjoy reading his plays for the hidden jokes and references, and the way Shakespeare makes you think about the story using poetry. Reading Shakespeare is difficult because it is written with Latin english that has words we no longer use today. It's very hard to process each paragraph because of all the Elizabethan english.
I appreciate how Shakespeare includes light hearted humor but can also incorporate more adult topics and jokes. It makes reading his work a challenge but also something to have fun with and laugh about. It's sometimes difficult to read because the way we speak today is completely backwards compared to how people spoke in that time/how Shakespeare wrote it. Even though it's challenging, pausing every few sentences and talking about what is happening is what really makes it a joy to read.
I like how there is so much hidden meaning behind every sentence! This can be frustrating since very little makes sense at first (since we speak nothing like how the play is written), but once I understand what he means, it's really cool how he weaved the meaning into into his words instead of stating it directly. I think it's pretty amazing that he was able to structure the entire story with rhymes, while telling an elaborate story. In general, I think that Shakespeare is definitely very different from what I've read before and quite a bit harder, but it's extremely satisfying once I understand it and I look forward to the rest of Romeo and Juliet!
I appreciate how Shakespeare tries to add some humor to lighten up the reader or audience's humor. Because we all know this is a tragedy, we are all anticipating the shock of what will happen and all tense, but his humor allows us to relax and enjoy his work. The most difficult thing about Shakespeare so far is understanding his language and poems. A lot of the words I read have a completely different definition from the definitions we know now, and this throws me off sometimes.
I have the most appreciation how he reaches out to all levels of people. From peasant to queen he can draw them all in with his plays. His humor and language were on so many different levels of comprehension with his sexual jokes to his play on words. It's amazing how complex his writing is and how he can incorporate so much in his plays for so many different people to watch and enjoy. I have enjoyed his jokes the most. More of the silly shallow ones rather than the complex ones, but it's funny to see how insults were like then compared to now. One thing that is kind of difficult, but also interesting is the language used. From context clues I can usually figure it out but some of the ones that are really weird are kind of difficult to interpret. But it also interesting to get that insight on how they talked.
I, too, appreciate him for the same reasons you do Jacob, it's hard to comprehend how much weight a single word carries, line after line. It's like a beautiful tapestry and no matter how many times I read the play, it never gets old.
I appreciate Shakespeare's ability to be funny yet tragic at the same time. Not many authors that I have read can present dark humor the way Shakespeare has in his plays. The most difficult thing with Shakespeare for me is understanding the usage of terms. The text can also be quite difficult to understand at times, since the vocabulary seems outdated.
I really enjoy how Shakespeare uses funny comedy in a scene that is very serious. I also like how he incorporates really beautiful poetry into the lines of Romeo in his play Romeo and Juliet. One thing that is very difficult for me is that Shakespeare uses Old English in Romeo and Juliet so I have to re-read a line a couple of times to fully understand it.
I appreciate the complexity of Shakespeare's writing. At any given moment in the story, I find myself amazed by the way Shakespeare was able to reach every audience, whether they were peasants or royalty. His works are masterpieces of literature, with so much meaning behind each sentence and section of the plot. He knew how to play to the interests of the crowd and work around the drawbacks of outdoor theater. It is quite remarkable how much thought he put into the lines and characterization of each person in the play. I also enjoy the lighthearted nature of Shakespeare's plays. Though Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy, it is still filled with sparks of comedy that keep the dialogue and action interesting and entertaining. A difficulty I find in Shakespeare's plays also relates to what I admire in his writing. Though I love the hidden meanings in his words, the language he uses vastly differs from that which we use today. Often times I find myself believing a sentence to mean one thing, and realizing it is meant to mean something completely different. However, as the story goes on it becomes easier to understand his dialogue and interpret it, though it is still quite difficult.
I appreciate the way shakespeare makes his literature poetic yet easy to understand. While his plays are predictable, I like the way shakespeare uses humor and suspense to make the play enjoyable for all readers. I especially love his jokes as there are many layers of them. There are shallow, sexual jokes that all readers can enjoy and more complex ones for more experienced readers. However the old english can be hard to understand which makes it sometimes hard to get all the meanings from the text. I feel that as the story continues, the language and text will be easier and easier to understand.
So far, I especially appreciate the light humor. I also appreciate that although Shakespearean language is somewhat different from our own, it's not very difficult for me to understand. I already know the ending and how the story is a tragedy, but I was surprised since the story wasn't tragical throughout the story. I find the references and 'regular parts of daily life' hard to understand, since we aren't living in the same time period and you can't relate with him. The Elizabethan Era Notes and the sidenotes help with that. I also appreciate the phrases and Shakespeare's writing style, because the language he uses makes the text a lot deeper. For example, when star-crossed lovers was said in the prologue, it was understood that they were fated for each other, and aren't generally in love.
So far, I am enjoying the book but also find it difficult to understand his words and phrases. I enjoy the light humor some characters bring to the story such as the nurse. I also enjoy the different tenses of mood and feeling that he incorporates in the story. I also enjoy learning about a new culture through this book. I think the book will be easier to understand as I read more.
I enjoy the book, but it's hard to understand the content and what is going on. Once it's explain and understand the different meanings and such, I understand more. I love the scene where the sevents explain what they will do to the ladies and gentlemen. I love that by reading this book I get to see how the Elizabethans talked and such and learn more history.
I believe this book is a book that you need to keep reading to get interested in, so this book is sorta boring to me. Knowing the meaning of the words would help make the book more interesting due to the meaning of the words to be so hard. Overall the book does have some interesting parts. The few things that are good is the funny humor and being able to see the plot line build. Another highlight would have to be how neutral he was in his writing. Knowing how the story end I hope that the story gets more interesting as it builds.
I believe this book is a book that you need to keep reading to get interested in, so this book is sorta boring to me. Knowing the meaning of the words would help make the book more interesting due to the meaning of the words to be so hard. Overall the book does have some interesting parts. The few things that are good is the funny humor and being able to see the plot line build. Another highlight would have to be how neutral he was in his writing. Knowing how the story end I hope that the story gets more interesting as it builds.
I appreciate Shakespeare's ability to incorporate a hidden meaning behind his words. A lot of the lines that characters say often have a double meaning, what it literally means, and what it means symbolically. This helps the audience or reader gain a little more understanding of the characters and allows for the use of foreshadowing. His writing skill is particularly fascinating because he is able to write certain sections of the play in sonnet form, giving his writing a very sophisticated air. The sonnets also flow very smoothly, so the tone of the dialogue doesn't sound off beat. He also effortlessly integrates humor into his writing to lighten the mood, especially in tragedies. This is important because tragedies end with death, so humor would make the play more enjoyable to the audience or reader. However, the time of the Elizabethan Era vary greatly with modern times. Many changes have occurred regarding language and culture, so it is hard to understand the language that he uses without an explanation. Culture is easier to understand, seeing as to how we had a prior knowledge regarding their culture. Without this knowledge, the play would be harder to understand as it already is.
I find the subject matter of Shakespeare’s writing to be the most fascinating; specifically, how his writing is still relevant to readers today. “Romeo and Juliet” can be interpreted as a teenage coming-of-age novel dealing with the finicky topic of love, where Romeo is heartbroken at his apparent failed prospects toward Rosaline, while Juliet is just beginning to experience love’s first emotions. The two meet, and as all things go, they fall in love.
However, the two are from different families who happen to be hostile with each other, conveniently creating conflict; today’s parents are no different, often becoming overprotective of their children. Capulet even remarks in Act 1, Scene 2, Line 13 that “and too soon marred are those early made,” basically saying that those who dabble in love prematurely are scarred for life. And that’s not even considering Count Paris, who was supposed to be Juliet’s future groom in a wedding, likely creating dangerous jealousy between him and Romeo at a later point. Despite all this, friends like Romeo’s Benvolio and Juliet’s nurse provide a counterpoint to the oppressors in the story. There’s enough here to entice readers even today, provided they can get over the convoluted writing.
And that brings me to my next point: The archaic writing. The text is chock full of words and phrases that were retired quite some time ago and are no longer used today. Terms that are not outdated by modern standards are used in such a way that they often imply a double meaning; “Romeo and Juliet” requires multiple rereads to fully comprehend and appreciate. In all honesty, I can’t really blame Shakespeare for this. Language evolves quickly, and what is alien to readers now was perfectly acceptable to people in his time.
So far, I enjoy the book, but some words and phrases can be difficult. I appreciate how he incorporates humor into his writing and how his writing is poetic. I also like how certain characters' lines can have multiple meanings. The most difficult thing about Shakespeare for me is his vocabulary. Sometimes, I don't know what some of the words mean. But understanding things about the Elizabethan era directly correlates to understanding Shakespeare's work. I enjoyed some of the humor a lot as well. I also like that through Shakespeare's writing, we can learn about Elizabethan culture. If we didn't already know beforehand, we can assume that girls get married and conceive children at very young ages.
As Romeo and Juliet takes place in the distant past, much of the outdated language takes longer to understand, and I often find myself rereading the lines to try and piece together the innuendos of the text and jokes made by Shakespeare. So many verses hold a deep meaning and show his heavy consideration for each line written, and sometimes makes the text tedious to read. However, even though we are unable to completely understand the events and descriptions within the book, the skillful use of language and quality in his words is evident within. Shakespeare's ability to establish interest and plot from the first line, along with the profusive amount of sexual comic relief provided greatly balances out the atmosphere of the stage and the reader's enjoyment.
Many of the characters inside of Romeo and Juliet are heavily characterized from the beginning, and that deliberate focus on personas lets feelings of appreciation and fondness over his characters develop. Surely many of the past favored the nurse from Act 1 Scene 3, with her zealous and joking demeanor, or harbored disdain for characters from either families. Despite the generations that have long passed and the many changes that have evolved our lifestyles since, the ability to understand even the bare minimum of what is going on and enjoy the plot still draws in readers and advocates of his writing today.
I appreciate Shakespeare's ability to grab and maintain the attention of his audience very much. In the Elizabethan Era, there were a myriad of recreational activities, many that sounded far more exciting than watching people act out scenes under the blistering hot sun, such as bear baiting, starting fights with rival families in streets, etc. Shakespeare's plays must have been immensely attractive to capture such a large audience, including Queen Elizabeth herself. Another aspect I enjoyed about Shakespeare's plays were his sexual innuendos. I would have missed every single one of Shakespeare's subtle insinuations if Mrs. Ene had not pointed them out. I do not know if this is due to the fact that Shakespeare was very clever about his innuendos or I am not in the correct mindset for reading his plays, maybe a combination of the two factors. Overall, it must have required a great deal of thinking to insert these types of messages so subtly and in such large quantity into the script.
I find Shakespeare very difficult to comprehend, mostly owing to the fact that Shakespeare had his sentences constructed in a particular way, very different from the sentence structure we use today. In addition, the English language was different during the Elizabethan era, with certain words having different meanings.
Stanley, I'm glad you appreciate Shakespeare despite the difficult language, but I have a trick for you: if you find the subject and the verb put them first and then try rearranging Shakespeare's sentences in your mind. I'll show you guys in class.
I appreciate that shakespeare has the ability to add humor in poetry. Since love is kind of a serious topic,he adds humor to it so the audience would enjoy it more. Shakespeare writing is very difficult to understand. I have enjoyed all the jokes he makes about love. When reading shakespeare it's like learning a new language. You have to guess what most words mean most of the time when you read shakespeare.
So far, I have started to appreciate how poetic shakespeare's writing is. The perfection of his writing shows that he must have put at least a year into making one play or story. It gives the play a sophisticated mask, but if you listen or read closely, it is loaded with dirty, messed up jokes. I have enjoyed the jokes and seeing how strange the play is to the modern world. The difficulty of Shakespeare is the fine things that you have to take a minute to analyze. It is like knowing understanding someone speaking latin, but you cant actually translate it.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWhen reading Shakespeare (ex. Romeo and Juliet), I appreciate that he uses both humor and conflicts in his plays and writing. He seems smart when writing poetry, and he adds in humor to represent everyday life in the Elizabethan era. I enjoy reading his plays for the hidden jokes and references, and the way Shakespeare makes you think about the story using poetry. Reading Shakespeare is difficult because it is written with Latin english that has words we no longer use today. It's very hard to process each paragraph because of all the Elizabethan english.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate how Shakespeare includes light hearted humor but can also incorporate more adult topics and jokes. It makes reading his work a challenge but also something to have fun with and laugh about. It's sometimes difficult to read because the way we speak today is completely backwards compared to how people spoke in that time/how Shakespeare wrote it. Even though it's challenging, pausing every few sentences and talking about what is happening is what really makes it a joy to read.
ReplyDeleteI like how there is so much hidden meaning behind every sentence! This can be frustrating since very little makes sense at first (since we speak nothing like how the play is written), but once I understand what he means, it's really cool how he weaved the meaning into into his words instead of stating it directly. I think it's pretty amazing that he was able to structure the entire story with rhymes, while telling an elaborate story. In general, I think that Shakespeare is definitely very different from what I've read before and quite a bit harder, but it's extremely satisfying once I understand it and I look forward to the rest of Romeo and Juliet!
ReplyDeleteI appreciate how Shakespeare tries to add some humor to lighten up the reader or audience's humor. Because we all know this is a tragedy, we are all anticipating the shock of what will happen and all tense, but his humor allows us to relax and enjoy his work. The most difficult thing about Shakespeare so far is understanding his language and poems. A lot of the words I read have a completely different definition from the definitions we know now, and this throws me off sometimes.
ReplyDeleteI have the most appreciation how he reaches out to all levels of people. From peasant to queen he can draw them all in with his plays. His humor and language were on so many different levels of comprehension with his sexual jokes to his play on words. It's amazing how complex his writing is and how he can incorporate so much in his plays for so many different people to watch and enjoy. I have enjoyed his jokes the most. More of the silly shallow ones rather than the complex ones, but it's funny to see how insults were like then compared to now. One thing that is kind of difficult, but also interesting is the language used. From context clues I can usually figure it out but some of the ones that are really weird are kind of difficult to interpret. But it also interesting to get that insight on how they talked.
ReplyDeleteI, too, appreciate him for the same reasons you do Jacob, it's hard to comprehend how much weight a single word carries, line after line. It's like a beautiful tapestry and no matter how many times I read the play, it never gets old.
DeleteI appreciate Shakespeare's ability to be funny yet tragic at the same time. Not many authors that I have read can present dark humor the way Shakespeare has in his plays. The most difficult thing with Shakespeare for me is understanding the usage of terms. The text can also be quite difficult to understand at times, since the vocabulary seems outdated.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy how Shakespeare uses funny comedy in a scene that is very serious. I also like how he incorporates really beautiful poetry into the lines of Romeo in his play Romeo and Juliet. One thing that is very difficult for me is that Shakespeare uses Old English in Romeo and Juliet so I have to re-read a line a couple of times to fully understand it.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate the complexity of Shakespeare's writing. At any given moment in the story, I find myself amazed by the way Shakespeare was able to reach every audience, whether they were peasants or royalty. His works are masterpieces of literature, with so much meaning behind each sentence and section of the plot. He knew how to play to the interests of the crowd and work around the drawbacks of outdoor theater. It is quite remarkable how much thought he put into the lines and characterization of each person in the play. I also enjoy the lighthearted nature of Shakespeare's plays. Though Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy, it is still filled with sparks of comedy that keep the dialogue and action interesting and entertaining. A difficulty I find in Shakespeare's plays also relates to what I admire in his writing. Though I love the hidden meanings in his words, the language he uses vastly differs from that which we use today. Often times I find myself believing a sentence to mean one thing, and realizing it is meant to mean something completely different. However, as the story goes on it becomes easier to understand his dialogue and interpret it, though it is still quite difficult.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate the way shakespeare makes his literature poetic yet easy to understand. While his plays are predictable, I like the way shakespeare uses humor and suspense to make the play enjoyable for all readers. I especially love his jokes as there are many layers of them. There are shallow, sexual jokes that all readers can enjoy and more complex ones for more experienced readers. However the old english can be hard to understand which makes it sometimes hard to get all the meanings from the text. I feel that as the story continues, the language and text will be easier and easier to understand.
ReplyDeleteSo far, I especially appreciate the light humor. I also appreciate that although Shakespearean language is somewhat different from our own, it's not very difficult for me to understand. I already know the ending and how the story is a tragedy, but I was surprised since the story wasn't tragical throughout the story. I find the references and 'regular parts of daily life' hard to understand, since we aren't living in the same time period and you can't relate with him. The Elizabethan Era Notes and the sidenotes help with that. I also appreciate the phrases and Shakespeare's writing style, because the language he uses makes the text a lot deeper. For example, when star-crossed lovers was said in the prologue, it was understood that they were fated for each other, and aren't generally in love.
ReplyDeleteNice specific "star-crossed" example!
DeleteSo far, I am enjoying the book but also find it difficult to understand his words and phrases. I enjoy the light humor some characters bring to the story such as the nurse. I also enjoy the different tenses of mood and feeling that he incorporates in the story. I also enjoy learning about a new culture through this book. I think the book will be easier to understand as I read more.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteYou'll see, the language grows on you, soon it'll be easier to understand.
DeleteI enjoy the book, but it's hard to understand the content and what is going on. Once it's explain and understand the different meanings and such, I understand more. I love the scene where the sevents explain what they will do to the ladies and gentlemen. I love that by reading this book I get to see how the Elizabethans talked and such and learn more history.
ReplyDeleteI believe this book is a book that you need to keep reading to get interested in, so this book is sorta boring to me. Knowing the meaning of the words would help make the book more interesting due to the meaning of the words to be so hard. Overall the book does have some interesting parts. The few things that are good is the funny humor and being able to see the plot line build. Another highlight would have to be how neutral he was in his writing. Knowing how the story end I hope that the story gets more interesting as it builds.
ReplyDelete-Jenny Pride-McLeod
I believe this book is a book that you need to keep reading to get interested in, so this book is sorta boring to me. Knowing the meaning of the words would help make the book more interesting due to the meaning of the words to be so hard. Overall the book does have some interesting parts. The few things that are good is the funny humor and being able to see the plot line build. Another highlight would have to be how neutral he was in his writing. Knowing how the story end I hope that the story gets more interesting as it builds.
ReplyDelete-Jenny Pride-McLeod
I appreciate Shakespeare's ability to incorporate a hidden meaning behind his words. A lot of the lines that characters say often have a double meaning, what it literally means, and what it means symbolically. This helps the audience or reader gain a little more understanding of the characters and allows for the use of foreshadowing. His writing skill is particularly fascinating because he is able to write certain sections of the play in sonnet form, giving his writing a very sophisticated air. The sonnets also flow very smoothly, so the tone of the dialogue doesn't sound off beat. He also effortlessly integrates humor into his writing to lighten the mood, especially in tragedies. This is important because tragedies end with death, so humor would make the play more enjoyable to the audience or reader. However, the time of the Elizabethan Era vary greatly with modern times. Many changes have occurred regarding language and culture, so it is hard to understand the language that he uses without an explanation. Culture is easier to understand, seeing as to how we had a prior knowledge regarding their culture. Without this knowledge, the play would be harder to understand as it already is.
ReplyDeleteI find the subject matter of Shakespeare’s writing to be the most fascinating; specifically, how his writing is still relevant to readers today. “Romeo and Juliet” can be interpreted as a teenage coming-of-age novel dealing with the finicky topic of love, where Romeo is heartbroken at his apparent failed prospects toward Rosaline, while Juliet is just beginning to experience love’s first emotions. The two meet, and as all things go, they fall in love.
ReplyDeleteHowever, the two are from different families who happen to be hostile with each other, conveniently creating conflict; today’s parents are no different, often becoming overprotective of their children. Capulet even remarks in Act 1, Scene 2, Line 13 that “and too soon marred are those early made,” basically saying that those who dabble in love prematurely are scarred for life. And that’s not even considering Count Paris, who was supposed to be Juliet’s future groom in a wedding, likely creating dangerous jealousy between him and Romeo at a later point. Despite all this, friends like Romeo’s Benvolio and Juliet’s nurse provide a counterpoint to the oppressors in the story. There’s enough here to entice readers even today, provided they can get over the convoluted writing.
And that brings me to my next point: The archaic writing. The text is chock full of words and phrases that were retired quite some time ago and are no longer used today. Terms that are not outdated by modern standards are used in such a way that they often imply a double meaning; “Romeo and Juliet” requires multiple rereads to fully comprehend and appreciate. In all honesty, I can’t really blame Shakespeare for this. Language evolves quickly, and what is alien to readers now was perfectly acceptable to people in his time.
So far, I enjoy the book, but some words and phrases can be difficult. I appreciate how he incorporates humor into his writing and how his writing is poetic. I also like how certain characters' lines can have multiple meanings. The most difficult thing about Shakespeare for me is his vocabulary. Sometimes, I don't know what some of the words mean. But understanding things about the Elizabethan era directly correlates to understanding Shakespeare's work. I enjoyed some of the humor a lot as well. I also like that through Shakespeare's writing, we can learn about Elizabethan culture. If we didn't already know beforehand, we can assume that girls get married and conceive children at very young ages.
ReplyDeleteAs Romeo and Juliet takes place in the distant past, much of the outdated language takes longer to understand, and I often find myself rereading the lines to try and piece together the innuendos of the text and jokes made by Shakespeare. So many verses hold a deep meaning and show his heavy consideration for each line written, and sometimes makes the text tedious to read. However, even though we are unable to completely understand the events and descriptions within the book, the skillful use of language and quality in his words is evident within. Shakespeare's ability to establish interest and plot from the first line, along with the profusive amount of sexual comic relief provided greatly balances out the atmosphere of the stage and the reader's enjoyment.
ReplyDeleteMany of the characters inside of Romeo and Juliet are heavily characterized from the beginning, and that deliberate focus on personas lets feelings of appreciation and fondness over his characters develop. Surely many of the past favored the nurse from Act 1 Scene 3, with her zealous and joking demeanor, or harbored disdain for characters from either families. Despite the generations that have long passed and the many changes that have evolved our lifestyles since, the ability to understand even the bare minimum of what is going on and enjoy the plot still draws in readers and advocates of his writing today.
Very thoughtful response Charlotte- love it!
DeleteI appreciate Shakespeare's ability to grab and maintain the attention of his audience very much. In the Elizabethan Era, there were a myriad of recreational activities, many that sounded far more exciting than watching people act out scenes under the blistering hot sun, such as bear baiting, starting fights with rival families in streets, etc. Shakespeare's plays must have been immensely attractive to capture such a large audience, including Queen Elizabeth herself. Another aspect I enjoyed about Shakespeare's plays were his sexual innuendos. I would have missed every single one of Shakespeare's subtle insinuations if Mrs. Ene had not pointed them out. I do not know if this is due to the fact that Shakespeare was very clever about his innuendos or I am not in the correct mindset for reading his plays, maybe a combination of the two factors. Overall, it must have required a great deal of thinking to insert these types of messages so subtly and in such large quantity into the script.
ReplyDeleteI find Shakespeare very difficult to comprehend, mostly owing to the fact that Shakespeare had his sentences constructed in a particular way, very different from the sentence structure we use today. In addition, the English language was different during the Elizabethan era, with certain words having different meanings.
Stanley, I'm glad you appreciate Shakespeare despite the difficult language, but I have a trick for you: if you find the subject and the verb put them first and then try rearranging Shakespeare's sentences in your mind. I'll show you guys in class.
DeleteI appreciate that shakespeare has the ability to add humor in poetry. Since love is kind of a serious topic,he adds humor to it so the audience would enjoy it more. Shakespeare writing is very difficult to understand. I have enjoyed all the jokes he makes about love. When reading shakespeare it's like learning a new language. You have to guess what most words mean most of the time when you read shakespeare.
ReplyDelete