Bearing in mind that he's responsible for essentially half (if that little) of the entirety of the modern English language, I'd say he's pretty badass.
Poll: Is shakespeare great?
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Was he the best writer ever? No. But he was one of the best ones. Was he a good storyteller? Yes. The plays are often taught by people who don't understand the plays well themselves, and are over-analyzed in the process which makes them boring. He was also an observer of human nature, and his plays are often very insightful even if we don't like what he's saying.
Another thing that makes him popular with teachers is the fact that he is one of the most well known personages in history but we know next to nothing about him. We have the plays but only the very minimum information about the man himself.
Oh, and as soon as people learn some of the Elizabethan slang they suddenly find it's far more funny and groan inducing than they originally thought.
Another thing that makes him popular with teachers is the fact that he is one of the most well known personages in history but we know next to nothing about him. We have the plays but only the very minimum information about the man himself.
Oh, and as soon as people learn some of the Elizabethan slang they suddenly find it's far more funny and groan inducing than they originally thought.
He's not my favorite classic writer, but damn, he certainly was a good one.
Then again, I've only read A Midsummer Night's Dream, and while I have Macbeth, I have a few other books to read before I can get to it.
I hold him in high regards as a heavily influential figure in the fields of art and literature, but personally, I prefer Dante Alighieri when it comes to REALLY classical writers.
Also, say what you want about his writings, but that man had some serious swagger.
[sub]Why hello, ladies.[/sub]
Then again, I've only read A Midsummer Night's Dream, and while I have Macbeth, I have a few other books to read before I can get to it.
I hold him in high regards as a heavily influential figure in the fields of art and literature, but personally, I prefer Dante Alighieri when it comes to REALLY classical writers.
Also, say what you want about his writings, but that man had some serious swagger.
[sub]Why hello, ladies.[/sub]
.
Your argument: Shakespeare's work has had a lot of success, thus it can't be overrated.Fluoxetine said:
My argument: just because something has a lot of success it doesn't mean that it can't be overrated.
Note that I never said Shakespeare was overrated so I didn't insult him in any way. I was simply saying that popularity is not a good measure for overrated or not. Now rather than dismiss my statement off-hand can you actually put some thought into why I am wrong or am I simply wrong because I use examples that are intended for the common mainstream audience and not the intellectuals. Cause you know, Shakespeare was writing for that kind of audience.
I love Shakespeare. I had a Shakespeare class in High School and I was hooked.
However, I HATE Romeo and Juliet. IMO, it is completely overrated and it's his worst play yet that I've read. Nor am I a huge fan of Macbeth. It's okay to me, but not great.
Favorites are: Titus Andronicus, Othello, Hamlet, Midsummer Night's Dream, and The Tempest
However, I HATE Romeo and Juliet. IMO, it is completely overrated and it's his worst play yet that I've read. Nor am I a huge fan of Macbeth. It's okay to me, but not great.
Favorites are: Titus Andronicus, Othello, Hamlet, Midsummer Night's Dream, and The Tempest
Just wondering if you actually mean "pervious" or if you just misspelled previous?Craorach said:
On Topic:
I think he got lucky, like many others luck has a great deal to do with stuff. Of course he had to be skilled but also lucky.
Personally don't know too much about him, just like anything else old, like mozart, bach etc, sure I've heard about his stories and read parts of them but not really my thing.
OK, so you clearly don't understand what I am saying here. I am not saying Shakespeare is overrated. I am not saying Shakespeare is overrated. I am not saying Shakespeare is overrated. Now if you managed to read one of the past 3 sentences you might have got a feel of that I am not saying Shakespeare is overrated, if not maybe this sentence will help you know that I am saying that.Fluoxetine said:
I am saying that you can't use success as a measure to say if something is overrated or not. There are lots of huge successes out there, some of them are overrated, some of them are underrated and some are rated about where they should be.
Now in case you didn't read any of my post, I have never said that Shakespeare is overrated and I have never compared him to Justin Bieber (I simply used him as a current icon for popularity). What I am getting at is that you havenæt offered anything but his mainstream success for why he isn't overrated. Surely you can mention one thing? One Teeny little actual reason? It shouldn't take you more than a sentence or two to give up one reason apart from his success?
As far as I know, Shakespeare is, at best, a decent writer. (Really, I'm not sure why people read plays... they're plays. To be played and watched.)
I've only read three of his plays (Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night's Dream and Hamlet) so maybe I'm missing out on something.
Romeo and Juliet is garbage, plain and simple. The plot is thin and all of the characters are borderline retarded.
Midsummer was just boring.
Hamlet wasn't super duper great or anything, but I could read it again sometime.
I've only read three of his plays (Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night's Dream and Hamlet) so maybe I'm missing out on something.
Romeo and Juliet is garbage, plain and simple. The plot is thin and all of the characters are borderline retarded.
Midsummer was just boring.
Hamlet wasn't super duper great or anything, but I could read it again sometime.
('m not the person you've been quoting. Just an FYI)Yopaz said:
So...
What you're saying is...
That you...
Think that...
Shakespeare-is-overrated!
OK, thanks for proving to me that you aren't reading my posts at all. Go back and look at my post. I think maybe I mentioned a little something about Shakespeare not being overrated? Maybe once or twice? Maybe more? Really, I think I said something like that there... I even think I said this in my first postFluoxetine said:
Yeah, I think I said that to be relevant after all this time Shakespeare has to be pretty good. Now if I said that, how do you seem to think that I see Shakespeare as overrated? I am simply pointing out that success doesn't really prove that he's not overrated. Also you say that there's too much to mention, yet success is the only thing you got on it. Now remember before you sstart feeling insulted again. I have never in my entire life called Shakespeare overrated, I do not think he is overrated, that is not my opinion. Do not start jumping on me for saying that I think he's overrated and that I am stupid for thinking so. Take a deep breath and read my posts before you start replying to them. Please, just try it once, it wont hurt.
Shakespeare was a genius, centuries ahead of his time and as a playwright unmatched to this day.
I just wish the novel, as we understand it, existed as a medium in the days of Shakespeare; I imagine he would've done something incredible with such a beefy amount of text to play with, considering the wonders he worked with his plays that have next to no stage direction at all...
I just wish the novel, as we understand it, existed as a medium in the days of Shakespeare; I imagine he would've done something incredible with such a beefy amount of text to play with, considering the wonders he worked with his plays that have next to no stage direction at all...
Like I've said before, it's not like he was chosen at random to be famous and renowned. His writing has gained prestige over the years because it is ingenious and dramatic. hard to read? Yes, but that's partially because it's in middle english. Once you get over that barrier you can really appreciate his style and wit.
Most people who think he's highly overrated haven't really delved much into his work. I think people are often off put when schools force students to read Romeo and Juliet, despite the fact that it's one of his earliest, and least impressive plays.
Most people who think he's highly overrated haven't really delved much into his work. I think people are often off put when schools force students to read Romeo and Juliet, despite the fact that it's one of his earliest, and least impressive plays.
Shakespeare is a classic, certainly, some of the appeal in reading his plays has faded over the roughly 400 years since he wrote them, but the wit and charm in them is still there. He was critical in the development of English writing and deserves his position as the greatest playwright the English language has ever produced. Now, that said, you also asked why he is taught in every English class, and the answer to that is mostly in the above. Everyone wants to teach Shakespeare. Certainly, there are modern works that deserve to be looked at and Shakespeare shouldn't monopolize every English course between middle school and college, but he is exceptionally important to read.
He was a pretty okay writer. But the problem is that you're usually reading his scripts, not watching them being acted out. That would really, really help you understand what's going on.
The Reduced Shakespeare Company, by the way, is boss.
The Reduced Shakespeare Company, by the way, is boss.