Quotations and Literature Forum

I am thinking about reading some Shakespeare this summer. Would anyone recommend there favortie PLAY by Shakespeare and why. Thank you.

_________________
Don't fall off the floor

A Midsummer Night's Dream.
We read it in school this year.
It's a comedy and there's fairies and guy's head is turned into a donkey's head.
I liked the magic and that in the end the lover's problems all work out.
It's the only Shakespeare play I've ever read so this probably isn't much help.
People tell me Romeo and Juliet is a must read though. Everyone knows the basics. Tragic lovers with warring parents. Both lovers die. It's very sad.
Webbratz

Macbeth is my favourtie lots of bloodshed and witches.

_________________
"The Truth may be out there but the lies are in your head"
"I tend to think if God wanted us to believe in him he'd exist."

ewwwww... that's gross sigsfried!
I wouldn't be able to read that.
Is it true that there's like some curse if people say "Macbeth" before the play starts or something?
Webbratz

Maybe you could first decide if you want a comedy, a history or a tragedy? Then, whichever play you choose there are on-line guides that may help. Eg
http://absoluteshakespeare.com/index.htm
or this site that has “plain English” translations.
http://www.nosweatshakespeare.com/macbeth_quotes.htm
There are probably lots of others too.
Shakespeare requires some effort but I’ve found it is worthwhile.

As for Macbeth, don’t let bloodshed and witches - not to mention guilt and madness - put you off. Here are a few quotes from Macbeth.

"To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow, creeps in this petty pace from day to day, to the last syllable of recorded time; And all our yesterdays have lighted fools The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle! Life's but a walking shadow; a poor player, that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more: it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing."

"By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes"

"Sleep that knits up the ravelled sleeve of care, the death of each day's life, sore labour's bath, balm of hurt minds, great nature's second course, chief nourisher in life's feast"

"Things without remedy, should be without regard; what is done, is done"

Information on the 'Macbeth curse";
http://www.austinchronicle.com/issues/d ... ture2.html

Macbeth is a nice SATs text (if you can find a good exam board, lol), Romeo and Juliet is wonderfully romantic but too simple Hamlet is simply incredible. In my opinion it's by far Shakespeare's best work, nothing compares with it's character depth and complexity, tight involving plot with such famous and oft quoted lines and it's sheer emotiveness, mystery and intrigue. Is Hamlet really mad? Does he suffer from an oedipus complex? Is Polonious anything more than a "wretched rash intruding fool?" And what of the fair Ophelia? Now there's a relationship. Will Hamlet ever exact revenge?

fish are quick!

_________________
"The proper study of mankind is man."
Alexander Pope

Thanks for the info Flametree!

Hamlet sounds complex...

Webbratz

Thank you. I actually think I will begin Hamlet as soon as i finish 2001: A Space Odyssey. Now for another question. I I was wondering though if any of you had any suggestions to help understand Shakespeare. Not in what is happening exactly but more the 300 year old language.

_________________
Don't fall off the floor

This might help;
William Shakespeare Elizabethan Dictionary
http://www.william-shakespeare.info/wil ... ionary.htm

I like "Much Ado About Nothing" it's pretty easy to understand and funny too, Beatrice and Benedick are quite amusing with their little pay outs

Try reading No Fear Shakespeare. http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=xv1MpdhBLo&isbn=1586638467&itm=3

I personally haven't read one yet to make this recommendation, but I do plan to read one. I hope this helps.

_________________
"The unexamined life is not worth living for man" Socrates

I'm going to see Twelth Night on saturday. Should be very good.

_________________
"The Truth may be out there but the lies are in your head"
"I tend to think if God wanted us to believe in him he'd exist."

not midsummer.. Julius Caesar is awsome to read. Id suggest it.

Tragedy-King Lear
Comedy-Twelfth Night
History-Richard II/Henry IV Part 1
Romance-Tempest/Romeo and Juliet(The choruses are really good)

_________________
~Becca

IM me and we can discuss the language or i can just tell you what it means or else you can look it up online

_________________
~Becca

Well I'm happy for one thing.. I saw a post by "Fish Are Quick"
Welcome back after a long gap...

_________________
Ishrat Noor Khan