Why Study Shakespeare?
Few teachers would argue with the belief that an English language arts curriculum should include at least one of the works of William Shakespeare. Students, too, may understand the English playwright and poet’s literary important; however, few seem to know how or why they have to study his works. After all, Shakespeare wrote a long time ago in a form of old English that many students find difficult to understand. Furthermore, there are plenty of notable contemporary authors who deal with more current issues that could be studied instead. However despite these-age old complaints, educators say they have very good reason for promoting Shakespeare in the classroom.
To begin with, the 37 plays and 154 sonnets that Shakespeare wrote during his lifetime heavily influenced Western theater and English literature. Shakespeare’s mastery of the English language allowed him to surprise his audiences with dialogue packed full of witty metaphors and unexpected allusions. His heavy use of literary devices also meant that a single line could be interpreted in a variety of ways. In addition to having popularized the soliloquy and dramatic irony, Shakespeare is known as a master of plot who logically unfolds his stories and then cleanly ties up any loose ends. Some educators believe that learning to recognize and understand the forms and techniques used by Shakespeare makes students sensitive to language and gives them a heightened appreciation for literature and the arts
Shakespeare is not only praised for his impressive command of the English language, though. He is equally respected for his profound inside into human behavior. The themes of his plays vary but they are generally considered to be timeless and accessible to a wide array of audiences. Universal themes, including corruption, revenge, deception, ambition, greed, power, envy, love, jealousy, and temptation, can be found throughout his play. Moreover, he often combines contrasting themes such as a romance and tragedy or horror and comedy. In this way, Shakespeare’s rich and complex works cover an enormously large range of human experiences. Regardless of their age, gender, race or background, students can usually identify with at least one of Shakespeare’s ethical dilemmas gives them a sense of shared humanity.
While loves by some and detested by others. Shakespeare has left his mark on English literature and modern society. He has been called one of the most frequently quoted English authors and is widely considered to be a cultural icon. His words and expressions have a very strong presence in the films, music, and basic understanding of Shakespeare’s works and influence in order to better understand Western culture