How to Understand and Read Shakespeare

For many students, before they even get to analysing Macbeth, this video is where they need to start. I truly believe that Shakespeare's plays are timeless - it is why they have been adapted so many times over the centuries. However, the language is most definitely not timeless.

The challenge of understanding Elizabethan English becomes such a huge obstacle for some students that it prevents them from ever enjoying or truly being able to analyse the plays. I think that is such a shame and it is a big reason why I made this video. I cannot claim that by the end of it you will suddenly read Shakespeare as easily as modern English; but I will claim that you will have a large number of strategies to help you with understanding the language.

For what it is worth, I also believe that there is great value and no shame in texts like No Fear Shakespeare, which allow you to read modern translations alongside the original Shakespeare. If you'd like to buy something like that, you can use my Amazon affiliate link. It won't impact the amount you pay for the text, but it will earn me a small comission to help me run Stream English.

Timestamps:

0:00 How to read Shakespeare
03:30 Chunk it
07:16 Look at the syntax
09:16 Ellipsis & Contractions
14:06 Don't!
14:53 Archaic Language
17:07 Allusions
20:48 Metaphors & Symbols

This video is on my YouTube channel. However, there are a few benefits to watching it here instead:

1. You can register to keep a track of which videos you’ve watched
2. You can bookmark lessons for later
3. There may or may not be no ads, but I can neither confirm nor deny and I definitely didn't tell you if YouTube asked, OK?

There are also multiple resources to help you in the Study Materials section:

Unlocking Shakespeare Study Guide

This is the perfect accompaniment to my video on how to read Shakespeare's language. It goes back over the strategies with more examples and - most importantly - more opportunities for you to practice putting those strategies to use.

Macbeth Wide Margin Textbook

If you don't have a copy of the play to annotate, then this is a must, must, MUST have. If you do have a copy of the play, but it's one of those editions where they have filled every inch of the page with only slightly useful information and have left practically no space for your notes, then my version is also going to be ideal. The wide margins of this version mean that there is plenty of space for your notes. I have still provided translations for lots of the archaic language, and I've provided a list of characters at the start too. It is basically everything I always wished was in the copies of Macbeth I had to use to teach! If you are from a school and would like to order physical copies of the textbook, you can find it on Amazon too.

Macbeth Hexagons Game

If you are studying Macbeth for the purposes of an exam, then this is a fantastic, quick and easy revision game (dare I call it 'fun'?). The basic idea is that every hexagon has a character, theme or some sort of important technique on it. You have to join the hexagons up by connecting the things that link. It's a great way to practice making links and also revise what you know about every important aspect of this play.

If there are any videos or resources you'd like to help you with the study of this play, then please do leave a comment and let me know. I know that my videos only scratch the surface at the moment and you can rest assured that I fully intend to release videos on all the other characters, themes and key techniques. I'm also planning to release model essays so that you can spot the patterns of approach across top grade essays.