Do you need to learn about Shakespeare fast? Weather you are learning for school or pleasure, our crash course in Shakespeare will soon get you to what you need to know.
Learn About Shakespeare
Shakespeare studies is such a huge (and daunting) area – yet the basics are really straightforward. 400 years of study and academic conjecture has made it seem complicated. We’re going to cut through all of that and get to the basic information you need to know about Shakespeare.
We have split this fast-track Shakespeare 101 into ten topics. We suggest you bookmark this page and work through each topic in order.
1. Lesson 1: Shakespeare Biography
In this lesson we discover who William Shakespeare was, when he lived and what he did. This is essential information to cover before moving on because the other lessons build upon this.
2. Lesson 2: Shakespeare’s Time
Now we know who William Shakespeare was, we take a closer look at the world in which he lived. His plays and sonnets are the product of the social and political time in which he was writing. This article provides a succinct overview of the factors that affected his writing.3. Lesson 3: Shakespeare’s Tragedies
Shakespeare wrote three different types of plays (tragedies, comedies and histories). Here we explore the common features of his tragedies – which includes his most memorable plays like Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet and Macbeth.
4. Lesson 4: Shakespeare’s Comedies
Next we turn our attention to Shakespeare’s comedies – a list that includes the classic Much Ado About Nothing!
5. Lesson 5: Shakespeare’s Histories
Before we leave Shakespeare’s plays, we should mention the histories. These were hugely popular at the time and plays like Henry V are among the Bard’s best written.
6. Lesson 6: Shakespeare’s Sonnets
Shakespeare is also famous for his poetry, and his sonnets are considered by many to be the best collection of love poetry ever written. This article provides an overview of the story that connects them.
7. Lesson 7: What is a Sonnet?
The sonnets are written in a strict form of poetic verse – find out more here.
8. Lesson 8: How to Read Shakespeare Aloud
Reading Shakespeare aloud really gives you a sense of the language because it was written for the stage, not for books! This guide will give you the confidence to speak the Bard’s words out loud and really get to grips with his language.
9. Lesson 9: Iambic Pentameter
Shakespeare wrote in iambic pentameter … sounds scary, but it isn’t! This short article sums it all up in one go.
10. Lesson 10: Shakespeare Authorship Debate
This Shakespeare 101 would not be complete without dipping our toe into the Shakespeare Authorship Debate. Some believe that William Shakespeare of Stratford-upon-Avon wasn’t the real author of the plays or sonnets. Discover the conspiracy theories here!
