Shakespeare
and all that (c)
By Michael
Casey
I just read
in the Daily Telegraph that Shakespeare was coming back, no not from the dead
just back to the syllabus. Yes Shakespeare can be hard, very hard even. Nowaday
you can get good notes. For example Cliffs notes on Internet for Macbeth or
whatever. Then on Amazon by Longman's guide to Macbeth. Then back to
Utube/Internet and you'll get 4 versions of the play. So that's a head start
already, assuming your teacher is good they he/she will bring it to life for
you. I'd say read the play, look at the Cliffs notes on your own before the
teacher starts on the course. If you are doing it on your own for fun or for
the OU then just read he play look at the notes, watch all 4 versions of the
play on Utube. You can even find sites that'll have essays on the subject. You
may have to pay a few quid for access, OR you just read the 1st page of over 40
essays. The internet is your library so use it. Get drunk and read it, or have
4 litres of Dr Pepper, 10 bars of chocolate or whatever makes you happy then
read the play. I did a bit of Shakespeare at the OU and I taught a bit too, so
I know its doable. Don't be afraid, its just words on paper. BUT you can bring
them to life, put silly voices on, do silly walks, sit in MacDonalds and do it.
Go to the park and do it. Chop it to size, and do it. 14 years ago I relearnt
my Spanish in a couple of months, all I did was 15mins a day, every day for a
couple of months. I chopped the Spanish to size. Shakespeare is simpler than
doing Spanish after a 25year break. Once in Barcelona I spent a week in a tapas
bar, but that's another story. Please Please Please give Shakespeare a try.
There are tavelling theatre companies after all, get your school to get one to
come and put on a show. Did you know there are even theatre companies that work
in prisons? We had a film called Shakespeare in Love go and watch that. Then
with fear banished, lose your virginity with Shakespeare.
p.s. 6848 views of my sample chapter on funny or die
google "michaelgcasey" to find it, then buy my books on
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Michael-Casey/e/B00571G0YC/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
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