Anyone else think that Shakespeare wasn't that great?

Question

It seems that me and Tolstoy are the only ones...

Answer 1

Shakespeare - overrated play writer



Tolkien, Homer - Underrated

Answer 2

OK, I'll for once feed the troll.

What wasn't he great at exactly? Was he a bad writer for plots? Because you should look for "Two Gentlemen of Verona" in that case, a story about two sets of twins that get separated. It has a mixed up confusing and extremely funny story that also has a number of bawdy sex jokes thrown in. So: complex plot line with sex appeal for the masses. Right, I see why that wouldn't appeal to the masses.

Is it that his plays are unoriginal? Which ones? The histories? Because for that I totally agree, all he did was take someones life and duplicate it on stage! It's like he just studied history and then presented it for an audience! What did he think he was, one of the greatest playwrights of all time?

Is it his use of language that has you down? Because that one I honestly can understand. I had to take three different classes until it dawned on me that he was actually a genius that had the ability to compact story into paragraphs. Look at the opening scene of Hamlet. You have guards on the tower talking about Hamlet's father, the wars that he fought in, the foe he made in those wars, the history of Denmark really, all in that first scene with the ghost. It's all there, all the info you need for the back story is told in basically one paragraph. The problem is that that paragraph is REALLY REALLY hard to understand. It took us like 3 hours in class to break down that one paragraph, it was madness, but once we saw that it moved the scene so much faster and we understood the scene that much better, and that's the thing with Shakespeare: He does that all the time. Willie is great at making something both complex and simple at the same time.

There have been a lot of comments on here saying that you're wrong and I have to agree, he was actually that great. He's probably better than you think even. Give it another chance, give it another try, find a teacher that loves Shakespeare and ask them why he was so great, they can explain it and if you're willing to listen rather than just go "OK, well, but he's not that great. Whatever. Later" you could probably learn to appreciate his writing. It's tough, I'll admit that, but it's amazing stuff.

Answer 3

before everything in case you don't get a headache attempting to understand Shakespeare there is something very very incorrect with you. Shakespeare spoke in a "Dialect" of English, no person has the suited translation for what he suggested some issues we are in a position to purely guess to thier actual which potential. 2d his audiences the place quite often commoners and that they probaly enjoyed the pretentious language at circumstances. "hint" look for the vulgar jokes and impolite worry-unfastened sayings he throws in in specific circumstances. try to locate play on words he throws into his performs. 2d in case you do study a number of his books try analyzing a number of Jasper Fjords Thursday next books, i've got faith they poke exciting at many classic books.

Answer 4

Depends great at what? Writing, story telling or the ability to manipulate language to sound beautiful to the human ear when spoken.



He was talented, educated and an amazing writer. Unfortunately, the english language transforms over time and one day it will be completely impossible to understand.

Answer 5

Anyone else think you are a moron?



Your question should be "Anyone else not understand Shakespeare so therefore feel the need to question his talent?"



Try writing something that people will continue to revere over 400 years from now...

Answer 6

Shakespeare wrote the line



"Villain I have done thy mother" - Titus Andronicus



To come up with the first yo momma joke in recorded history makes him awesome!

Answer 7

I think he wasnt popular in HIS era, but later on, yes. Now, obviously, we're dealing with teen sensations (Let me say UNFORTUNATELY Hannah Montana and Lady GaGa) Shakespeare was at least himself, not sum wack-o twisted name. Yeah, sorry ppl that hate him cuz he doesnt go by "Shakie Alabama".

Answer 8

I love classics..They are so classy...



Shakespeare is cool..His is commercial types and his work was entertainment..He was considered the best. Yeah, Tolstoy is ur type( real)

Answer 9

The fact that you don't see the expression and talent of this man is sad.

Perhaps you just have a bad taste for literature.

Answer 10

shakespeare is totally HOT..He literally made Leonardo Di Caprio's Career.

Answer 11

actually, I think Shakespeares sonnets were better than his plays. But of course, why wouldn't I?

Answer 12

noway ,he was the greatest poet of the ancient world i think he should be the FATHER OF ENGLISH

:p

Answer 13

yeah i don't really care for him either. can't get into othello or hamlet all that much. i mean yeah, the plots okay but the old english kills it for me haha.