So…this is going to be a bit of a different post.
I decided to listen to an audiobook of Two Noble Kinsmen. I have listened to a number of audiobooks before with varying degrees of success, but I thought this would be fine and that I would be able to catch at least the gist of the play.
That’s not how it worked out.
So this is a complete fail for me. Under most circumstances, I would simply listen to it again or sit down and read it. But with how many plays i have to get through in the next few weeks, and a number of other projects I am working on when I’m not at my full-time job, it’s not really an option for now.
I listened to this play all the way through, but I honestly couldn’t tell you anything about it. (Possibly there’s a scene about somebody meeting in a forest?) So instead of actually talking about my thoughts on this specific play, I thought I would offer a few tips for reading Shakespeare, based on what I’ve learned from successful experiences and not-so-successful experiences.
- Finding high-quality adaptations is difficult but essential. When Shakespeare is poorly done, it is excruciating. This is why so many people think they don’t like the Bard: they’ve only seen dreadful attempts to teach or perform him. Check out my post on my favorite adaptations for a good place to begin.
- Along those lines, if you are listening to or watching a play and you feel like it is dreadful, take comfort in knowing that it is likely just a poor adaptation. Don’t let it discourage you from trying again!
- Don’t worry about catching every detail the first time you are reading a play. Focus on the big picture. These are stories! Enjoy the characters and the progression of the action. Come back another time to analyze it.
- As I have discovered this year, not every Shakespeare play is created equal. These are my favorites (from a few months ago; I’ll post an updated list after the end of the year). But mostly, just find one that sounds interesting to you.
- Keep a little marker in the Dramatis Personae so that you can easily turn back. With some plays, it can be hard to keep track of everyone, and this can help with that.
- Trust your instincts. If something doesn’t appear to make sense at face value and it seems to mean the opposite of the way it sounds, that’s probably the case.
- Pay attention to punctuation. It provides huge clues that add a lot of clarity. Regardless of whether publishers and scholars added them well after Shakespeare’s death, they’re still very helpful.
- Embrace not knowing. Because wisdom.
I hope these are helpful!
I will be back shortly with another post and this time, I promise, will be one that is actually about the next play on my list.
