How well do you know Shakespeare?

[Englishuser]

Hi Pamela,

I know three languages well and have studied three more. I am ashamed to admit I haven't had a go at as many languages as Jamie has, but perhaps I will. Why do you ask?

EU

[Pamela]

It's plain curiosity, EU. I myself want to know as many languages as possible. By the way, do you understand Russian?

[Englishuser]

Hi Pamela,

I have studied Russian but don't know the language that well. I can understand some, I suppose.

EU

[Pamela]

Not bad! Well, many foreigners find it very tough to learn but I met some foreigners(Italians), whose command of the language was pretty good.

[Hopeless_Girl]

hello,
From Shakespeare to "supreme English", that's interesting. I have read only a half of "Hamlet" because it's too difficult for me to follow the main thought of monologuge, which extends on two pages But I enjoyed The Midsummer and The Tempest. It's not the case of archaic language but of sophisticated style. I like Shakespearian comedies, as my teacher noticed, mainly because I prefer laughing to reflecting upon complicated situation of human being in the world. I can strongly recommend his comedies and sonnets.

[NancyPants]

Hopeless Girl,

Since being forced to study 'Hamlet' two months ago, I've bought/watched no fewer than 4 dvd versions, in addition to the BBC Radio version I downloaded to my iPod (for when I work-out - no joke). Obviously, I've developed a huge crush on the boy. However, I understand how merely reading it, without having seen it, can prove confusing. Here's my method for absorbing the material:

1) Rent or buy Ken Branagh's version (1996); it's the only unabridged film version of the play. (Don't download it, you need the actual dvd).

2) Run the English subtitles throughout. This allows you to read the play as you see it, thereby helping to define the characters, as well as clarify any confusion over Will's usage of words (which, in all likelihood, he completely made-up). Plus, it's just a great movie. I have a few issues with the casting (Charlton Heston as the 'Player King'? C'mon.) but the fact that it's unabridged more than compensates for any shortcomings within the casting.

3) Download the BBC version (1980) from Amazon for $2. Ahh...Patrick Stewart as 'Claudius', Derek Jacobi ('Claudius' in Branagh's version) playing 'Hamlet'...the BBC does Shakespeare right. In my (totally 'unconfirmable') opinion, this version must be closest to how Will had intended us to see it.

Hope you give it another try!