Old English, Middle English and Shakespeare

[Englishuser]

Hi,

Have many of you read Old English or Middle English texts? How do you find reading such old texts? Have you read texts from the Old English Period in translation into modern English? What kind of texts from these eras are you acquainted with (literary works or scientific texts [scientific texts especially from the Middle English period are widely available])?

What about reading William Shakespeare's plays and sonnets? Would anyone be interested in discussing or analysing a particular play or poem?

Best wishes to you all.

[Jamie (K)]

[Englishuser]

Hi again, Jamie,

And thanks for your post. It's nice to know that you've taught the history of English: knowing this I can post a question concerning Old or Middle English should I have someting particularly tricky to reflect on.

I'm also very pleased to find a university professor like you here on an ESL forum. I dare say that very few professors, at least older ones, would bother to use forums like this: I would assume that most of them use forums that are targeted for academics.

Best wishes.