How to Read (and Understand) Shakespeare!

Trying to read (and understand) the work of William Shakespeare can be intense, so I made this whistle-stop tour of his sonnets and plays, with an introduction about how they're written and some tips on how to approach them!
my channel: / thejackexperience

[@pivojwpvpjwiefn]

I mean, you can't beat the old, "What, you egg? *He kills him*"

[@TheMrsapplecake]

WILLY WE'RE NOT AFRAID OF YOU IS THE MOST UNDERRATED QUOTE OF ALL TIME THANK YOU

[@Bonjourdimanche]

IKR! I was going through the comments just to see if anyone caught that 😂

[@suhanakhatun168]

I love how he just took a picture with William..Looks like they are good friends.

[@aminamarih9397]

As someone whose third language is English, Shakespeare can be quite intimidating! I’m only halfway through the video and I can’t wait to look more into his work! (First Ruby gets me into Emily Dickinson and now I’m into Shakespeare! You guys might make me change my major.😂)

[@Andy-lm2zp]

Watch "much ado about noting" By Keneth Branagh a JOY !

[@olxxa4967]

Same. English is my third language too. I read one time and I stopped because I didn't understand. Now, I want to try again.

[@ChickenNugget-zh9bn]

@@olxxa4967 Wow, you're both lucky to know 3 languages

[@atlroxmysox98]

Don’t feel bad, Shakespeare intimidates even us native English speakers 😅

[@chambeet]

Agree with Princess Diana Rollerskating (LOL, what a name. Is that a Crown reference?)-Shakespeare intimidates the HELL out of me, and I’m a native English speaker. He’s very difficult, I don’t care what anyone says. The literary GOAT, though.

[@michelle4008]

Jack, dude, I'm starting Macbeth tommorow and I needed this so freaking much! THANK YOOOUUUUU!!!❤❤❤

[@rhiannasaglani7404]

itsmickey Macbeth is glorious, ENjoy ❤️

[@pivojwpvpjwiefn]

LADY MACBETHS SOLILOQUY! Remember it, its the most important part of the play (themes of masculinity, power, supernatural, CONSPIRACIES!). Macbeth is great have fun!

[@chloelikesgatoraid1939]

lmao i just joined shakespeare club so id seem cool. i freaked out so here I am

[@rizaansari80]

Thumbnail -oh Shakespeare is just an old friend of mine.

[@zofia4334]

if English is not your first language, I highly recommend finding the newest translations of Shakespeare's works to get started - they aren't that intimidating as they're easier to read, and can be so much fun, especially the comedies!

[@Beartrapxx]

Thank you so much for sharing this.

[@Astro-lh5od]

Thank you!!

[@loladean9622]

The two dislikes are Ben Jonson and Christopher Marlowe

[@WithThatBeingSaid82]

Lola Dean 😂👍🏻

[@Andy-lm2zp]

@@reshmah606 Greene eyed monster !

[@syrasile]

Lol

[@leexster]

You really outdid yourself with the thumbnail this time round. 🔥

[@ania7823]

I am from germany and english is my third language, this video saved me! we are just getting started on Shakespeare and I was quite scared to actually start reading, now I am excited and cant wait to start ^^

[@KitKat-mt7eq]

I needed this SO MUCH and Jack made it so easy to understand while being interesting

[@agustinadesirellopaz2973]

I'm a non-native English speaker getting acquainted with Shakespeare for the first time and this has been incredibly helpful. Your main channel is fire as well! Thanks Jack

[@justluc8556]

This is exactly what I needed omg--literally just started reading Hamlet. Thank youuu

[@rakeshtripathi9666]

This came at the right time , this is the first time I'm reading a "play" and it's merchant of Venice really excited !

[@user-ps4xb7sd8n]

One of the courses I take requires me to write something about Shakespeare but I am not sure how to start, and it occurred to me that Jack did this video. THANK YOU STUDYTUBE!!!!!

[@emilyking4493]

Shakespeare is so fun!! I highly reccomend reading out loud, the way the words move in your mouth is really incredible.

[@Juviosa_]

Thank you! Just starting out with the sonnets and I am truly inspired by the mystery and artistry. Its hard but im not giving up!

[@taaptee]

this is so great THANK YOU JACK!!!

[@aryac5599]

Loved the topic of Shakespeare!

[@anastasiapetrikova]

Yes to educating the youth! Very interesting video, Jack!

[@noahraber2621]

This video helps so much! Shakespeare has always confused me but I find it interesting how people interpret Shakespeare. I just want to be able to understand what the lines are saying!

[@noramcnabb1361]

This would have been so helpful in January when I read R+J but will still be helpful when I take Brit lit in two years!!

[@larajakob7718]

A fantastic video - I am sharing with all my students!

[@jodiesimone8291]

You're brilliant at this! So hope you are a teacher -- in-person (as well) -- to young people. Thank you.

[@blaise31]

I just finished reading Shakespeare on Toast since my school absolutely butchered Shakespeare when I took it seven years ago. I've really been wanting to get a better understanding of the work because the way he writes is absolute genius!

[@ericminerv]

Wow, i just found this channel and am so happy i did. Very helfull video and loved his way of speaking. Thanks!

[@louisa.g492]

hi! would it be possible to do more videos on niche aspects of your degree that someone wouldn't come across in a-level study? really been loving what you're creating though

[@rhiannasaglani7404]

by the way guys, if you're into Shakespeare's sonnets and are curious as to who the dark lady is, many theories point to Emilia Lanier-bassano who was the first woman to realll gain a game as aa poet. the play by Morgan Lloyd Malcolm about her is incredibly interesting and shows Shakespeare and his works in an incredibly new light.

[@kelmasaraiva2546]

Very helpful! Thanks Jack

[@nooz797]

I just started Hamlet with the collection Shakespeare Made in Easy, and it’s very simple ! You have the original text with the modern version on the other page, a real pleasure to read

[@charlesring9579]

Man,you r so cool! Thank you for this! Today I won a literature quiz and the prize was the Oxford Complete works of Shakespeare, and this was the video I turned to to prepare for reading it all (1200 pages). Great work, keep it up man! Thank you from Sweden.

[@perosa99]

Thank you very much. That was of great help. I am going to start with the sonnets and one of the popular plays. I will look for an edition with notations for assisting and take my time. 👍🏼

[@christinacasandra2245]

Bro you are a freaking God send!!! THANK YOUUUUU!!!!!

[@oscaralextv]

Loved this video. I learned so much.

[@almedin3852]

I study English language and literature (here in Bosnia and Herzegovina) and I am so proud of myself that I knew almost all of it (I am a first-year student and we will be dealing with Shakespeare in particular in the 3rd year). 🥺❤️✌🏼 Disclaimer: We have read only several sonnets so far and I have absoluetly no idea how I’m going to read the plays haha, but I was referring to basic information about him in this comment. 😁

[@sineadadell5476]

I'm doing shakespeare in A2 need this!!!!

[@sarahc4508]

This is the most helpful video I've ever seen - where was this when I did english lit!!!

[@lelux62]

I’ll start with Shakespeare in class next week! And next year I will have a final exam on Macbeth so thank you so much!:)

[@lucho4828]

This video is so useful, because I have to read Macbeth ! Thanks so much 💜

[@yj6118]

This reminded me that my first intro to Shakespeare was that one episode of The Suite Life of Zack and Cody where they’re performing A Midsummer Night’s Dream 😂😂

[@rondoflicflac]

Thank you Jack!!!!

[@anajulianocera1406]

I love this videooo!! My favourite content is from the English students

[@doodlingkiddo4913]

Thank you so much! Wicked!

[@raemia]

Really helpful and well explained! Thanj you!

[@feriel2672]

we livin for jack explaining literature

[@curtpiazza1688]

Great lesson! Thanx!

[@infinebow7810]

I watched The globe's Macbeth that they put up online recently and honestly, how funnn

[@sophiemartin5757]

such a great video!

[@moonl0verr]

Just brought the whole collection so- finding out to read rn

[@ReviewsWithAL_]

Haven't done shakespeare in around 4 years but trying to get back into it, very daunting

[@abhipsha5166]

This video really made me passionate about reading the tempest for school this year :))

[@shreya...007]

Thank you so much, we will be reading the merchant of Venice from today. Thank you so much ❤️💕💕💕💕💕💕❤️💕💗

[@user-dp2eo1tk9n]

I was introduced to the merchant of Venice in my school ,now I'm reading Romeo and Juliet all by myself and now I realise the importance of my teacher who taught us the drama

[@anasudar]

I Love this Thank youuuuu

[@alexandervue9464]

This was helpful. I'm starting on Julius Caesar. The language is so beautiful I want to crack this language down so I can understand it without pausing every second

[@TinyDancer250]

Starting Baby Shakes this summer. Thanks Jack.

[@mayas.7364]

We just started Shakespeare in our english class! Thanks from Germany 😊

[@mayas.7364]

@@glymmkira1511 also ich bin in der Q1 in NRW und das sollte eigentlich das letzte Thema für dieses Schuljahr sein, ist jetzt aber mit onlineunterricht n bisschen anders☺️

[@cyclpiancitydweller9517]

Coincidentally i am reading Shakespeare now. The language is quite tough but worth reading. My favourite is Hamlet.

[@aurora3293]

I'm studying Romeo and Juliet!! Btw I love itttt

[@ailawilliamson5141]

I’m getting the book “the complete works of William Shakespeare” soon so this helps a lot thanks!!

[@Andy-lm2zp]

It was his best book!

[@sylviat9825]

OMG... YASSS!!! Could you do an analysis/review of the 'Bell Jar' by Sylvia Plath pretty please?

[@aida087]

Hello Jack, thank you for sharing!! This helps somewhat even though, I still have a hard time understanding Shakespeare's work!! First off, my professor is using an open online source and honestly, ebooks give me literal migraine headaches. Right now he wants us to read 32 pages of "Othello!!"🤦‍♀️ Can you give me any tips on how to get through this play any faster as I have an essay due by rhis weekend lol?

[@czarbuscus1475]

I grew up Christian (still am) and my church used the kjv Bible version which talks like Shakespeare so as a kid in 9th grade it was pretty much like reading the bible at that point.

[@rhiannasaglani7404]

my two favourite men in one video 🥺🤩🤩🥺 can it possible get any better

[@maryjoan9927]

6:30 about weird adaptations... I've seen an adaptation of King Lear which was set in Vatican. King Lear was the Pope (and not present on stage, because the actor died and the theatre didn't replace him out of respect - there was however a TV next to the stage, where they played a recording of the spectacle with the actor; so yes, King Lear was the pope and was not actually present on stage, just his voice), his daughers were the cardinals (yes, elderly men - yet they were still called daughers). And in the name of "the plays are meant to be watched on stage, not read" I didn't read ANYTHING about the plot. I also didn't know that the TV was there because the actor died (I thought it was just an artistic decision). So I was, well, extremely confused. (I love Hamlet though, I've seen 3 different versions and they were all fantastic.)

[@jeremyweitendorf6723]

“now IS the WINter OF our DISconTENT” 💃🏻🕺🏻👯‍♀️

[@camembertfanpage]

Oooooh that was so interesting!

[@hannab.4094]

I don't know if you've found a solution yet or if anyone else reading this might be interested, but i bought a copy of "A midsummer-night's dream" a few weeks ago that has the original play on the left and the german translations on the right page. You can read both seperately but i find it to be quite easy to understand, if you read the translation first and then try to understand the original one. It still is quite a page-by-page-thing, but I would definetely recommend that :)

[@crookedmouth7221]

You are one handsome geezer. Thanks for the vid

[@Margit7824]

Making the mother of all omelettes here, Jack! Can't fret over every egg.

[@fruiteend]

For anyone who likes Shakespeare, I would HIGHLY recommend Something Rotten. It's a musical about 2 brothers who write theater during the time where our man Will is extremely popular. It's absolutely hilarious and perfect for everyone who loves Shakespeare. There are some bootlegs on youtube and some random performances as well. To get an idea of how Shakespeare is portrayed, just look up Hard to be the bard sung by Christian Borle. You will not regret it :)

[@taracorradi2045]

"God I hate Shakespeare"

[@fruiteend]

@@taracorradi2045 *gasps from the ensemble

[@mrs.bonnieshockey6321]

In future videos, would you consider adding that the Petrarchan sonnets play more acutely with the cde section of the sestet? It is not always cd-cd-cd. Also, it can change midstream per the desires of the poet. Sorry to be so nit-picky, but for honors students, this is an integral understanding. :)

[@eGambill]

Thanks for the advice! I wonder if the hair helped! XD

[@CinnamonToast]

the past tense of william shakespeare is williwas shookspeared

[@emilymann377]

shakespeare's father was a glove

[@joshuvuh8118]

4:40 I’m a little confused The 2nd line “Made glorious summer by the sun of York” This has 11 syllables. Is that because this is from a play and not a sonnet where you’d have to commit to that 10 syllable iambic rule?

[@twiglet2214]

Very helpful thanks Jack and nice to see such enthusiasm ( which i share ) for this great work. Now could i drink hot blood and do such bitter business as the day would quake to look on ? Better just check my inbox first to see what's going on !

[@Rivers_TG]

I love Shakespeare and can almost comprehend and understand it but it is still pretty hard to understand (especially with dyslexia, it's a pain with those big words like BRUH)

[@KaranJaiswal-kr6yc]

8:57 - she is the man ❤️

[@kristiannapolder12]

Was told Thomas Wyatt, Sr. was the first to introduce the Italian sonnet and then Shakespeare. Not sure if that's true. Please comment, anyone :)

[@ShenefeltsAudiobooks]

“Shakespeare is the happy hunting ground of all minds that have lost their balance.”-Ulysses by James Joyce

[@tremorsfan]

Much Ado About Nothing is a good start because it's mostly prose.

[@sunflowerthebunbunbunny]

Tarry, rash wonton ;)

[@davehysom2636]

I synced with this until you quoted "the passage of time" slide. Then I'm like, I have no clue what that means. It's a forign language. Other than that, thanks for your work. But doesn't help me understand what the words mean. (OK, good for the rythm. but what do the words mean?)

[@mrsereblaster4428]

5:25

[@f.f.aurnob5452]

6:02

[@allenculpepper9553]

Hallo, Jack, I'm a prof of English lit. You did all right. :-)

[@lovelymeg7367]

Starting today your Subscribers getting up. 🤩🤩🤩 and you will thanks God and my Faiths. 😉

[@shorty21sho]

So who wants to do my hw?

[@marshal1808]

🙏 but you need the right time and mindset to study William Shakespeare's literature. If you aren't ready for it, you will get confused by it. But it's very much appreciated 🙏.

[@user-qm7jp7jz8b]

Still don’t get it

[@clownmonomaniac2630]

im honestly only watching this so i can at least try to understand a play im watching a bit better 😭

[@qwertyTRiG]

The Lion King of based on Hamlet? Are you sure? It probably isn't. This is a really good analysis of the origin of The Lion King, and how it does and doesn't work as a Shakespeare reference: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oKbHm3ijlrl9d9U. From the ever-excellent Kyle Kalgren of Brows Held High.

[@kevinarriaza1951]

So basically you have to study Shakespeare for years at a university in order to understand what youre reading… well i kinda regret buying my two books of his now…

[@Tolstoy111]

No you don't. Not at all. Get a filmed production and read along with it. It becomes perfectly clear.

[@Niko-vl5jf]

Did I understand any of it? No, no I did not 😭

[@user-jw7lg2re5u]

Shakespeare has good plots and interesting stories, but I can’t enjoy them because I can’t understand the way he wrote so here I am

[@hannahcrockett9479]

secondd

[@dannysmusic6207]

First

[@sianahossain3537]

"Slow and steady wins the race." I followed this for all of my primary and most of my secondary life by going slow in races and I always go slow and steady but always lose. Loke what is this moral. Don't follow it.

[@johnbooth1110]

Your what? going to look in to the eye of willy. hahahahahahahahah

[@johnbooth1110]

Dood he introduced 2000 new words to the english language ,

[@youtubemagic8087]

I dont like reading