Kevin's Advice on Studying Shakespeare

Dear Alissa,

I'm happy to hear you have chosen to study English! It's a very rewarding major. Mom told me you are a bit nervous about taking English 382 (the course on Shakespeare) next semester. Hopefully this letter will help assuage your fears.

In the first unit, we studied Shakespeare's sonnets. Honestly, I initially thought it was kind of boring since, to me, they all sounded about the same. However, we were then asked to produce our own sonnet. I had never written a poem with such strict rules before--iambic pentameter, 14 lines, alternating rhyme pattern--and found it to be quite difficult. The one I wrote for class wasn't that great, but it made me appreciate Shakespeare's brilliance. Furthermore, I actually grew to really like composing sonnets--my notebook is full of them! My girlfriend likes them, too... :) It turned out to be a positive experience and probably my favorite unit. Considering how much you enjoy dabbling in poetry, I'm sure you'd love it.

Reading Shakespeare's plays were really tough. The format, the allusions, and the themes were all unfamiliar to me. Because it was so difficult to understand, researching and writing about it was even more intimidating. Nevertheless, by the end of the course I grew to appreciate (and at times even look forward to) reading the bard's excellent works. A few things that helped me out:

1.) Shmoop and Sparknotes--professors don't necessarily love to see their students run to these sources, but they really are quite helpful in introducing characters, the general plot, and themes. Don't get to reliant on these, but use them as a part of your pre-reading experience.

2.) Talk about what you are learning/reading with peers. It was a huge help to see how fellow students were interpreting the text and where they were going for research sources. Organize a reading group or an online channel (Slack) and throw around ideas.

I think one of the most helpful/insightful learning strategies I tried out was experimenting with non-traditional and social sources. I never imagined Prezis, YouTube videos, blogs, Vimeo, and even social media networks could provide information that supported an academic thesis; sometimes it was those sources that sparked inspiration or made crucial connections. When it came to social sources, I was very reserved. However, being pushed to seek out experts and enthusiasts was a great experience for me because it showed me that it is very possible to connect with brilliant minds and get quality insights. 

If I had any one overarching suggestion, I think it would be this: take chances. Don't be the introverted English major (that I sometimes am haha). Doing so will result in unforeseen learning opportunities, and you might even find yourself jumping on the Shakespeare bandwagon.

Love ya,

Kevin

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"Gaylie's Advice on Studying Shakespeare"

“Gaylie’s Advice on Studying Shakespeare”

Travis Mark,

If you ever decide to study English, don’t let anyone tell you that Shakespeare is antiquated and unapproachable. While the language may be a little different from what we use when talking with our friends or what we hear in most movies and shows, it is still English and with a little confidence you can understand the Bard.

Plus, if you let your fears govern your reading selection, you will find your way hedged up on several sides, denying you some truly enlightening opportunities. Travis, Shakespeare is lauded a lot, especially in English literature, and while I don’t find all of his works particularly intriguing some of his stuff is truly fascinated. While studying some of his works this semester, I have been impressed with the universal themes so prevalent in his works.

I got to study Hamlet and then go see a live broadcast of the play starring Benedict Cumberbatch. Travis, it was amazing!

I gained a lot from that experience, and learned a lot about how I, personally, should approach Shakespeare and even literature in general. If you are ever feeling stuck, I hope this will be relevant for you.

One of my favorite parts of seeing Hamlet was being able to see the different artistic modifications made by the directors and actors. It was so interesting to me to see how different aspects were portrayed. I was also impressed by the variation in readings and understanding that were presented.

If you move forward in literature I would highly recommend that you pick topics in the literature that interest you. For me that was in an artistic vein, which based on your current interests, I think that will be something that fascinates you as well. Travis, read the work looking for those themes or for the ways the author formats and presents those themes.

Then explore the ideas of others! I would high recommend that you find friends to talk about the works with. Some of my most meaningful experiences in Shakespeare class and as an English major have come from gaining perspective by listening to and discussing the thoughts of others. And don’t be afraid to turn to visual sources and media sources to draw on for material.

Finally, pour yourself into whatever you are doing. On the Friday before my final project was due I found myself spending hours into digitally creating the image that accompanied my final presentation and trying to cleverly articulate my point in the form of a recipe. Did it take a while? Yes, but it was so worth it. Even doing that really helped me get excited about what I was learning and form a personal connection with what could have been just another English paper.

Travis by doing these things you will have a far better understanding of the topic and it will mean more to you. That will be crucial whether it is for writing a paper, preparing for an exam, or simply providing fuel to persevere as an English major despite the general lack of respect you may face.

Travis Mark, life is what you make it, and literature can help you get so much more out of the limited time and opportunities you have been given.

Love you little brother, best of luck!

Gaylie

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