What is the best way to read Shakespeare?

[birdstothewind]

I need to read Henry IV these holidays and my school has suggested a version with both the traditional text and a modern language translation. Would I be better to read the traditional text or the translation first, or should I read them consecutively?

[Jezza]

In any Shakesperian novel I would personally read it translated first so you can gain an understanding of the themes of the text. After doing that reading it in Shakesperian language won't seem difficult to the reader.

That's the way I would approach it but everyone is different. My advice to any student completing English in 2014 is read all your novels on the holidays and start compiling a list of themes for each novel and gaining an overall understanding of the text.

[90+FTW]

Read the modern version in order to get a general understanding of the play (it's awesome btw), and then I would read the traditional, alternating every now and then perhaps.

You should start doing some personal analysis as well. Believe me, it helps!

[EvangelionZeta]

How much Shakespeare have you done already?  To be perfectly honest, if you aren't completely new to Shakespeare, I would recommend reading the original first to get a feel for the *language*, which is a really central part of the entire Shakespearean experience tbh.  Maybe watch a film version if need be, but you need the original taste of the language.  Once you've gone through that, then go look at a translation to make sure you haven't really missed the meaning of things - and then if you have time, go back and reread it again in the original.

[birdstothewind]

How much Shakespeare have you done already?  To be perfectly honest, if you aren't completely new to Shakespeare, I would recommend reading the original first to get a feel for the *language*, which is a really central part of the entire Shakespearean experience tbh.  Maybe watch a film version if need be, but you need the original taste of the language.  Once you've gone through that, then go look at a translation to make sure you haven't really missed the meaning of things - and then if you have time, go back and reread it again in the original.

I studied Romeo and Juliet in year 10 and Macbeth this year, so this certainly isnt my first Shakespeare experience But after all that I still think I need to find better ways to read it and take it all in, especially to quote.

[brenden]

How much Shakespeare have you done already?  To be perfectly honest, if you aren't completely new to Shakespeare, I would recommend reading the original first to get a feel for the *language*, which is a really central part of the entire Shakespearean experience tbh.  Maybe watch a film version if need be, but you need the original taste of the language.  Once you've gone through that, then go look at a translation to make sure you haven't really missed the meaning of things - and then if you have time, go back and reread it again in the original.

I agree with this. Even in uni I read (past tense kind of 'red) original, THEN modern, and time in uni is scarce.

I wonder if perhaps you've never been instructed on how to read SS..? I'm talking things like -- dont pause at the end of lines, pause at commas, read it in your head paying attention to the rhythm/meter. You don't need to consciously break down the syllables to get yourself into the "flow" of the writing (most of the time :p)
Google is your friend. Google how to read SS and it will become more friendly to you.
Trust me, there's a lot there that you'll miss out on if you trust your translators too much. Always take the translates versions as 'guides' instead of the real thing. Sometimes they sacrifice any puns or double entendres etc for clarity in language.

*typed on phone so if there are any random letters missing, that's why*

[indkel]

Maybe try watching a film adaptation or live play version of the text you're studying? It really helps to put hard-to-understand parts in context

[mackintosh]

You should be primarily focusing on the traditional text. Only refer to the 'translated' version if you have absolutely no idea what is going on in a certain section. Each key word that Shakespeare chooses is layered with meaning that you can only get from the traditional text. Taking note of word choice, syntax, etc that are only accessible in the traditional text is what will make how you think about the play, and what you write about it stand-out to examiners and ultimately get you higher scores. Being able to visualize stage action is very important, and therefore a proper film version of the play or recorded performance is often very helpful- however like anything its staging is open to interpretation, so be sure to know the original text well before watching anything.

[meganrobyn]

You should be primarily focusing on the traditional text. Only refer to the 'translated' version if you have absolutely no idea what is going on in a certain section. Each key word that Shakespeare chooses is layered with meaning that you can only get from the traditional text. Taking note of word choice, syntax, etc that are only accessible in the traditional text is what will make how you think about the play, and what you write about it stand-out to examiners and ultimately get you higher scores. Being able to visualize stage action is very important, and therefore a proper film version of the play or recorded performance is often very helpful- however like anything its staging is open to interpretation, so be sure to know the original text well before watching anything.

Amen to all of that, especially re the layers of meaning - the 50 is suddenly clear...

[qqla]

Reading both the traditional play and modern translation concurrently doesn't hurt, that's what I did for my first reading. Sure it took twice as long, but I didn't have to scramble to footnotes for funky words I didn't know.

It's better than blindly reading through the traditional script without knowing what's going on anyway.

[charmanderp]

I'd say the best thing to do is read the original first. Or, even better, watch a performance of the play, either live or on YouTube.

Another thing to do is to read the 'No Fear Shakespeare' editions of his plays, published by SparkNotes. What they do is present the original text version of the play on one page, and then on the next page is the same text but in a modern translation. So you're reading the original and modern versions side by side, thus gaining a familiarity with the language and an understanding of the actual content simultaneously.