Shakespeare's educational value?

[SoulTYPE]

Do you believe that Shakespeare is a valid source of education in schools? If so, why?
Why not?

 

[No*s]

Yes, it has educational value. Shakespeare's language is not only beautiful, but has been used as a standard to teach English with for a loooong time. His stories also deal with the fundamental nature of people. When we read them, we may look into ourselves and learn what we are like. As such, they can help us learn to think and get into touch with morality.

 

[SoulTYPE]

A good source of English then, No*S?

 

[kiwimac]

As well it is good for people to come into contact with some of the best English prose and poetry even penned.

Kiwimac

 

[SoulTYPE]

I guess I answered too soon. Thanks kiwimac dude.

 

[No*s]

A good source of English then, No*S?

Yes. Shakespeare is one of the best (if not the best) source of English. His is more archaic, obviously, but the elegance is still apparent. It's always best to see it on stage, though .

 

[SoulTYPE]

Thank you for your inout in this thread No*S.

 

[No*s]

Welcome . I like Shakespeare. My favorite is MacBeth with Julius Caesar coming in second.

 

[robtex]

I am not a fan of shakespeare but I liked NO*'s post a lot. I would like to add though that because of the strong character development in his plays that many teachers in my high school days used it as a medium to explore philosphical concepts which was nice since there was no philosphy class offered in my high school. I am guessing that it is probably common for high school teachers to make a philosphy lecture or disscussion after reading one of his plays.

 

[SoulTYPE]

:sarcastic

Thanks Robtex.

 

[Scuba Pete]

"To pun or not to pun, aye, that is the quesiton?"

I LOVE Shakespeare! He has been the source of many a pun for me!

 

[SoulTYPE]

To frubal ND or not to frubal ND..

Spread Karma around before giving it to NetDoc again..hmph. Someone post something good so I ca n frubal ND again.

 

[Jaymes]

Shakespeare is awesome. I don't know why they do the Romeo and Juliet crap... Macbeth all the way! :woohoo:

 

[No*s]

*raises glass*

To Macbeth!

 

[lilithu]

I would like to add though that because of the strong character development in his plays that many teachers in my high school days used it as a medium to explore philosphical concepts which was nice since there was no philosphy class offered in my high school. I am guessing that it is probably common for high school teachers to make a philosphy lecture or disscussion after reading one of his plays.

Definitely! The Bard's plays are actually pretty weak plotwise, but the philosophical questions that the characters raise in their dialogues and monologues raises it to another level. Plus, he was just a master wordsmith - puns, double entendres, whithering insults. I actually (slightly) prefer his comedies to his tragedies for that reason.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

It is a tale, told by ...

 

[anders]

If the religious right understood what Shakespeare meant, they would campaign to have him comprehenively banned. How many of you understand that "Get thee to a nunnery" (Hamlet III.i.124) is telling Ophelia to get a job in a brothel? Here's one tip to you all: When the Bard introduces an utterance with "Oh! Oh!" or the like, you can be pretty sure that there will follow a very explicit sexual pun. Sometimes he doesn't even try to disguise the meaning: In the second part of Henry VII (v.iii.98) Pistol says "A foutre for thine office", using the French word in much the same way that you might talk about "giving a f**k.". Try reading Romeo and Juliet (II.iv.93-103). Hints: "natural" means "a fool", "bauble" (literally a child's toy) refers to a certain male appendage, and "tale" puns on "tail". "Hole" means the same thing as in Song of Solomon 5: 4-6, that is, not the censored and distorted version of the KJV, but very obviously referring to the vagina.

 

[lilithu]

If the religious right understood what Shakespeare meant, they would campaign to have him comprehenively banned. How many of you understand that "Get thee to a nunnery" (Hamlet III.i.124) is telling Ophelia to get a job in a brothel?

And to think that Mel Gibson uttered these words. For shame Mel, for shame! :tsk:

 

[Jaymes]

Half the fun of Shakespeare is figuring out what the hell is being said.

 

[Sunstone]

I've long thought that Christianity would be a better religion if it ditched the bible, but elevated Shakespeare to sacred literature. Shakespeare's understanding of human nature is much superior to the bible's, to say nothing of his prose and poetry being superior. Am I an infidel for believing this?