Monday, June 24, 2013

The Shakespeare Project

It is quite a simple task: Read the Norton Shakespeare, Second Edition. The only problem about it is its sheer length (over 3000 pages). So this might take a long time, especially since I have lots of other things to do (and I still want to read other books of course). So I think approximately one scene a day will be an appropriate reading speed. I'll see where that'll take me.

I will read the plays in the order of the Norton Shakespeare edition (which I assume is more or less chronological). The first one is The Two Gentlemen of Verona. If I find the time, I'll write some posts in this blog in order to note down my thoughts, and to keep track. I'll also read the introduction chapters about Shakespeare and his time along the lines. I'll read the introductions to the plays after I've read the plays in order not to give too many things away. So much for the boring details.

I will read some plays for the second time (e.g. Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Othello, Macbeth, King Lear), which might prove interesting. I enjoy reading Shakespeare, but I also know that some of his plays are considered minor (or simply bad?); I want to find out for myself now.

The Two Gentlemen of Verona Act One Scene One is already done. There is a lot of heavy punning going on, which some people may find excruciating, but no one said it was going to be easy.

I'm looking forward to comments (here or on twitter), if perchance you read this.