Finally, you're ready to read one of Shakespeare's plays. If you find a copy
that is annotated or has great footnotes, you can learn far more about
Shakespeare's era and language than from any performance. It's also helpful to
have a dictionary or glossary to look up new words.
Many students who study Shakespeare recommend keeping a notebook while
reading. In it, write down the meanings of words that confuse you. Also make
notes about characters and plot developments. In some of Shakespeare's comedies,
the stories can become very tangled before arriving at "happily ever after."
Almost every popular Shakespeare play has been made into a movie, so if you
become very confused, borrow the DVD from the library or rent it from the video
store.
Once you are accustomed to Shakespeare's language, stories, and their
historical contexts, it's like riding a bicycle: Even if you don't see another
Shakespeare play for years, you'll still remember what you've learned the next
time you go to a movie based on Shakespeare's works, or hear a reference to
them.
Shakespeare was a great writer, and with a little work, you'll successfully
decipher his plays. And you'll be very glad that you did.