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Writer's pictureEmma Harper

Why do we actually study Shakespeare in school?

You might have heard about this guy named William Shakespeare. Yeah, the dude from way back who wrote all those famous plays and stuff. Now, you might wonder, why bother digging into those old texts when we've got Netflix and TikTok, right? Well, here's why Shakespeare is still more relevant than you might think:


1. It's Basically About People (Just Like Us): Ever felt love-struck, totally jealous, or wrestled with big decisions? Well, guess what? Shakespeare’s plays are packed with these emotions. His characters might wear fancy old-timey clothes, but deep down, they’re dealing with the same stuff we do today. It's like a peek into the lives of people from centuries ago, yet their feelings totally hit home.



2. The Words He Made Up? Legendary! Imagine creating new words that everyone starts using. That's what Shakespeare did! He created over 1,700 words we still say today, like "eyeball" and "bedroom." The man was a word wizard, and studying his works is like discovering the origin story of the most used words in our language.


3. Drama, Intrigue, and Big Questions: Shakespeare's characters aren’t your typical one-dimensional folks. Nope, they're complex! Think of them like real people with all sorts of quirks and flaws. They grapple with huge dilemmas, like power struggles, moral choices, and love dramas. Exploring their stories gets us thinking about our own lives and decisions.


4. It's Everywhere, Even in Pop Culture: Ever watched a movie or show that felt familiar? Well, it was probably inspired by Shakespeare! His stories have been retold in countless ways, from movies like "10 Things I Hate About You" (based on "The Taming of the Shrew") to songs and even cartoons. Studying Shakespeare helps us catch all those hidden references in today's entertainment.



5. You Get to Be a Detective (But with Words): Reading Shakespeare is like solving a fun puzzle. His language might seem tricky at first, but once you start cracking the code, it's like discovering hidden treasures. You get to think critically, interpret what's going on, and chat about all sorts of intriguing themes and ideas.


6. He's Still Relevant: Believe it or not, Shakespeare's stories are timeless. They touch on issues we still face today—like power struggles, love dramas, and moral dilemmas. It's so crazy how the stuff he wrote ages ago still hits home in the 21st century.



So, diving into Shakespeare isn’t just about reading old texts; it’s like stepping into a time machine of emotions and ideas. It’s like finding loads of relatable stories that happen to be hundreds of years old.


Remember, as Shakespeare said, "All the world’s a stage." And his plays? They’re like front-row tickets to understanding people, language, and life itself.

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