How to Read and Understand Shakespeare

To Listen or Not to Listen…

This is a fantastic, but short, course providing techniques for understanding Shakespeare. As a precursor, I have always enjoyed the wit of Shakespeare and his command of language. Shakespeare mastered wordcraft like no one before or since, and I am awed by his ability to layer multiple meanings into a simple phrase. So, a reader of this review should understand that I am more than a little biased toward the Bard. The professor is more than a little biased too and clearly admires Shakespeare as the greatest writer in the history of the English language.

This course does not attempt to analyze all of Shakespeare's plays. Instead, this course presents interpretative techniques such as the "foul is fair and fair is foul" technique and the "block to love" technique. He explains various techniques, then selects a play where a technique works particularly well and applies the technique to that play. In that manner, the professor provides detailed analysis for about a half-dozen of Shakespeare's plays. The professor does a good job explaining the techniques and demonstrating the application. Though I was a fan of Shakespeare before this course, I feel better armed now to interpret plays. The professor shared new insights and thoughtful observations. The professor has made me even more interested in Shakespeare, and I look forward to my next opportunity to catch a play.

31 of 31 people found this review helpful

Shakespeare Made Easy

This is the lecture series I wish existed back in high school. Prof. Conner gives us the means by which to understand the Bard on multiple levels, and at no point is he pretentious about it. The richness of the plays, the characters, the themes... it's all demystified and comes alive thanks to the tools that are offered and applied to about 2/3 of Shakespeare's repertoire.

23 of 24 people found this review helpful

A Really Useful and Enjoyable Guide

What made the experience of listening to How to Read and Understand Shakespeare the most enjoyable?

I originally took a college course in Shakespeare mumble years ago from a man who was a true Shakespeare scholar and fell in love with Shakespeare's plays. Professor Conner is every bit his equal and comes from a different direction. Not only did I learn new ways to see and appreciate the plays, but gained valuable tools for reading and seeing them again in a new light.

What was one of the most memorable moments of How to Read and Understand Shakespeare?

So many to choose from... I would say that his analysis of the female characters in Hamlet was quite memorable. I had never really paid attention to how strong these characters (and many other female characters in other plays) really are.

Which character – as performed by Professor Marc C. Conner – was your favorite?

Interesting question and is probably not normally suited for a "Great Courses". But in this case his many readings always illuminated Shakespeare's characters.

Any additional comments?

If you have ever enjoyed a Shakespeare play or ever wanted to THIS is the best course on reading and understanding Shakespeare that I have ever read. It is engaging from beginning to end. I know that I will listen to it again and again.

21 of 22 people found this review helpful

Empowering overview of Shakespeare's works and themes

This is a great introduction for anybody who wants to start from scratch with Shakespeare. The courses are geared towards an assumption that the reader knows very little on the subject, which ultimately makes for a clear presentation.

The professor focuses on a handful of Shakespeare's plays, going over the stories and then illustrating critical analysis tools, and putting them to work. This is the best part-- you first learn how he is going to analyze the play, then observe that very analysis at work. The idea is that you can then delve into these plays on your own with these collected analysis tools.

Highly recommended!

19 of 20 people found this review helpful

Best Shakespeare tool kit I've heard

Professor Conner did an amazing job helping to unpack themes and contexts that undergird all of Shakespeare's plays. By choosing a core group of plays and focusing closely on them, I was also given tools to apply to all of the other plays as well. If you have an inclination to read Shakespeare at all, I highly recommend this lecture series. If you are well read in Shakespeare already, these lectures are still completely worth your time and attention as they will highlight new ideas or remind you of things you've noticed in the past. Very easy to list to and simple to digest his comments.

I'm looking forward to trying a read-along where I read the play and then listen to his lectures that specifically address that play.

8 of 8 people found this review helpful

understanding the Bard

Any additional comments?

as this was a non-fiction lecture series - the helpful review questions don't really apply.

The lectures were short enough to listen to in one sitting without being overwhelming. Each built on the previous, but could stand alone should you be more interested in one play/type of play than the others.

I found the lectures to be useful in understanding how the plays are structured - and what elements I should pay attention to in order to understand the story line. Often there are multiple stories within the play - being able to sort them out for comparison/contrasting helps grasp the overall theme.

I would recommend to anyone wanting to learn more or better appreciate Shakespeare.

24 of 26 people found this review helpful

Helpful prior to teaching

What did you love best about How to Read and Understand Shakespeare?

I have read Romeo and Juliet before, but wanted to brush up on it before my first time teaching it. First I listened to the play using the SmartPass audio from Audible, and then I listened to parts of this lecture. This was a perfect way to get more insight into the play, which really helped me plan my unit.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I really did want to hear all of the parts of this lecture, even though I only needed a few of them.

Any additional comments?

I will definitely listen to this one again, and use it as I would use any teaching resource. Great find!

11 of 12 people found this review helpful

A must listen for the starting out!

If you could sum up How to Read and Understand Shakespeare in three words, what would they be?

Improving your knowledge. This is it. The PDF is a great reference as he touches on so many great part of his works. They layers are so deep an he unfurls them like Russian dolls. I looked forward each day to learning and now have a base understanding of why his work is timeless.

What did you like best about this story?

The professor is passionate through out the course with great cadence and performance. He drills down into all the nuances and detail I would have never known to expand my even deeper appreciation for Shakespeare.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

What a help this would have been in college!

Such a clear & concise description & explanation on how to understand Shakespeare & his Plays. The narrator was easy to understand & follow and not at all difficult to listen to. Highly recommend this Audible book for anyone in learning what makes Shakespeare great and how to understand his plays.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Outstanding

I was taking a Shakespeare unit at University and thought this course might better prepare me for the class. I am so glad I did, this is by far one of the most insightful and helpful courses I've ever listened to. It is a must for anyone who is studying Shakespeare, however lovers of literature will also thoroughly enjoy this course. Professor Connor's passion and enthusiasm is infectious and his unique teaching methods make understanding Shakespeare easy.
I could not recommend this course enough!

3 of 3 people found this review helpful