Shakespeare Help

Chris4 · 10-05-2008, 07:24 AM

Hey,

I'm retaking my English GCSE at college.

I have trouble with Shakespeare. We're studying "Much Ado About Nothing" and I feel I'm the only one in the class who doesn't understand what's going on because I can't understand the language and I'm not a big fan of reading as it is (although I'd like to be).

Any ideas? I need to get the book, so wondering if anyone had any recommendations. There's a book called "Cambridge Student Guide to Much Ado About Nothing" (search it on Google) which says it helps you to understand, might get that if nobody has any better recommendations.

Thanks

JennyColada · 10-05-2008, 09:38 AM

Personally, I've always found it helpful to read the book and to get the Cliffsnotes as well (I believe there is also a Cliffsnotes forum which I found very helpful!).

Chris4 · 10-06-2008, 06:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JennyColada

Personally, I've always found it helpful to read the book and to get the Cliffsnotes as well (I believe there is also a Cliffsnotes forum which I found very helpful!).

What exactly is cliff notes?

Most Vicious Pitbull · 10-06-2008, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris4

What exactly is cliff notes?

CliffsNotes - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Chris4 · 10-06-2008, 07:33 AM

I think York Notes (would provide link but can't) are the equivalent in UK

.

Thanks for suggestion.

If anyone else has got any recommendations, let me know.

Esmo · 10-06-2008, 11:11 PM

Well how badly do you not understand what's going on? Is it just some important scenes that you don't get or is the whole plot going over your head? For the latter, or even the former I'd suggest wikipediaing it and see what you can find.

LovetoLive · 10-06-2008, 11:23 PM

I loved that play.
I studied it

.

What stuff dont you get? =/

Chris4 · 10-07-2008, 10:30 AM

I'll probably understand it more after I watch the movie.

Just the language I find hard to understand.

Matt89uk · 10-08-2008, 06:17 AM

Shakespeares a bitch, remember doing various different plays in English. The movie does help slightly, as it gives a brief overview of the events, but as far as I can remember, they aren't exactly as the book is, so some things don't quite add up. I find watching it helps put a face to the name too, so when you're going through the book, and pass a name, scene etc.. you can actually picture it better. But yeah, watch it, seemed to help me.

cedric · 10-08-2008, 04:16 PM

Look up a modern english translation, i did this for a shakespeare and it really helps

burnakow · 10-08-2008, 10:56 PM

I reccomend finding the audio version to listen to while reading the cliffnotes.

Chris4 · 10-09-2008, 10:07 AM

I watched the movie and I'm pleased to say that making notes really helped me and I now understand the story :P

Thanks for the suggestions. I'd definitely like to read a modern English translation of it. Where can I get this?