If you can, look at your local library for stage plays of Shakespeares plays.

Shakespeare wrote them to be acted out, not to be read like a book. Even I (who absolutely LOVE his plays) get confused when I read them to myself like I would a book.

I buy several copies for each of my reading members of the family, and we each pick a character and then we read together. This is a fun way to get a good idea of what is happening.

Another thing that has helped me, is to watch the stage plays first, before reading the plays. I get the general idea of the story line, then can go back and read with the kids. Discuss certain parts, or ideas, and what we think of them.

The fun thing, is that Shakespeares plays can mean something entirely different to another person. And discussing it, makes you see what the other person saw, and them see what you saw, so get a double learning whammy by discussing what you learned.

Don't give up! This is something definatley worth learning!

LadyPoet

Tiffany Earl and Aneladee Milnes, founders of Leadership Education Methods Institute, recommend Cliffscomplete versions of the Shakespeare plays. However, Cliffscomplete hasn't done all of them. The great thing about Cliffscomplete is that there are sidenotes and commentaries on each scene. Our Co-op just produced Twelfth Night and it was great! It helped the youth understand the play much better. We also studied The Merchant of Venice with the Cliffscomplete version. Watching the movies is a great idea also or seeing the live play performed. My favorite Romeo & Juliet is the one with Leonardo di Caprio though they use guns instead of swords but the acting is incredible. I just rented The Merchant of Venice with Al Pacino as Shylock. There are some ridiculous and unnecessary nude scenes in the beginning. Maybe look on Cleanflicks for a cleaned up version. Also all of the Branagh versions of Shakespeare are great but they add some inappropriate scenes. If you can find edited versions or have one of those DVD players that take out the bad parts, they are worth viewing.

Becky,

We bought the entire works of Shakespeare in paperback from Amazon.com-- all at 1-3 dollars each! We have the works together in a beautiful hard-bound as well, but it was nice to get the paperbacks so we can make notes, etc., without worrying about it. They only have a few needed footnotes at the bottom of the pages, and so aren't as "dumbed down," as some others.

As a side note, I ALWAYS read Shakespeare aloud-- even to myself. It makes it much easier to understand, and it can then register in my mind audibly. Shakespeare wrote PLAYS-- not novels. I think that reading them as they were intended is the best way to go. Putting one on or watching one is even better!

I HTH!

Hugs,