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How to Read Narrative Poems & History Plays (Shakespeare Project Check-In) (Patreon)

Published:
2023-02-18 19:58:43
Imported:
2026-06
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Content

Today we're discussing what we have accomplished so far with our journey through the works of Shakespeare.

We'll also be talking about how to approach narrative poems like 'Lucrece', the Henry VI history plays, and our club gradings for the first four works.

Timestamps:

  • 0:00 Shakespeare Project check-in
  • 0:51 a personal note of appreciation
  • 2:00 discussing those first four plays
  • 3:00 on grading Shakespeare’s works
  • 5:17 book club rankings for the plays
  • 5:53 The Comedy of Errors
  • 6:30 The Taming of the Shrew
  • 7:38 The Two Gentlemen of Verona
  • 8:24 Titus Andronicus
  • 9:48 Shakespeare’s ‘Lucrece’
  • 11:44 how to read a narrative poem
  • 15:00 how to read imaginative literature
  • 18:30 how to read ‘Lucrece’
  • 21:00 the Henry VI plays
  • 26:20 on immersive reading
  • 28:00 thank you for reading with us

Recommended Resources:

Our Shakespeare journey so far:

Some Questions for You:

1) Have you noticed your relationship with Shakespeare changing? 

2) What reading challenges have you overcome so far?

3) What has been the most joyful part of the experience?

Happy reading, Bardolators!

Files

Previews only

How to Read Narrative Poems & History Plays (Shakespeare Project Check-In)

0:00 Shakespeare Project check-in 0:51 a personal note of appreciation 2:00 discussing those first four plays 3:00 on grading Shakespeare’s works 5:17 book club rankings for the plays 5:53 The Comedy of Errors 6:30 The Taming of the Shrew 7:38 The Two Gentlemen of Verona 8:24 Titus Andronicus 9:48 Shakespeare’s ‘Lucrece’ 11:44 how to read a narrative poem 15:00 how to read imaginative literature 18:30 how to read ‘Lucrece’ 21:00 the Henry VI plays 26:20 on immersive reading 28:00 thank you for reading with usc

Comments

Jay

Hello , I am really loving the Shakespeare project. I have heard you say that the early plays are considered to be technically poor. I was wondering what makes a play technically good ?

Laura Smith
>>102792371

Great question Jay. I’d like to understand this too. It’s my first time reading Shakespeare (or any play) so I don’t know what to look for in terms of what makes it technically good.

Scott W
>>102792371

Hi Jay, Lara. I don't know what 'technically good' means, so I can't comment on that. :) But I think a 'good' play is one where is a general consensus of value. Different people will say a play is 'good' for different reasons. Some will say so if it is experimental, some will say so if it has believable characters, some prefer a gun to go off at the end, and so on. It's all very subjective.. I have found these earlier plays to be not as 'good' as later works because they lack characters and narrative that I believe in or care about. I don't really care what happens to these people wandering around in Comedy of Errors, for example, or what becomes of the Two Gentlemen of Verona, not like I care about people in King Lear or Twelfth Night. I can't describe why, perhaps I could make a go of that in an essay, but I'd need time and space, and my answer would still be subjective. Ultimately, if it's down to something Shakespeare could do that I could not do myself, it's unlikely I could quite explain it anyway. These earlier plays, for me, also lack ellipsis. There is little sense that there are depths off the page that Shakespeare knew that he didn't directly share with us. The feeling of 'weight' in Macbeth, by contrast, is incredible.. there seems to be so much we could know about these people and events if only Shakespeare would tell us.. but he doesn't, and that feeling of depth and realism seems to add power to what we do get to experience. Somehow.. I don't know how. What do you think? Do you think these early plays are as good as later plays like Macbeth and King Lear? If so, or if not, why is that? :) Happy reading!

Scott W
>>102792371

+ If this is your first experience of Shakespeare and/or reading plays, like Ben said.. don't start with these early plays.. have a look at the 'greats' we read here last year and start with those! :)

Marina McGovern

I find it interesting that Ben says he is dubious about productions of Titus Andronicus. Over the past two weeks, I have seen both The Winter's Tale and Titus Andronicus staged at the Sam Wanamaker Theatre in Shakespeare's Globe London, and of the two I surprisingly preferred the latter. It was in fact quite gripping whilst even having moments of humour, much to my amazement. There was a white-tiled stage, which I anticipated being drenched in red 'blood', and the all-female cast was excellent. I've also booked to see The Comedy of Errors in a couple of months' time, which I read and watched on Globe Player, and enjoyed for its element of farce. I think seeing a production certainly helps me to enjoy the play more.