Why do we study Shakespeare? He wrote his plays and sonnets more than 400 years ago, so why do we still study him today? What makes him still relevant?
Building a Language
First and foremost, through his works, Shakespeare improved upon the basic structure of the English language. Shakespeare invented thousands of new words and phrases. In his time, his plays were so popular and so well regarded that people took to using the words from his plays in their everyday life. When you study Shakespeare, you're literally watching the birth of modern English.
Shakespeare is also known for inventing situations that did not exist until his time and giving us new phrases to describe those situations. In fact, many phrases that we still use today, like "all's well that ends well," were invented by Shakespeare.
In his time, Shakespeare was considered cutting edge, even if most of his works seem tame by today's standards. His plays and sonnets he helped shape the structure and grammar of the English language. By improving the English language and giving us all these new words and phrases, Shakespeare laid the groundwork for other authors and poets to express themselves.
New Directions in Theater
Shakespeare's ability to interweave his tragedies with comic relief, and the way he brought deep human emotion into his comedies broke new ground. Until Shakespeare came along, works were either tragedies or comedies. When he combined the two, he brought a new depth of emotion to viewers. After he mixed the two genres, others began to follow his example.
Shakespeare's ability to bring real depth to his characters made his works stand out from other writers of his time. In fact, he is what many authors strive to be; his characters are infused with real emotions and mannerisms that resonante with his viewers, even today.
One reason for Shakespeare analysis and the ongoing popularity of his works is that people can relate to what is happening to his characters. They are multidimensional, often-flawed characters that face some of the same struggles as people today.
 | Check out these facts about William Shakespeare that will give you a little background on the legendary writer's life. |
 | Shakespeare style can be daunting for modern readers because he wrote in an English language that was quite different from our modern tongue. Learn how to decipher the meter of his works and get tips for finding word meanings. |
Some scholars insist that William Shakespeare did not write the plays and poems that bear his name. Learn about the controversy and the other writers who may be the real authors. |
Why is Shakespeare called The Bard? This nickname represents his major contributions to language and literature. |
Learn about the attributes common to Shakespeare characters and the role of the tragic flaw in his plays' popularity. |
