Is Shakespeare still relevant today?
Arguments in favour of
Shakespeare’s relevance
• his plays are timeless
• Shakespeare is great literature
• you are still able to learn from
the characters
• Shakespeare influenced the
English language (creating new
words and expressions)
• Inspires his viewers to become better
people
• modern theatre still uses the same topics
(love, hatred, jealousy, revenge, conflict,
war, greed....)
• Shakespeare quotes are part of our
language
• he knows about the human nature
• open to a variety of interpretations
• Shakespeare is part of English history, a
"national monument"
• reading Shakespeare is enjoyable
• his history plays make history come alive
• his representation of human nature is just
as relevant today
• people can expand their knowledge of
English vocabulary
• his works teach us the power of words as
an instrument of communication
• Shakespeare takes the reader on a journey
• Shakespeare's language is a rewarding
experience
• he knows how to write good stories
• his characters and stories reveal universal
truths about the human condition
• Shakespeare's plays become alive on stage
Arguments against
Shakespeare’s relevance
• language is difficult to
understand
• modern literature is more
inspiring for young people
• too many interpretations
• old-fashioned storyline
(topics are no longer interesting)
• Shakespeare's language is especially difficult
for second language learners
• gender roles are different today (women are
allowed on stage)
• critical story line e.g. Juliet's age
• most students don't like Shakespeare and
don't understand his language
• grammar and vocabulary have altered from
old English to modern English
• his idioms are outdated
• his phrases are no longer used today
• instead of teaching Romeo and Juliet
teachers avoid the difficulties of
Shakespeare's language and teach Westside
Story
• Students should watch Shakespeare's plays
instead of reading them in class