My son hates Shakespeare…

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  • March 5, 2014 at 10:37 pm
    mycupoverflows
    Participant

    …or maybe I should say he hates “Romeo and Juliet”. We are in Act II and he almost cries when I pull the book out to read it aloud to him. I’m not sure what to do. I certainly don’t want to foster a hatred for Shakespeare but I don’t want him to think that if he whines and moans at assigned books, I’ll just let him off the hook. We usually read one play every other year, which I don’t think is that much at all, so I’ve been forcing the issue, but his adamant dislike of the play is making me second-guess myself. He is 12 and this is the second play we’ve read so far…the last play was “A Comedy of Errors” which he enjoyed. I’m starting to wonder if he doesn’t like all the romance. He really hates stories about love and kissing, etc.

    What would you do? How important is Shakespeare anyway? And if I decide to let it go, how can I do it without making him think he can do this with any assignment he doesn’t like? 

    March 5, 2014 at 10:47 pm
    butterflylake
    Participant

    Since he enjoyed A Comedy of Errors, and hates romance, maybe you could offer him a few other options, giving him time to look through them and research what they are about. That would be my somewhat sneaky way of getting him to look at a few of Shakespeare’s other works. If it were his choice, based on his interest he would probably find something less ‘mushy’ more appealing.

    March 5, 2014 at 10:57 pm
    suzukimom
    Participant

    I think that looks like a good solution.  I would make it clear that this is not going to be a regular occurance – but that you can understand that sometimes it is a good idea to switch… or that you understand that all the romance is a bit much for a 12yo boy.  I like the idea of having him research between a few options, and also that you will be reading the entire play selected…

    March 5, 2014 at 11:24 pm
    Bookworm
    Participant

    He doesn’t like the romance.  I watched and read a Romeo and Juliet in the 8th grade.  The boys uniformly hated it.  Pick another play.  Do a fun one.  There is some romance in ones like Much Ado About Nothing, The Merchant of Venice, The Taming of the Shrew (a little parental editing needed on this one esp. in beginning) etc.  Also boys tend to like very action-y ones even if they are bloody (maybe especially if they are bloody?)  Hamlet is a bit deep, but Macbeth is fun! Really!  Revisit Romeo and Juliet in high school years.  (Tell him it’s just something all American teenagers have to do, lol.)

    March 5, 2014 at 11:48 pm
    sheraz
    Participant

    In public school we didn’t study Romeo and Juliet until our junior year, so emotionally he may still need some time. It is not my favorite Shakespeare play, either! In the meantime, there are so many other options.

    As a boy of twelve and not interested in romance, he would probably enjoy some of the historical plays that involve things like sword-fighting, etc. These plays include Henry VI Part I, Henry VI Part II, Henry VI Part III, Richard II, Richard III, Edward III, Henry IV Part I and Part II, and more. These plays are based in part on some of England’s history. Since he enjoyed “A Comedy of Errors“, there are other comedies to enjoy as well – As You Like It, Twelth Night, Much Ado About Nothing, A Midsummer’s Night Dream, etc.

    Having him research things is a great idea. Since the historical plays involve actual people – you could let him research their biographies, weapons, homes, cultures, etc. He would enjoy it more if he knew the background of events. We all do!  

    I find that we (12 and 13 yo dd and I) enjoy the play more if we do the following things:

    • We have listened to both Nesbitt’s and Lamb’s re-tellings in story form before we read the real play – it helps us understand the story before we have to de-code the language (both are available as printed books and audio books).

    • Often I allow them to color the corresponding page in the Dover Shakespeare Coloring Book to help them visualize character and story in their minds while we listen to the story.

    • Having an audio version of the play while we read along helps us enjoy it more as well (you can find lots of Shakespeare plays free at librivox.org). Also, if he is just listening to you read and hasn’t got his own copy to read with you, I am sure that he is lost.

    • Taking turns reading it aloud together. 

    • Memorize something from the play to recite and enjoy together.

    • When we are done with the readings, I try to find a good BBC version to watch.

     

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