Tip #5: Read Out Loud

If you want to take on Shakespeare without the help of a translation, read it aloud.  I always do this—or at least “silently aloud,” where I consciously hear the words in my head. But literally aloud is better. I also do it in an English accent. It’s probably a bad English accent, but it’s just more fun. If you don’t do the accent, at least try to be dramatic as you read. This IS drama after all.

The benefits of reading aloud are at least twofold. First, it allows you to focus on the beauty of the language. I was attracted to Shakespeare before I was able to understand much just because the sound of his poetry was so beautiful. Read his plays aloud and really listen.

Second, reading Shakespeare out loud helps with comprehension. I don’t understand why, but forcing yourself to sound out the words will help you make sense of it. I’m sure there’s some scientific explanation for it, but I can’t back it up. I just know it from experience. As you grow more comfortable with Shakespeare’s language, you’ll enjoy reading aloud more and more.

Oh, one quick tip for reading aloud: when syllables have an accent mark on the last syllable (usually on the -ed suffix), it means you are to pronounce it as an accented syllable. So, usually we’d pronounce offered with two syllables (off-urd). But if it looks like this: offerèd, that means you pronounce that last syllable separately and the whole word as three syllables (off-ur-ed). This is done for purposes of rhythm and meter in poetry.