Should Students Be Required To Study Shakespeare in High School?

Alexandru Bassarab , Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Shakespeare is frequently required as part of the high school curriculum, but its worth is widely debated. Some argue that forcing students to engage with complex language and ideas is beneficial, while others argue that Shakespeare's works are outdated and irrelevant. So, what exactly is the truth? Should Shakespeare be required of high school students? The answer is complex, but there are a few key points to keep in mind.

Few writers have had as large an influence on the literary canon as William Shakespeare.

"Shakespeare is important to literary history because not only is he one of the most famous authors of all time, but he’s also produced a large volume of widely praised works that I think students should have to read," journalism teacher Tim Williams said.

Shakespeare's plays are among the most well-known and popular in the world, and his work has had a significant impact on the development of English literature.

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“It’s important because you can still relate to it even now, even though it was written a long time ago. So, I think that makes it important," sophomore Olivia Lapinski said. “Whatever your feelings are on the subject, there is no denying that Shakespeare's plays and poems have influenced the way we speak and write today.”

Shakespeare's works are rich and complex. They provide students with the opportunity to interact with some of the world's most well-known and respected works of literature.

"In my opinion, studying Shakespeare in high school requires students to grapple with an archaic version of English, which makes reading and decoding it more complicated," Williams added. "However, I believe that looking at how he structures his stories, plotlines, and the way it all flows together is important as an example of how a good play is written."

As a result, Shakespeare’s writings are valuable teaching tools that can help students understand literature and the human experience.

While Shakespeare is regarded as one of the greatest writers in English, his work can be difficult to comprehend for high school students. The most difficult challenge is understanding the language.

"It can be difficult to understand," Lapinski said. Shakespeare wrote in early modern English, which modern readers may find difficult to understand.

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"Old English is hard for students because the words are no longer used, and so there's a bit of decoding before you can even really analyze and interpret the plot of the story," Williams added.

Shakespeare has long been required reading for high school students to prepare them for college. Is this, however, truly preparing them for the rigors of college-level work? This is a tricky question to answer. Williams himself admitted that this was a subjective question.

"I personally think yes and no. Unless you plan to major in the liberal arts or English, I would say that reading Shakespeare will not benefit you in college,” Williams added. “Aside from that, no, unless you plan to take a Shakespeare course in college.”

Shakespeare's plays are densely packed with meaning and his studies can teach students a lot about language, literature, and human nature, even though they can be difficult to read and comprehend. The playwright’s work should be approached by teachers with an open mind, and they should be aware that some students may struggle.