The Literary Life Podcast

Episode 318: How to Read Shakespeare

March 3, 2026
Hosts: Angelina Stanford & Thomas Banks
Special Context: This episode is dedicated to helping readers demystify Shakespeare and approach his works with confidence and joy, whether for personal enrichment or homeschooling.

Episode Overview

In this engaging and deeply practical conversation, Angelina Stanford and Thomas Banks tackle the much-posed question: How does one read Shakespeare? The focus is on removing the intimidation surrounding Shakespeare’s works, offering strategies for readers of all ages, and highlighting the accessibility and fun of his plays. Along the way, the hosts share formative personal stories, pedagogical tips, and lively banter. The episode is rich in literary insight and memorable anecdotes, especially about introducing Shakespeare to children, understanding the structure and themes of the plays, and navigating modern misconceptions.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Personal Encounters with Shakespeare

[11:13–19:44]

• Thomas’ Story:
  • Attended the Ashland Shakespeare Festival from a young age ("...I remember seeing Macbeth when I was maybe 8 or 9, and it was a really bloody Macbeth. And I responded to that. I was excited." – Thomas, [12:02])
  • Began reading plays independently (Julius Caesar, Romeo and Juliet, Henry V) around ages 10–11.
  • Emphasizes the importance of encountering Shakespeare as lively and entertaining, not stuffy or intimidating.
• Angelina’s Story:
  • Did not grow up around Shakespeare but was always drawn to old books.
  • First true engagement was in high school; found initial readings difficult, but later, with a good college professor, realized it was easier and more delightful than she’d been led to believe.
  • Narrates the transformative influence of a passionate teacher and the delight that comes from reading and teaching Shakespeare aloud.

The Biggest Hang-Ups (And Myths) About Reading Shakespeare

[21:15–33:19]

• Is Shakespeare “too highbrow” or just for scholars?
  • Shakespeare wrote for everyone, not just the elite or academics.
  • Quote: "He wrote for a popular rather than an academic audience... Shakespeare is, I would say, a much easier poet... than Dante or Milton." – Thomas, [21:18]
  • Audiences in his time spanned from royalty to “groundlings” (peasants paying a penny to stand in the theater).
  • First-time readers do not need to understand every level or scholarly nuance to enjoy the stories.
• “You have to watch, not read, Shakespeare”:
  • Watching modern adaptations is experiencing directors’ interpretations, not Shakespeare’s original intent.
  • Quote: "If you want Shakespeare, read it. That is my view on that." – Angelina, [32:15]
  • Reading the plays provides direct access to Shakespeare’s words and poetry; performances, especially modern films, may cut or alter scenes.
  • Performances can be valuable after the initial reading.
• Kids and Shakespeare: Yes, they can!
  • Multiple anecdotes demonstrate that children, even as young as three, can follow and love Shakespeare when read aloud.
  • Memorable Moment: Angelina’s memory of reading Macbeth to her second-grade sister, who was “riveted,” and her own children narrating plays from a young age ([38:43–41:58]).

The Language Barrier

[29:03–30:40]

• Shakespeare’s language is poetry, not everyday speech; designed for the ear as much as the eye.
• Blank verse (unrhymed iambic pentameter) was a convention and aids in memorization and delivery.
• Quote: “People will get, you know, they’ll pick up a Shakespeare play and then say, man, people sure talked weird back then. No, they didn’t. This is poetry. He’s writing in poetry.” – Angelina, [29:55]
• Reading aloud helps comprehension; the “ear picks up what the eye does not.”

The Shapes and Cosmology of Shakespeare's Plays

[43:22–51:12]

• Tragedies: Map onto the “frowny face” (rise and catastrophic fall); cautionary tales about overreaching ambition or the inevitable consequences of disorder.
• Comedies: “Smiley face” or U-shape – descent into disorder and confusion, then miraculous restoration and community (weddings, feasts, dances).
• Order–Disorder–Order: Central structuring principle.
  • Quote: “Every thread in that tapestry is important... If there’s disorder in one area, it’s going to echo through the universe.” – Angelina, [52:44]
• Shakespeare’s world is deeply rooted in the Elizabethan (Renaissance) imagination, obsessed with maintaining cosmic order.
• Appearance vs Reality: Frequent theme; many plays use disguises or mistaken identities to explore the difference between what seems and what is.

Practical Strategies for Reading Shakespeare

[64:29–68:24, 66:15]

• Don’t overthink or overprepare.
• Ditch “No Fear Shakespeare” or modern “translations”:
  • They obscure poetic meaning and sometimes spell out crude jokes that sail over students’ heads in the original.
  • Instead, use story versions (Lamb’s or Nesbit’s Tales from Shakespeare) or plot summaries for context.
  • Quote: “The no fear Shakespeare guts the language. And the language is where the meaning is. The metaphors are where the meaning is. You, you cannot gut it that way.” – Angelina, [66:37]
• Read aloud, ideally with distinct voices; the “ear picks up what the eye does not.”
• Begin with comedies (Much Ado, Midsummer), then branch out.
• If confused, consult summaries (e.g., SparkNotes) before reading each scene.
• You don’t need a troupe of actors, a classroom, or elaborate staging.
  • Memorable Moment: “...you do not need all of that.” – Angelina, [70:36] (referencing the ludicrous suggestion to find actors for every reading)

Contemporary Pitfalls and Absurd Advice

[69:59–74:01]

• Challenged the idea (from actors or English teachers) that only performances, or only acting parts, provide true understanding.
• Warned against “method acting” interpretations or insisting on purely historical costume stagings.
• Rather than “psychological realism,” encourage seeing Shakespeare’s characters as types in journeys of the soul.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Overcoming Intimidation:
  • “Go in with the confidence that comes from knowing that it’s probably easier than you think it is.” – Thomas, [21:18]
• On Cosmic Order:
  • “If you want to order the world, order yourself.” – Angelina, [08:20]
• On The Meaning behind the Play:
  • “Shakespeare is not trying to be a historian. He’s trying to be a poet. And so he’s changing things...” – Angelina, [44:39]
• On Introducing Kids to Shakespeare:
  • “These kids can understand it... I am lowering the bar. And these kids can understand it.” – Angelina, [41:12]
• On Misreading Shakespeare:
  • “Shakespeare is the king of innovation and variation... but basically, order, disorder, order.” – Angelina, [56:29]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Introduction & Theme – [00:18–02:14]
• Personal Shakespeare Stories – [11:13–19:44]
• Debunking Myths (Shakespeare for Everyone) – [21:15–33:19]
• On Watching vs. Reading – [33:20–35:05]
• Reading Shakespeare Aloud with Children – [38:43–41:58]
• Structural Shapes: Tragedy, Comedy, and Cosmology – [43:22–51:12]
• Practical Tips for Reading – [64:29–68:24]
• Absurd Advice Heard – [69:59–74:01]
• Recommended Resources – [74:01–77:48]

Recommended Resources and Further Listening

Books:

• The Meaning of Shakespeare by Harold Goddard
• Isaac Asimov’s Guide to Shakespeare
• The Elizabethan World Picture & Shakespeare’s History Plays by E.M.W. Tillyard
• On Shakespeare by Northrop Frye
• Shakespeare’s Window into the Soul by Martin Lings
• Tales from Shakespeare by Charles and Mary Lamb

Podcast Back Catalog:

• Multi-episode series on:
  • Much Ado About Nothing
  • Othello
  • The Winter’s Tale
  • A Midsummer Night’s Dream
  • Mini-class on Taming of the Shrew
    (See HouseOfHumaneLetters.com and podcast archive)

Final Thoughts and Literary Takeaways

• The most important step is to simply begin reading Shakespeare, without fear of “getting it all right” on the first try.
• Shakespeare’s stories, themes, and language are accessible, moving, and as relevant to the soul’s journey today as five centuries ago.
• The best experience is often reading aloud, with friends or family, delighting in the words and letting the universal tales speak for themselves.

“He’s fun. He’s good. There’s a reason why we’ve been reading him for 500 years.” – Angelina, [80:23]

Next up: Beginning a much-requested series on Jane Eyre (see reading schedule and details at podcast website and forums).

For those new to the podcast, this episode is a perfect primer both for reading Shakespeare and joining the Literary Life community’s ongoing exploration of “how stories will save the world.”