What are the essential Shakespeare plays and which plays

>>9541739
Essential, Titus and Coriolanus, Hamlet, Macbeth (fuck the comedies)

SKIP THESE: Timeon of Athens. Two Gentlemen.

>>9541741
is Julius any good?

how's King Lear?

>>9541747
never heard of it

>>9541746
Yeah but Julius Caesar himself is a bit of a disappointment.

>>9541747
Overrated and overly long.

I haven't seen Othello mentioned. Loved that one, but I don't know if it's 'essential' for everybody.

>>9541747
It's pretty great. Some parts seem a bit too long, but it has some masterful use of language.

>>9541741
>Titus
Anon...

>>9541739
Everything by Shakespeare is essential

It depends on what exactly you mean by "essential." Do you want to understand as much allusion to his works while reading as little as possible? In that case, probably something along the lines of Hamlet, Macbeth, and Othello would get you a good way there (although would still leave gaping holes). Romeo and Juliet probably belongs on that list as well, but if you grew up in the English speaking world you probably don't actually have to read it if you're just trying to understand allusion.

If you're asking which ones are just worth reading in general: pretty much all of them.

>>9541741
>>9541777
>Titus
Memes aside, Titus is not extremely terrible but it's one of the weaker plays and definitely not an essential.

>essential
If by essential, you mean the absolute minimum you need to say that you've read Shakespeare, go for the well-known tragedies (R&J, Macbeth, Hamlet, Julius Caesar).

But otherwise, you can't go wrong with reading more Shakespeare, you'll find something enjoyable in all the plays, even Titus.

>>9541797
Titus was considered as Shakespeares greatest play during his lifetime.

>>9541796
Not to mention, Romeo and Juliet is just the tale of Pyramus and Thisbe (which is also referenced as the play the mechanicals set up).

>>9541817
Yes, but I'd say that Titus isn't exactly the peak of Shakespeare either. I just don't think that anyone reading Shakespeare for the first time should start with Titus. Even among the scholars who defend Titus, there is still general agreement that it's not in the league of Hamlet and Macbeth. Still, I'd say that Titus is a good supplement once you've read the big tragedies.

Dumb question but from what I remember from reading Romeo and Juliet in Grade 9, is that there are a lot of contemporary allusions in his writing and these often need to be explained. I have a large collection of his work I bought from Value Village but there aren't any notes in them. Should I go for SparkNotes or nah?

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Why does everyone forget Antony and Cleopatra?

>>9541739
Hamlet, Otelo, The king Lear, Macbeth, Antonio and Cleopatra, Henry IV 1 & 2, As you like it and Twelft night.

Should I be orating the dialogue?

there's some really good poetry even in the weaker plays so there isn't anything you can "safely" skip, imo

>>9542554
yes


>>9542197
its ok.

>>9541747
yes
YES

Please read it.

>>9541747
his best.

>>9541747
Sad!

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>>9541741
>skipping Timon of Athens

Absolutely plebeian.

>>9542725
Its awful, about 1 hr of feast scenes and very unsatisfying.

>>9541747
A
SCOTTISH
PLAY

>>9541739
Skip: Timon, Verona, Titus, Merry Wives.
Essential: Everything else, though obviously some are more essential than others.

>>9542704
what up nael

>>9541739
This>>9542220
but add Tempest.

>>9542704
Is this the new Crash or enemy?