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I can't believe anyone reads Macbeth without this 'No Fear' guide. It is wonderfully helpful.
But is a comic book version. This is not the side by side translation of this play that the "No Fear Shakespeare" series is known for. I thought it would have a few pictures. I returned my copy upon receipt. It would have helped if Barnes and Noble would let Amazon post pictures of a few of the pages.
This is the easiest way to read Shakespeare. One side is "The Bard's" words and the other is modern English. I highly recommend if reading Shakespeare is like reading another language.
After struggling with my decision to use this book with my senior students, I am finding they are less hesitant to read AND they are enjoying the concepts in this drama. If it were an honors class, I think I would make students read the original text, but for my regular classes, I am very happy with my decision because they are GETTING IT. We are reading the authentic Shakespeare for the really good lines/soliloquys that shouldn't be missed. This is much better than other renditions that simply paraphrase as far as comprehension is concerned.
It was fun to read lines in the original, try to work out what I thought it meant and then check whether I was right. Seriously, Macbeth is a great tale of ambition, deception and conscience.
But now, I have fianally read Macbeth because, with "No Fear Shakespeare," each left hand page is written in the original whereas the right hand page is a plain English translation. I consider myself to be a reasonably literate individual but, I have always avoided Shakespeare since I cannot make sense of the text.
How true is that and how cool is it to be able to understand that. So now I know, that when a porter says "it makes him stand to and not stand to," he is not referring about someone standing up on his feet.
Instead, it means that alcoholic drinks make a man have an erection but then, lose the erection. Thanks to this innovative book, I was able to read the original, then, after reading each page, I referred to the translation so I could understand.
I recommend this as a way finally read and appreciate Macbeth.
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