I disagree about Shakespeare. He chose and crafted every single word of what he wrote. If you look up the meaning the words had at the time he wrote it, the meaning is above and beyond just what the word means today, and you can see the craft and thought he put it into it. It goes way beyond JK Rowling or pretty much any author today. The more you analyze SOME things the more appreciation you'll have for them. I think that's the case with Shakespeare.
Sure I understood what you meant. You may not care, but I know in a professional setting first impressions can be drawn from how you type. Using "there" instead of "their", or "are" instead of "our", or...you get the point, gives off a bad impression. You could be a very bright person, but if you communicate like a baboon, well...you know. Reading "boring" books, I think was to test reading comprehension even when it's not interesting. B/c as someone mentioned, you might be at work reading work-related stuff, and it won't be Twilight or 50 Shades of Gay (You have to read those on your own time.), but you still need to comprehend it.
I think this is more likely to do with the phase of your life, then the type of books or style of teaching. How do I know... This is how. Not shake-a-spear, but a book I assume of your choosing, and about baseball, and you still didn't read it. Personal preference also clearly plays a roll. Some people are much bigger readers. I'd argue if you're not reading as much now still, it's not because HS english made you hate reading... it's because you became an adult and decided on your own, as an adult, that you don't like reading. There are plenty of books out there that will be in subject matters you enjoy. I personally don't like Shakespeare, but I sure as hell understand why some do, why it's discussed and analyzed, and why it is great writing (which btw, should probably be the title of the thread - What is the point of writing). I mean, let's be honest here, how many people use calculus or even pre-calculus on a regular basis? How many people reference macro-economic theory on a regular basis? How many people think about the laws of thermodynamics on a regular basis? How many people need to understand organic chemistry on a regular basis? High school is about laying a foundation across a variety of subjects for numerous reasons. It gives you a basic understanding of the world we live in - be it art, science, math, history, whatever. The process meanwhile should help and teach the growing brain how to learn and analysis and study things, processes in themselves that add to ones knowledge base, problem solving skills and personalities. And the foundation, in specific areas, depending on individual taste and aptitude, can then be built upon. The avid amateur and professional writers and readers out there likely loved English, continue to read voraciously to this day, and built on their high school learning. Alternatively, the physics geek studying unifying theory quantum mechanics knows a ton more about physics but might have the same view of reading and writing as you do. How's that for a serious answer?
I read stuff I want to read. Ancient battles, Civil War history/biographies, modern day hero stuff from Afghanistan. The stupid stuff, like shake-a-spear, I could care less about. He hasnt influenced me in the least.
I never enjoyed reading shakespeare in school. I hated every single book or story or poetry we read with the exception of The Great Gatsby... and that "how do I love thee" poem. That ish is romantic yo!
Exactly, if you don't chastise people for their minor grammar mistakes, we will definitely fall into barely understandable broken sentences. I see the light, thank you for making that clear.
I understand not wanting to think hyper-critically on minute details. Over-analyzing and trying to suspiciously create "genius" out of MARGINAL things. (I hate that with MUSIC, too. Music critics can suck as much FUN of out of music than they put into it.) But I think that IS the point, to foster the growth of hyper-critical thinking skills as much if not more than it is about enjoying the works themselves. Maybe that comment there in and of itself is what its about - it helps turn people into healthy SKEPTICS . People have always used arts and humanities to expound upon and expand upon into areas of self annointed "expertise" (lame most the times). To where you are translating an already RE-translation, that gets further away from what the source a material intended. But mainly it gets overly high-brow and annoying. I don't think most authors intend for that, nor are most simply in it for the sales. But as you see in the internet world, things do tend to take on a life of its own. The "non-canon" stuff. (But then things like visual arts like Star Wars has BENEFITTED from the over-analyzing.) Its hard to please everyone in literary arts.
