Reading Shakespeare Socratically

Let's come together and read Shakespeare -- a supposedly impossible thing to do the doing of which I think we are more than capable.

I asked ChatGPT to select a play at random and what it spit out is Julius Caesar, a play I've never read so I'm excited.

Here's a link to a free copy of the play

We'll break the play in 'half' and meet over two sessions.

The first session we'll read Acts 1 and 2.

The second session we'll read Acts 3, 4, and 5

Participants should complete the reading before each session. It's no problem not to have understood everything, but without some familiarity with the text it will be difficult to have a conversation and 'unlock' its meaning. Also, it's not necessary that English be your first language in order to join, but your command and understanding of English should be that you're able to confidently participate in discussions about ideas, feelings, abstract things.

I would also encourage participants to just read a summary of the plot on Wikipedia before reading the actual play. I have found this helpful to lessen the "what's going on?" feeling. Don't worry, it's not cheating.

"Reading Shakespeare Socratically?" -- This means we'll put questions to the text and try to make it speak, as though it is a living person and we are its interlocutor. We'll ask it questions about what it has said and then try to find answers. Mostly, this just means having a discussion amongst ourselves but there are a few guidelines that, in my experience, have proven immensely helpful to having a substantial conversation:

#1 Avoid Outside Sources; things you read on the internet about what it means, academic papers/lectures, personal stories/anecdotes, biographical analysis of the text, books about Shakespeare, quirky facts about Shakespeare's life.

#2 Try to ground what you say in the text -- it's not necessary to quote something every time you speak, but referencing passages, etc. will create great conversation.

#3 Be conscious of speaking time. If there are 10 people and 120 minutes of event time, then people have roughly 12 minutes each to speak. Nobody will keep track, but it' a good guideline to remember. Extended silence/pauses are ok, too. Sometimes it takes a moment to think of what you want to say. Also, it's not necessary that you speak, but it makes for better conversation if you do.

My Role/About Me: I will moderate the discussion but also participate. I am not an expert nor an authority. I don't claim to have the "right" answers, but I do have a lot of experience participating in such discussions and a strong background in Shakespeare. I have a bachelor's degree in Liberal Arts from St. John's College (MD) and will begin a Master's Program in North American Studies this fall at Freie Universität Berlin.

This is a free event. Please consider a modest donation to help support the space.