Image Source: Cliffnotes.com
Like most college student, sometimes I need a little help playing catch up with my reading. While making an Internet trip to cliffnotes.com for some interesting tidbits that would make me look better than everyone else during class discussion, I stumbled across a new way to read Shakespeare classics: manga style.
Anyone who has met me knows how much I love this pop culture phenomenon from the land of the rising sun. It looks like my manga collection has consumed my bookshelf! (I think my sister is secretly plotting to sell it all!) However, I’m not too excited to see Shakespeare in this form.
These versions were illustrated and abridged by Adam Sexton, a professor of writing and literature at NYU. Each book comes with a 4-page introduction to set the stage and still retains Shakespearian language in order to recognize famous passages.
I completely understand this new way of teaching Shakespeare. It’s more likely to get kids interested because they’re cashing in on a popular trend. However, I think it defeats the purpose of learning literature. It’s supposed to be challenging so a person has the chance to develop their analytical skills. Call me a purist, but I think I’ll pass on the manga Shakespeare for now. My shelf is about to collapse anyway.
