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The first step to understanding any work of art is to experience that work directly. We recommend that you attend some performances of Shakespeare's works. Once you've done that, diving in to secondary sources via the Net will be a much more rewarding endeavor. The Complete Works of Shakespeare are available from MIT, augmented by discussion groups, full-text search capabilities, and links to Shakespeare sites on the Net. Of course, if you're looking for an encyclopedic guide to the bard on the Web, your first stop should be Mr. William Shakespeare and the Internet, an annotated listing of scholarly Shakespeare sites and articles. Subjects include "Life and
Times," "Criticism," and "Renaissance." The site also offers a look at the lighter site of Shakespeare on the Net, with links to The Shakespearean Insult Server and Shakespeare virtual postcards. If you're ready for specifics on some of the playwright's individual works, you may want to browse through some of the research articles from the Illinois Shakespeare Festival. You'll see essays on several plays, including Hamlet, The Tempest, and Twelfth Night, plus pieces on the specific productions mounted by the Illinois company. A nice bonus is the article entitled "Don't Put Your Otter on the Stage, Mrs. Worthington," which recounts humorous stories about theatrical productions and animals.
Lastly, when you feel you've got a firm handle on the life and works of the bard, point your browser to Are You Shakespearienced?, a nice little trivia quiz, complete with a profusely illustrated photo-tour of Shakespeare's stomping grounds.
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