Grossmont Cuyamaca Community College District Does Shakespeare Still Matter Essay In an essay, convince your audience as to why Shakespeare still matters o

Grossmont Cuyamaca Community College District Does Shakespeare Still Matter Essay In an essay, convince your audience as to why Shakespeare still matters or does not matter. Does his writing reflect the human condition today? Explain your ideas clearly with two to three reasons why Shakespeare still is or is not important today. Prompt 1—Shakespeare Essay
Argumentative Essay
Essay Checklist:
1. Did I write an introduction with a hook, a claim, and three reasons?
2. Do I have 2-3 body paragraphs explaining each reason for my claim?
3. Do I have a conclusion that summarizes my main points and emphasizes my
main lesson?
4. Does each paragraph have 3-7 sentences?
5. Did I include textual support with citations from sources?
6. Did I proofread for errors in grammar and spelling?
7. Did I list or cite my sources in correct MLA format?
8. Did you use a mainly academic tone, with one or two conversational
phrases for effect?
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Shakespeare Still Matters
It is rare that one meets a person who knows nothing about the fictitious star-crossed
lovers, Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare’s world renowned plays such as Romeo and Juliet are
admired because of the author’s ingenuity and way with words. One writer estimates that
Shakespeare’s plays alone are responsible for an additional 1500 words to the English
vocabulary (Curran). Much of these are words we still use today. It is the fact that we still use
Shakespearean words that makes it clear that he still matters. In addition to the many words
originating from Shakespeare’s authorship, his influence is still apparent in contemporary
performances, and his works reflect socially relevant issues pertaining to leadership and the
general human condition.
Because his works were written over 400 years ago, many students have a hard time
finding the literature relevant. However, the importance of Shakespearean works such as Henry
VI, King Lear, Coriolanus, and As You Like It, which were all penned during the 1600’s, are still
relevant simply based on the fact that words such as Bandit, Lackluster, Lonely and Elbow (used
as a verb) came from those plays (Fogarty). These are common words still incorporated into
everyday speech today. The fact that contemporary society still uses these words gives emphasis
to the relevance of Shakespeare’s work and clearly shows how much he still matters.
Shakespeare’s influence on contemporary performances goes without saying. A large
majority of modern-day television shows and movies have ideas originating from Shakespearean
literature. Popular films such as The Simpsons, Doctor Who, and Shakespeare in Love, showcase
Shakespeare’s relevance (McInnis and Higgins). It is crucial for students to understand where
much of this creativity and ingenuity derives; in order to fully comprehend who one is, one must
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learn about his or her roots. Shakespearean influence is at the root of many of the creative works
we enjoy today.
One of the main reasons people enjoy shows like The Simpsons, Doctor Who, and
Shakespeare in Love, is because they can relate so well to human expressions and general issues
depicted in them. One issue that Shakespeare obviously felt strongly about was the issue of
corrupt leadership. In works such as Hamlet, Coriolanus, Richard III, and Macbeth,
Shakespeare depicts modern day models of what leadership should or should not be (Wilk).
There are many relevant ideas pertaining to the human condition depicted in his works, which
allow Shakespeare to remain a permanent model for contemporary literature and the performing
arts.
Shakespeare has clearly made an indelible impression on the world at large. If
Shakespeare were still alive today, he would be paid royalties from derivatives of his work. His
influence cannot be relegated to the past only; but to the present, and to the future. His words are
actively used in contemporary society, his creativity is seen in current films, and present-day
leaders can learn a lot about good versus bad leadership by reading his plays such as Macbeth or
Hamlet. Without a shadow of a doubt, Shakespeare still matters.
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Works Cited
Curran, Stephen. “Shakespeare’s Enduring Influence on the English Language.” AE, 24 Apr.
2017, https://aepublications.co.uk/shakespeares-enduring-influence-english-language/.
Accessed June 27, 2019.
Fogarty, Mignon. “15 Words Invented By Shakespeare.” Grammarly, 18 Apr 2016,
https://www.grammarly.com/blog/15-words-invented-by-shakespeare/. Accessed June
27, 2019.
McInnis, D., and Gerry Higgins. “Why Shakespeare Still Matters.” Humanities, 14 March 2016,
https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/why-shakespeare-still-matters. Accessed June 27,
2019.
Wilk, Amanda. “Why Does Shakespeare Still Matter?” IDW,
https://ojs.library.dal.ca/YAHS/article/viewFile/506/501. Accessed June 27, 2019.

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