Do literature classes spend too much time on Shakespeare?

The Passive Voice blog shared an article from a Canadian website that we suspect is sure to stir up strong opinion amongst readers.

In it, author and teacher Allan Stratton argues that it’s time to reduce William Shakespeare’s presence in high school literature classes.

Stratton isn’t dismissing the Bard’s influence on and contributions to the Western canon.

His concerns mainly relate to the logistics of education: that students spend more time unpacking the language and cultural context than learning to appreciate the work; that teachers without theatrical experience may not be able to bring life to the plays; and that other deserving playwrights never have a chance to appear on the curriculum.

For Stratton’s full case against a Shakespeare-heavy focus, head to The Walrus, which reprinted the piece with permission from The Line.

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