Why do we have to learn Shakespeare in English? Most of his plays aren't even original.

Question

IMHO --

He was an ordinary man who managed to put together an amazing array of plays and other writings intended for the ordinary people during his time, not just for the nobility.

His works were so well loved by the people of his time.

His works have lasted and were copied and printed and re-read and re-read and re-read over these 400+ years. (Many works written in the past have simply disappeared. Sometimes we know of an author only because others mention him/her, but we never see any of the work.)

The stories are compelling, some more than others. Regular people or nobility -- people could identify with the stories he told. It doesn't matter if he took an old story and rewrote it; they still "speak" to people. (Think of how many movies are remakes!)

Here are some of the best online resources for Shakespeare and his works:

http://shakespeare.palomar.edu/

http://shakespeare.mit.edu/works.html

http://www.shakespeare-online.com/

http://www.shakespeare.com/

http://www.bardweb.net/

http://absoluteshakespeare.com/index.htm

http://nfs.sparknotes.com/

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