In looking at the positive side of reading Shakespeare, his plays do look at both the virtues and vices of men. This aids students in their future understanding of his plays later in high school when they will read Shakespeare’s unabridged plays in original form. While Shakespeare’s plays were obviously not written for children, there is some merit in introducing children to his plays first in story form through Lamb’s Tales from Shakespeare. This is partly true purely for the reason that Shakespeare is responsible for contributing some 2000 words and phrases to the English language that are still in use today. However, as I continued to study his plays and ponder his influence, I realized that there would be something missing in my children’s understanding of the English-speaking world if I neglected to teach them about Shakespeare. I was sure that Shakespeare wasn’t worth studying by my children due to the inappropriate jokes, adult content, and references to love-making within his plays.

Note from Carrie: Why read Shakespeare?ĭuring the early years of educating our children, I struggled with Charlotte Mason’s recommendation that children study Shakespeare. Three centuries later, the Lambs’ adaptations remain a fine introduction to Shakespeare’s writings and are a must for the well-rounded library. The tales offer readers a taste of the comic and the tragic, and will provide the incentive to tackle the plays themselves at the high school level under proper adult guidance. However, they still managed to retain the complex plots and characterizations so familiar to readers of Shakespeare. The Lambs adapted the retellings of the plays to a length and simplicity suitable for older elementary or middle school students. Charles and Mary Lamb originally collaborated as a way to earn money as well as to introduce young readers to the works of the famous bard, preserving whenever possible “Shakespeare’s own words.” These adaptations of Shakespeare’s fourteen comedies and six tragedies (retold in prose) were intended for children.

A brother and sister originally published Tales from Shakespeare in the early 19th century.

Tales from Shakespeare by Charles Lamb