Hello

My name is John Kendrick, and I am an English major and swimmer at BYU. I created this blog to document my experiences and research with Shakespeare as I take the required Shakespeare course for English majors. My previous encounter with Shakespeare has been very limited, just what my other English classes have required, read Hamlet, analyze a few sonnets, see a theater production or two... nothing too extensive. I am excited to really DIVE into Shakespeare and engulf myself with his works, biography and analysis.

I love being an English major. I kind of stumbled into being an English major, but am so glad that it worked out! I have loved getting to know the famous works and authors of the world. Some personal favorites are James Joyce, William Faulkner, Ernest Hemingway, and Lord Byron. Maybe through these next few months William Shakespeare will make his way onto my list of favorites.

I have been reading Hamlet, which as I mentioned I have read before for another English class. However my first encounter with Hamlet had the feel of something like a chore. I just plowed through it to get through it. This second time around I am really taking the effort to delve into it, really get a feel and learn for myself why this production is such an important part of the literary cannon. I am looking for extra help... readings, videos on YouTube, extra notes, not to mention the wealth of information that is in our text, The Necessary Shakespeare. I'll post the helpful things I find.