Why?

I was talking with my cousin about my Shakespeare class, and he asked me why Shakespeare is still studied today, and what made his work last so long and become so famous. Oh, that's easy, its because he came up with some really great original works! Oh wait... he didn't. Hmmmm...

The Necessary Shakespeare gives plenty of examples of modern day Shakespeare, both in film and on stage, which helps keep his legacy alive. But still, why make more productions? According to the text, voluntary class enrollment (unlike mine) in Shakespeare courses in colleges and universities is rising. But still, why read and study Shakespeare? The text says that every reader needs to answer that question for him or herself, but also asserts that "Shakespeare is an extraordinary poet and he excels in the breadth and incisiveness of his depictions of human experience".

Shakespeare did write a LOT, but there is more than just quantity that made Shakespeare so enduring.

Shakespeare popularized the basic archetypal characters and plots that we use today. Yes, he plagiarized. But he improved what he stole, and because of that the basic characters, plots and story-lines that he used became the base of which most all literature comes from, even today.

I am going to explore this question more thoroughly throughout the semester. I want to know why I have to take this class, why Shakespeare is still in modern culture and literature, and why his works are still celebrated today.