4,600 people have taken this course

It is impossible to overestimate William Shakespeare's formidable impact on people and cultures throughout the world. Shakespeare's plays, sonnets, and poems have stolen the hearts of even the least likely audiences and readers in every corner of the globe. One obvious reason is his sheer command of the language. He contributed over three thousand words to the English language, in part because he was the first to write down many of these words. But he also coined new words in every piece he wrote. And Shakespeare's prolific writing also contributed to his monumental reach: he managed to write thirty-eight plays, and possibly contribute to others, as well as to complete one hundred and fifty-four sonnets and five poems. His immense crowd of characters span the gap from beings barely above vegetable and mineral level (Caliban in The Tempest or Peaseblossom in A Midsummer Night's Dream) to philosophical princes and history-shattering queens.

In the end, however, it is not the sheer magnitude of his work or characters or his virtuoso use of technique or language that defines his true genius. The truly miraculous core of Shakespeare's work is his stunning expression of the full range of the human mind and heart. And certainly Shakespeare's wisdom, cynicism, humor, and word play are a match for any writer around the globe. The astounding fact is that Shakespeare could write his way convincingly into just about any character that he could imagine. And in this respect, Shakespeare stands with only a handful of other great literary geniuses anywhere in the world and in any historical time period. Because of his particular kind of genius, Shakespeare's works allow the reader to continually mine the riches of the heart and to see its landscape perpetually painted in rich, true colors.

A Year of Shakespeare's Wit and Wisdom
This 365 day course presents a medley of Shakespeare's observations on life, politics, and nature. The quotes include excerpts from impassioned soliloquies, proverbial wisdom, and even selected prayers and curses. Each day you will receive a brief quote, a short description of the scene, and a contemporary rephrasing of the quote. As the weeks pass, readers will discover Shakespeare's astonishing grasp of the intricacies of the human soul and of nature's miraculous beauty.

What People Are Saying
"I took a Shakespeare course in Ashland OR with Dr. O'Hora and it was obvious that she is a real Shakespearean scholar and her interpretations can be trusted." - PS

"In this age of short attention spans, quips and quick critiques, this gives you a daily dose of Shakespeare that is short and easy to digest, with a modern translation that helps you understand and appreciate Shakespeare's turn of phrase." - Edward

"This is a splendid compilation of Shakespeare verbal marvels... The breadth of subject matter used from Will is wonderful: love, war luck, food, sex, human folly, one's own folly, aging. The quotes include a few old friends but mostly nonstandard bits seen for the first time as gems." - Franko

"O'Hora has chosen an array of phrases to capture human qualities throughout the year, such as humor, intuition, love, even fashion. Told this way, Shakespeare seems modern, even timeless, and thoroughly accessible." - Karen

"O'Hora's deep understanding of Shakespeare makes each day a new and wondrous discovery." - Bryher

About Jill O'Hora
Jill O'Hora, Ph.D., is an English professor at Pasadena City College, Pasadena, California. Her doctoral dissertation on Shakespeare's tragedies provides the foundation for her teaching and writing career. In addition to Shakespeare and theatre, her academic interests include interdisciplinary teaching, cross-cultural perspectives, and Jungian psychology. Dr. O'Hora has conducted theatre groups in Oregon, Canada, and Ireland and has presented cross-cultural drama workshops and lectures in Russia and England. Her publications include a Jungian approach to Shakespeare's Scottish tragedy, "The Consciousness of Evil in Shakespeare's Macbeth," and The Ties That No Longer Bind, a book of conversations between Russians and Americans. This course is a direct reflection of Jill's lifelong reliance on Shakespeare's plays and poems as sources of guidance and inspiration.

How Does It Work?
Starting today, you will receive a new lesson every day for 365 days (total of 365 lessons). Each lesson is yours to keep and you'll be able to refer back to it whenever you want. And if you miss a lesson or are too busy to get to it that day, each lesson will conveniently remain in your account so you won't have to search for it when you're ready to get back to it.

Get Started Now
We are offering this course with the option of selecting how much you want to pay. No matter how much you pay, you'll be getting the same course as everybody else. We simply trust that people are honest and will support the author of the course with whatever they can afford. And if you are not 100% satisfied, we will refund your money.


How much do you want to pay?


$15$35$50


This is the total amount for all 365 lessons