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Step 1
Use a synopsis to understand the plot of the play before you start to reading. Keep track of plot points and major characters once you delve into the actual text. Identify universal themes, setting and history surrounding the play's production.
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Step 2
Purchase a reader's guide that includes passages from the play, translations of the language into modern English and some interpretation of the plot development. Read it completely before you sit down. Focus on the poetic language and the play's climax.
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Step 3
Start with "Julius Cesar" or "Romeo and Juliet" which are the most popular plays. These stories may be easier to follow since they're so well known. Follow up with less popular plays or those with difficult or intricate plots and themes.
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Step 4
Find a copy of the play that has annotations. Shakespeare's text contains many words that were widely used during the 16th century, but sound foreign today. An annotated copy of the play should define most the words, either on the bottom of the page or on the opposite page.
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Step 5
Study biographical information about Shakespeare, Queen Elizabeth and 16th century theater. Take your time reading through the play. When you come across passages you don't understand, go back and read them again. Keep a pad handy and note any questions so you can look them up later.
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Step 6
Read the play several times to get the full depth of Shakespeare's talent. Re-reading helps you understand the narrative, which, in some cases, can be hard to follow at first.
