Whenever I read classic books I also have a dictionary next to me or use my phone to look up the word, it helps me learn what the word is and then I understand the text better.
Thank you 🙂 I did then when I was also learning to read, my dads then girlfriend would get irritated with me for asking what a word is so she bought me a dictionary:)
Thanks for sharing this little story! At the end, what she did proved useful :). I like dictionaries, especially in those showing the etimology (origin & history) of a word.
Sometimes watching something, better if it is not what you are reading, that is set in the same time period, with the same or similar speech patterns will help. Of course, the old English is hard for some people no matter what. My best friend in High School once tried to read Jane Eyre with me, but she never managed it, and she is one of the smartest people I know. I told her that if she really wanted to know the story but couldn;t get passed the English, she should check out the movie put put by BBC. They are usually really close and great to watch.
Just try to imagine how the world was then. See as many as pictures or movies about those times, “listen” a little and then you’ll get used to the language… I guess.
I like that. What I do is write them down if I don’t know the meaning then look them up after . I beat all my friends in any thing trivia from all my reading
I read classic books on my kindle. That way I can hover my finger over words I don’t recognize. That said, don’t you love the new words and how Miss Jane uses them?
I loooove the Barnes & Noble version of the classics, because they give so many footnotes and stuff. I felt like the extra help there was the only way I got through Pride and Prejudice.
I love the movie versions of Pride and Prejudice. The book is too much work for me to get through. I did it once. Never again. The language and style have just changed too much in the last 200 years.
I studied it at school – in a way, that’s the best way to read a classic book – you have a teacher pointing things out. There are also the study guides.
There is a great edition called “Pride and Prejudice: An Annotated Edition” by Jane Austen and Patricia Meyer Sparks (editor) It was published in 2010. It is an oversized hardcover book that has so many footnotes and illustrations to explain all of the items and words we no longer recognize in today’s world. Actually all of Jane Austen’s books have been published like this with the last one due out soon. They are wonderful editions.
I read it twice, enjoyed it more the second time. Your post reminds me of a scene from the film “You’ve Got Mail”, where we hear Kathleen narrating an email to Joe about how she’s read P&P numerous times and loves the language, while he’s trying to read it and keeps giving up, lol. <3
You’ll be happy at the end 🙂
I struggled with Sense and Sensibility, I read a chapter a day so I could process. Slow, but worth it in the end
Whenever I read classic books I also have a dictionary next to me or use my phone to look up the word, it helps me learn what the word is and then I understand the text better.
Good idea!
Thank you 🙂 I did then when I was also learning to read, my dads then girlfriend would get irritated with me for asking what a word is so she bought me a dictionary:)
Thanks for sharing this little story! At the end, what she did proved useful :). I like dictionaries, especially in those showing the etimology (origin & history) of a word.
I thought I was smart but this book has me feeling dumb.
Once you do one, the next is easier. You get your head in the past. When you come out, modern writing and speech seem impoverished.
Sometimes watching something, better if it is not what you are reading, that is set in the same time period, with the same or similar speech patterns will help. Of course, the old English is hard for some people no matter what. My best friend in High School once tried to read Jane Eyre with me, but she never managed it, and she is one of the smartest people I know. I told her that if she really wanted to know the story but couldn;t get passed the English, she should check out the movie put put by BBC. They are usually really close and great to watch.
just written in a different era, you are not dumb, just that we speak a altogether different language
Makes perfect sense
I felt the same, just had a dictionary or googled certain words, some of those words are just not used any longer
very true
Just try to imagine how the world was then. See as many as pictures or movies about those times, “listen” a little and then you’ll get used to the language… I guess.
Great idea Thank you!
Hang tough!
I know, I was the same. I had a dictionary beside me while reading it.
Use a dictionary if you need to. Her syntax is typical of her time. We are used to a much starker language like Hemingway.
Get over understanding each & every word & understand & imagine the big picture it would be much better (y) this book is definitely one of my favs
I loved the book, however, I also read with the dictionary besides me…
That’s another reason I prefer an e-reader. You can highlight the word and get the definition in seconds.
Stick with it, you’ll be glad you did ?
You are not alone in this. Even i found it very heavy to read during my college days???
I like that. What I do is write them down if I don’t know the meaning then look them up after . I beat all my friends in any thing trivia from all my reading
I read classic books on my kindle. That way I can hover my finger over words I don’t recognize.
That said, don’t you love the new words and how Miss Jane uses them?
Oh…to teach my Austen again
I loooove the Barnes & Noble version of the classics, because they give so many footnotes and stuff. I felt like the extra help there was the only way I got through Pride and Prejudice.
I love the movie versions of Pride and Prejudice. The book is too much work for me to get through. I did it once. Never again. The language and style have just changed too much in the last 200 years.
I studied it at school – in a way, that’s the best way to read a classic book – you have a teacher pointing things out. There are also the study guides.
Get pride and prejudice and zombies…. those zombies will eat the big words!
Best. Book. Ever.
Stay with it , so worth it!
There is a great edition called “Pride and Prejudice: An Annotated Edition” by Jane Austen and Patricia Meyer Sparks (editor) It was published in 2010. It is an oversized hardcover book that has so many footnotes and illustrations to explain all of the items and words we no longer recognize in today’s world. Actually all of Jane Austen’s books have been published like this with the last one due out soon. They are wonderful editions.
Can you give an example or two of these big words?
I read it twice, enjoyed it more the second time. Your post reminds me of a scene from the film “You’ve Got Mail”, where we hear Kathleen narrating an email to Joe about how she’s read P&P numerous times and loves the language, while he’s trying to read it and keeps giving up, lol. <3