Coriolanus

William ShakespeareProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

4.4

Word count: 172K words
Chapters: 18

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Coriolanus by William ShakespeareAuthor: Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616,Language: German, Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature, Release Date: Nov 1, 2004

Editor's review

Coriolanus is Shakespeare's late Roman tragedy, telling the story of the general Coriolanus, who meets destruction through arrogance and political missteps. This electronic edition is released by Project Gutenberg as a public-domain text; the metadata lists the language as German, so readers should check the edition's language before use to avoid choosing the wrong version. The play offers a profound portrayal of conflicts among power, honor, the populace, and individual character, and is an important work for understanding Shakespeare's political tragedies. While reading, pay attention to how the protagonist's character flaws drive the plot and to the rhetorical clashes in crowd scenes. It suits selective Shakespeare reading or thematic reading on Roman subjects, and also allows theater enthusiasts to appreciate the tension in the lines. The public-domain electronic text has no modern annotations, so it is advisable to use an authoritative annotated edition or reading guide alongside.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Literature students studying Shakespeare's Roman tragedies
Readers with experience in drama who are interested in themes of power and human nature
Theater enthusiasts who need a public-domain Shakespeare text for coursework or performance reference
Self-learners hoping to expand their classic reading and able to accept the difficulty of the original language

Not a good fit for

Beginners to Shakespeare who need modern annotations and detailed guides
Readers expecting light entertainment who are unfamiliar with early modern English
Users who do not notice the edition language and need a Chinese translation

Reading tips

First learn about the Roman Republic background and the character relationships, then enter the play text.
Focus on the protagonist's soliloquies and crowd scenes, marking rhetoric and character conflict.
Read alongside an authoritative annotated edition or guide to reduce comprehension difficulty.
Watch a stage or screen version first to establish the plot framework before reading the original.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

What is the text language of this edition?

According to the metadata, the language of this electronic edition is German. Readers should confirm before reading whether the edition language meets their needs; if they need the English original or a Chinese translation, they should choose a corresponding edition to avoid misreading.

Can I understand the play without annotations?

Shakespeare's original text contains many historical allusions and early modern English expressions, making unannotated reading quite difficult. Readers with some experience in Shakespeare may try it; beginners are advised to use an authoritative annotated edition, reading guide, or translation alongside.

Is this play suitable as an introduction to Shakespeare?

Coriolanus is dense with political and character conflict, and its language is not easy; it is usually not the first choice for an introduction. If you have already read several Shakespeare plays and are interested in Roman subjects, this play will be easier to enter and its tension more appreciable.

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About the author

William Shakespeare Author · English · 1564–1616

William Shakespeare (1564–1616) was the greatest playwright, poet and actor of the English Renaissance. Born in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, he is known as the "Bard of Avon." He wrote roughly thirty-seven to thirty-nine plays, one hundred and fifty-four sonnets and narrative poems. His representative works include Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth and Romeo and Juliet. His works span tragedy, comedy and history play, distinguished by rich, poetic language and profound characterization. His explorations of human nature, power, love and fate have had a lasting influence, and his works have been translated into many languages and circulated widely around the world.