The Academy Classics SHAKESPEARE AS YOU LIKE IT EDITED WITH A LIFE OF SHAKESPEARE, AN ACCOUNT OF AIDS TO THE STUDY OF THE PLAY FOREWORD In revising the edition of As You Like It, published thirty years ago by Samuel Thurber, Sr., the editors have been influenced by the changed condition in high schools since the time when his work was done. The greater number of pupils, the consequent inadequacy of reference material, the more general and less specialized literary preparation, and the broader aims and ideals of the rising generation — all these conditions demand a different type of annotation from that of twenty years ago. Recent problems in teaching As You Like It with college preparatory, commercial, and technical classes have led us to include in the present edition the following features not found in Mr. Thurber's work: a fuller and more informational array of notes; a study of the structural elements of the play; a discussion of the sources of the comedy; comments of well-known persons on the characters of the drama; a list of familiar quotations from As You Like It; an account of Shakespeare, the man, his life, work, reputation, and the theatre for which he wrote; a list of topics for oral and written composition; and finally a rather complete glossary of difficult words and phrases for the convenience of the student. These features will be found in the appendix following the text of the play. X I V |