Commonplace books
Commonplace books, as described below, are ancient. We designed this one specifically for Shakespeare readers. Each of the hundred pages has lightly dotted lines for writing on and a different Shakespearean quotation at the top of each page.
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From as early as the twelfth century and into the eighteenth century, it was a normal practice while reading to keep a small book handy in which to write commonplaces, which are “sentences grave and serious,” or striking, notable, or poignant passages that one might find while reading or listening.
As opposed to a journal or a diary, a commonplace book is a collection of wisdom discovered in the world, particularly “virtuous” thoughts to share and live by. One is expected to engage with the ideas recorded and to intersperse one’s own thoughts and questions and arguments.
This commonplace book is to record lines from your Shakespeare readings that you find personally insightful, delightful, wise, or witty, thoughts to ponder on, to memorize, to share. Consider also recording your own memories of these lines and the plays, such as when you read them and what they meant to you at that moment and why you chose these particular ideas to savor.
Thus you transform this commonplace book into a unique treasure and valuable part of your heritage.
