Imitating Shakespeare

Strange how certain books captivate my interest, others not as much. I find myself going back again and again to reread Mark Forsyth's 2013 book, "The Elements of Eloquence."

In Forsyth's "Preface," he writes, "Shakespeare was not a genius. He was the most wonderful writer who ever breathed. But not a genius. Instead, he learned rhetorical techniques and tricks."

Of Shakespeare's first plays-"Love's Labour's Lost," "Titus Andronicus," and "Henry VI, Part 1"-Forsyth says, "there is not a single memorable line in them." But the young poet /playwright kept learning, and transformed himself into a...