--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's hard to think that say Shakespeare…" description: "\"It's hard to think that say Shakespeare could have written \"The Tempest\" when he was young. It seems to be reflective work or retrospective work.\" — Ed..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d22/edward-hirsch-1614_hard_it-s-hard-to-think-that-say-shakespeare_2451790.png" --- # It's hard to think that say Shakespeare could have written… ![“It's hard to think that say Shakespeare could have written "The Tempest" when he was young. It seems to be reflective work or retrospective work.” quote by Edward Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d22/edward-hirsch-1614_hard_it-s-hard-to-think-that-say-shakespeare_2451790.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d22/edward-hirsch-1614_hard_it-s-hard-to-think-that-say-shakespeare_2451790.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d22/edward-hirsch-1614_hard_it-s-hard-to-think-that-say-shakespeare_2451790.png) > “It's hard to think that say Shakespeare could have written "The Tempest" when he was young. It seems to be reflective work or retrospective work.” [Edward Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hirsch/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He reflects on Shakespeare's early work, seeing it as introspective and retrospective. **In simple terms:** Early works can be reflective and look back. Key Takeaway Value youthful introspection. Themes literature history reflection Mood contemplative scholarly Type academic thought‑provoking When to use this quote - literary criticism - education - writing retreats - historical study Key Concepts early authorship self‑analysis artistic development Questions to Reflect On - How does age affect artistic depth? - What can we learn from early works? A Different Perspective Young writers may lack experience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Retrospective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/retrospective/) [Retrospective Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/retrospective-work-577526/) [Seems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seems/) [Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shakespeare/) [Shakespeare Written](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shakespeare-written-577525/) [Tempest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tempest/) [Tempest Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tempest-young-577527/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Written](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/written/) [Written Tempest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/written-tempest-577524/) [Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young/) ## Related quotes > [Having a memoir and a retrospective of your work running almost simultaneously when you're still alive does feel a bit posthumous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-browne/having-a-memoir-and-a-retrospective-of-your-work-running-almost/) [Anthony Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-browne/) > [In 2011, 'Yourself in the World,' a book of my writings and interviews, was published in conjunction with a retrospective of my work at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-ligon/in-2011-yourself-in-the-world-a-book-of-my-writings-and-interviews/) [Glenn Ligon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-ligon/) > [“When King Lear dies in Act V, do you know what Shakespeare has written? 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