--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In a very literal way, of course…" description: "\"In a very literal way, of course, Shakespeare did change the course of history: when it didn't fit the plot he had in mind, he simply rewrote it. His E..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f05/neil-macgregor-16366_achieve_in-a-very-literal-way-of-course-shakespe_2782589.png" --- # In a very literal way, of course, Shakespeare did change… ![“In a very literal way, of course, Shakespeare did change the course of history: when it didn't fit the plot he had in mind, he simply rewrote it. His English histories play fast and loose with chronology and fact to achieve the desired dramatic effect, re-ordering history even as it was then…” quote by Neil MacGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f05/neil-macgregor-16366_achieve_in-a-very-literal-way-of-course-shakespe_2782589.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f05/neil-macgregor-16366_achieve_in-a-very-literal-way-of-course-shakespe_2782589.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f05/neil-macgregor-16366_achieve_in-a-very-literal-way-of-course-shakespe_2782589.png) > “In a very literal way, of course, Shakespeare did change the course of history: when it didn't fit the plot he had in mind, he simply rewrote it. His English histories play fast and loose with chronology and fact to achieve the desired dramatic effect, re-ordering history even as it was then understood.” [Neil MacGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-macgregor/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Shakespeare altered historical narratives for dramatic impact, prioritizing story over factual accuracy. **In simple terms:** He rewrote history to fit his plots. Key Takeaway Recognize artistic license in historical works. Themes history drama artistic license Mood thoughtful critical Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - Theatre productions - historical education - creative writing Key Concepts Narrative shaping chronological flexibility Questions to Reflect On - How does dramatization affect our perception of history? - Should artistic works be judged by factual accuracy? A Different Perspective Historical fidelity may be compromised for entertainment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Achieve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achieve/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Course](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/course/) [Desired](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desired/) [Did](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/did/) [Dramatic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dramatic/) [Effect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effect/) [English](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/english/) [English Histories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/english-histories-3321207/) [Even](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/even/) [Fact](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fact/) [Fast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fast/) [Fit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fit/) [Had](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/had/) [He](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/he/) [His](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/his/) [Histories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/histories/) [Histories Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/histories-play-3321206/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [History Didn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history-didn-292594/) [Literal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literal/) [Loose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loose/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Plot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plot/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shakespeare/) [Shakespeare Did](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shakespeare-did-714153/) [Simply](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simply/) [Then](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/then/) [Understood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understood/) [Very](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/very/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [“History didn’t greet us with triumphal fanfares: —it flung dirty sand into our eyes. 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