We've got your back. With the Tough-O-Meter, you'll know whether to bring extra layers or Swiss army knives as you summit the literary mountain. (10 = Toughest)
(6) Tree Line
There's some good news and not-so-good news here, Shmoopsters. The good news is that the plot of As You Like It is relatively easy to follow. (It's not nearly as twisty and turny as some other Shakespearean comedies like, say, Much Ado About Nothing. Plus, it's a lot easier to keep track of characters in As You Like It than in, say, a history play like Richard III.)
The not-so-good news is that As You Like It is the "Chatty Cathy Doll" of Shakespearean drama—meaning, there's far more talk than there is action. So, unless you grew up on tour with the cast and crew of a Renaissance Fair, Shakespeare's language will take some getting used to. Don't worry, though, you will get the hang of it. Our guess is that you'll have a lot of fun discovering some new ways to insult your enemies in Elizabethan English, a la Touchstone. Plus, you can always go to our detailed summary if you get into a jam...