I had prepared a lengthy colourful text post however, it has gone missing between draft and published; which could be blessing as this version can now be more concise.
Shakespeare is still well known in England and beyond 400 years after death, and as picture shows many of the phrases he wrote are still used today. Yet I’m not fully convinced. The last Shakespeare I saw in my 30s was Midsummer’s night dream with a friend. The first half I could not really understand but, was ok to watch. Second half got very slapstick which we did not like; we wanted to leave but was in the middle of a row. I’m not the only one unconvinced Davy D is Shakespeare overrated? Is the opening line correct
The British actress, Dame Judy Dench, once said “a bad experience of Shakespeare is like a bad oyster – it puts you off for life.”
A great post and interesting discussion in the comments. Also love Davy D’s poem about learning ShakespeareShakespeare and Seagulls by Davy D
Want to try to convince me about Shakespeare or agree he is overrated. Feel free to post links to your posts below. Could be fiction inspired by Shakespeare for example imagined convesations or interviews with characters from plays or Shakespeare himself or modernised versions of his plays or join discussions in the comments section.
A quiz hereWhich Shakespeare Character Are You?Thanks Christine for letting me share. I see you have written a great Shakespeare related post this morning, I will read now; feel free to post link below.
In the quiz I got Portia; who did everyone else get an did they like? I like the sound of Portia; she found legal loopholes to prevent marriage to the man her Father picked for her. Very modern; some Shakespeare stories have been adapted into modern films; any examples?
For GCSE I studied Macbeth I have typed up to of my pieces of coursework.
My GCSE coursework from many moons ago: Lady Macbeth on the programme ‘In the Phychiarist Chair’
I = Interviewer M =Lady Macbeth
I: Our guest today is Lady Elizabeth Macbeth. She was born on 26th May 1565 at her family’s home in the North of …
https://wonderwall360blog.wordpress.com/2017/04/23/my-gcse-coursework-from-many-moons-ago-lady-macbeth-on-the-programme-in-the-phychateist-chair/
GCSE English Coursework from many moons ago: Macbeth Historian’s analysis
I feel it is right to begin by introducing myself; I’m professor Archibold Macleod. Analysing Macbeth has been a project which i have wanted to do …
https://wonderwall360blog.wordpress.com/2017/04/23/gcse-english-coursework-from-many-moons-ago-macbeth-historians-analysis/
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It sounds like Shakespeare house could be worth visiting if in Stratford up on Avon.
https://ohtheplaceswesee.com/2017/04/08/the-bards-beginnings-shakespeares-birthplace-stratford-upon-avon/
https://journeytoambeth.com/2016/10/27/thursday-doors-shakespeares-birthplace-stratford-upon-avon/
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Anyone done the quiz? Anyone got any favourite Shakespeare plays or quotes?
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Some of my favourite Shakespeare adaptations…. https://murph500.wordpress.com/2017/04/23/happy-birthday-and-erm-death-day-william-shakespeare/
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Think I will be avoiding Orthello unless any one can convince me of the merits of the play?!
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The legend of William Shakespeare is amazing, considering many did not survive childhood at the time of Shakespeare. 3 of his siblings did not survive childhood.
It may not be Shakespeare’s birthday as at the time of his birth; births were not registered. Because of high mortality rates, it was common to christen babies 3 days after birth therefore as Shakespeare was baptised 26th April then working back his birthday was likely to be 23rd April.
It is also lucky he learnt to read and write as not all his siblings did due to finical hardship preventing all his siblings being educated http://m.literarygenius.info/brothers-sisters-william-shakespeare.htm
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Davy D’s post Is Shakespeare overrated starts with the opening lines The British actress, Dame Judy Dench, once said “a bad experience of Shakespeare is like a bad oyster – it puts you off for life.” Is that correct? https://davydblog.com/2016/10/26/is-shakespeare-overrated/
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In this post it is talked about how Shakespeare is perimeter in RP which is not how English is performed today. Given the language used as well I think it can be hard to follow Shakespeare plays. https://wmtang.org/2017/04/24/ben-crystal-lectures-in-japan/comment-page-1/
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Shakespeare party playlist ….what else can I listen to?
Currently listening to Shakespeare sister stay.
https://wonderwall360blog.wordpress.com/2017/04/23/shakespeare-party-playlist-what-else-can-i-listen-to/
In picture notice Good Riddance so I can listen to Greenday Good Riddance (time it your life), then Tom Jones fight fire with fire. Then will have to look up Romeo and Juliet soundtrack. Anything else?
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Basement Jazz has a song called Romeo as does Dolly Parton. Why else? Before I resort to Spice Girls because Victoria Beckham has a son called Romeo.
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Thinking about whether need to research Shakespeare before going to plays. Been discussing with author of The Pleasures of (Re-)Reading: Spoiling Stories for Better *And* Worse
A few days ago, Super Eyepatch Wolf released a video asking, “Do Spoilers Ruin Stories?”. It does a good job capturing the situation internet culture has led itself into: the seemingly closed case of spoilers ‘ruining’ what we watch, contrasted against the ease with which they flourish on social media. The older the tale, the […]
https://unnecessaryexclamationmark.wordpress.com/2017/04/23/the-pleasures-of-re-reading-spoiling-stories-for-better-and-worse/
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It has been mentioned about getting into heads of Shakespearean audience of the time.
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So I know the from Macbeth course historical analysis, I have re read that they were into superstition and would have enjoyed hearing stories that supported stories of witchcraft.
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A time without tv. Many of audience would not have been able to read so plays would have been great entertainment. They would probably have understood the language I find hard to get. The audience would not have visited Verona where Romeo and Juliet was set. Does this give insight into Italian city? I can not remember it seeming very Italian.
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Great post celebrating 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death last year. Including suggestions of Shakespearean recipe books … wonder what party good could serve?
https://wordpress.com/read/blogs/61919829/posts/12870
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A comment I read today suggest could compare and contrast Shakespeare with Game of thrones but big I saw of GoT I was put off by.
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You can see my Top 10 Shakespeare Plays here 🙂 https://rosiefrecklereads.wordpress.com/2017/04/23/my-top-10-shakespeare-plays/
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Thanks Rosie 🙂 Out of two know best think like Macbeth best. Like say Middsumners baffles me!
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Macbeth is the best!
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Which character of all plays do you relate to most?
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Relate to? Good question. Probably Rosalind, she’s a really badass lady! 🙂
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Which play is that?
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Shakespeare did seem to write some amazingly strong women for his time.
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Yes! Last year for uni I wrote a paper on Cleopatra and Lady Macbeth and they are just amazing women. Rosalind is from As You Like It
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Any one agree / disagree with this list?
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