Shakespeare is studied by both scholars of literature as well as actors. So how exactly should we view his work? And is his work best experienced as a piece of literature or as a piece or theatre? It seems a lot of people have strong feelings about this one way or the other. I’m going to give a non-answer, which…
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Where to start with Shakespeare
With 38 plays (or 39, depending on what plays you count exactly) and well over 100 poems, it can be difficult to know where a good starting place is to explore the Bard’s work. I have not yet completed all of his work, so my thoughts on this may change by the end of the year, but I thought it…
Why “how you quote Shakespeare without knowing it” articles drive me crazy
Here we are with post number 2 of Shakespeare week. With all the excitement about Shakespeare (which thrills me), I keep seeing articles and graphics with titles along the lines of “how you quote Shakespeare without even knowing it.” Now, it’s a great idea. And I remember having a discussion along those lines when I began studying Shakespeare in ninth grade.…
Favorite Shakespeare Plays (So Far)
Welcome to Shakespeare Week! Because I couldn’t participate in all the Shakespeare 400 anniversary hullabaloo leading up to his birthday/day he died, I have decided to have my own little celebration here on the blog for the week after the anniversary. There will be a new post here on Finding the Bard every day until next Monday. I am very excited…
Much Ado About Nothing: Where Comedy and Tragedy Meet
What’s it about? We follow the ups and downs of two relationships over the course of a few days. People meddle with Relationship #1 to make it become a romantic relationships. Other people meddle with Relationship #2 to break up the romance. Both are successful…except not really. What’s it really about? Well…we follow the ups and downs of two relationships…
Everything I need to know I learned from Shakespeare
Today is Shakespeare’s birthday and the 400th anniversary of his death. In thinking about how much Shakespeare means to me, I decided that the best way to celebrate his legacy in this special week would be to try and articulate what I have learned from him. 1) Nothing is simple. Being rich or powerful does not mean life is easy,…
Julius Caesar: A Study of Manipulation
What’s it about? Caesar has many friends and many supporters, but apparently not quite enough. Some are beginning to question whether he has grown too tyrannical and needs to be stopped. A group of them, including Caesar’s trusted friend, Brutus, agree on a plan. They kill Caesar (”E tu, Brute?). But then…well, things don’t go exactly as planned. What’s it…
Love’s Labour Lost: When efforts fall short
What’s it about? Four (wealthy/upper class) young men make a deal that they are going to study together for three years. They agree on a set of rules for this time, which includes not seeing any women. However, a princess comes to visit and, with her retinue containing a total of four women, well…let’s just say some pairing off definitely…
A few days ago, I got home late, feeling tired, extremely stressed, and overwhelmed with everything that I had to do. After a long day at work and a pretty miserable commute, I had a huge amount of additional work waiting for me at home. By the end of the night, I felt like I had reached my limit and…
As You Like It: Investigating Identity
What’s it about? A large number of people have been driven to the forest for a variety of reasons and we see their interactions. This includes our main character, Rosalind, when she meets her crush (Orlando) in the forest and pretends to teach him how to woo women (while assuming the guise of a young man). Our other characters have…