All about Shakespeare
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hehehe... sort of inspired by DP's post about starting something on shakespeare.... do you know he is one of the greatest copy-writers of all time?? as in most of his plays are not even original ideas??
here's a little info about his life...
http://www.stratford-upon-avon.co.uk/wslife.htm -
Many of us have studied shakespeare's plays before.... so am just wondering....
Who is your favorite villain in all his plays that you've come across??
kekeke
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i like midsummer night dream. i like the fairy king and dislike the naughty fairy that cause so much trouble
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hmmm..... my favourite villain I think,.... is Shylock in Merchant of Venice.... so much self-justification for his blood-thirsty covetousness... kekekeke....Originally posted by jusgal:i like midsummer night dream. i like the fairy king and dislike the naughty fairy that cause so much trouble
then again, i hate the chauvinism and "white man's pride" of the other characters...
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Iago in Othello and Edmund in King Lear.
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anyone read Titus? it's a lesser known play by shakespeare and often avoided for the amount of violence in it.....
Thought Titus' mode of revenge was pretty... *ouch*.... -
used to have a book of Shakespeare but gone liao
well i can't remember names yah but i damn *hate Juliet's bro from Romeo N Juliet
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you mean Tybalt?? that's Juliet's cousin. Juliet is the only daughter....Originally posted by MoonIce:used to have a book of Shakespeare but gone liao
well i can't remember names yah but i damn *hate Juliet's bro from Romeo N Juliet
He is kind of arrogant and obnoxious isn't he?? kekeke -
Those of us who have studied shakespeare will know what his plays are about... but let me try to bring a simpler summary of his plays to everyone... kekeke
Let me start with a lesser-known title:
Titus Andronicus
(an Early Tragedy and possibly one of the most gruesome he has written)
Without a doubt, Titus Andronicus is Shakespeare's bloodiest play. Titus, a Roman general, returns to Rome after a victorious campaign against the Goths. In tow as captives are Tamora and her sons—one of whom, Alarbus, is sacrificed at the hands of the sons of Titus. Saturnius, the newly declared emperor, is feuding with his younger brother, Bassianus; at one point Saturnius attempts to wrest Lavinia (who is Titus's daughter) from Bassianus, although he ends up failing in that and instead being seduced by the captive Queen Tamora. Tamora, all the while, plots with her Moorish lover, Aaron, against Titus.
Demetrius and Chiron, Tamora's other sons, begin the bloodletting in earnest. They encounter and kill the hapless Bassianus in the woods, then rape and mutilate Lavinia, leaving her without a tongue to speak or hands to write. Aaron furthers the revenge against Titus by framing his sons (Quintus and Martius) for the murder of Bassianus. Lucius, Titus's remaining son, attempts a failed rescue for which he is banished from Rome. They also discover Lavinia. At this low point, Aaron tells Titus that the emperor will spare Quintus and Martius if Titus cuts off a hand and sends it to him. This Titus does; however, the hand is soon returned along with the heads of his two sons. Titus is now on the brink of insanity. Lucius, meanwhile, raises an army of Goths to sack Rome.
As Lucius makes his preparations, Titus ensnares Demetrius and Chiron (who Lavinia has identified as her attackers), slays them, and sets to making a pie from their remains. When Tamora and Saturnius arrive to try to convince Titus to call off Lucius and his Goths, Titus offers them a dinner, featuring pie as the main course. In the midst of the feasting, Titus slays Lavinia to relieve her misery, reveals the secret ingredient of his pie, then turns his sword on Tamora, slaying her. Saturnius slays Titus; in turn, Lucius slays Saturnius. Lucius is elected emperor of Rome. He orders Aaron buried up to his chest and left to starve, and orders the body of Tamora be left unburied for the scavengers. -
that's my O level lit text leh... hehehe....Originally posted by jusgal:i like midsummer night dream. i like the fairy king and dislike the naughty fairy that cause so much trouble
but think i will prefer to study merchant of venice... always thot that story is more interesting....
then hor, i'm going to ask a silly qn liao...
there's one story with 3 witches one rite?? what's the title har?? -
That will be Macbeth... another tragedy but one that is more well-known than Titus Andronicus... also lots of bloodshed one...Originally posted by coolger03:that's my O level lit text leh... hehehe....
but think i will prefer to study merchant of venice... always thot that story is more interesting....
then hor, i'm going to ask a silly qn liao...
there's one story with 3 witches one rite?? what's the title har?? -
Macbeth
Macbeth, Thane of Glamis, is one of King Duncan's greatest war captains. Upon returning from a battle with the rebellious Thane of Cawdor, Macbeth and Banquo encounter three witches. A prophecy is given to them: Macbeth is hailed as Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor, and King; Banquo is hailed as the father of kings to come. With that, the witches evaporate into the mists. Both men nervously laugh off the prophecies until Duncan informs Macbeth that he is to assume Cawdor's title as a reward for his service to the king. When Lady Macbeth is informed of the events, she determines to push her husband's resolve in the matter—she wants him to take his fate into his own hands and make himself king. If Duncan happens to be inconveniently in the way....
Macbeth at first is reluctant to do harm to Duncan. However, when Duncan makes arrangements to visit the castle, the opportunity presents itself too boldly to ignore. Pressed on by his wife, they plot Duncan's death. Lady Macbeth gets Duncan's attendants drunk; Macbeth will slip in with his dagger, kill the king, and plant the dagger on the drunken guards. Macbeth, in a quiet moment alone, imagines he sees a bloody dagger appear in the air; upon hearing the tolling bells, he sets to work. Immediately Macbeth feels the guilt and shame of his act, as does Lady Macbeth, who nonetheless finds the inner strength to return to Duncan's chamber to plant the dagger on the attendants when Macbeth refuses to go back in there. When the body is discovered, Macbeth immediately slays the attendants—he says out of rage and grief—in order to silence them. Malcolm and Donalbain, Duncan's sons, both flee Scotland (fearful for their own lives). To everyone else, it appears that the sons have been the chief conspirators, and Macbeth is crowned King of Scotland, thus fulfilling the witches' prophecy. Banquo, however, has suspicions of his own based on their encounter with the witches.
Macbeth knows of Banquo's suspicions and the reasons for them; he is also wary of the second prophecy concerning Banquo's offspring. As he prepares for a celebratory banquet on his coronation, Macbeth hires assassins to get rid of Banquo and Fleance, his son. Banquo is murdered that night, but Fleance escapes into the darkness. As Macbeth sits down to the feast, the bloody ghost of Banquo silently torments him, which causes him great despair. Meanwhile, Macduff has fled to England because he too suspects Macbeth of foul play. Macbeth, once a man of greatness, transforms into a man whose conscience has fled him. Upon learning of Macduff's flight, Macbeth exacts revenge by having Macduff's entire household butchered. Macduff grieves, but joins up with Malcolm in England to raise an army against Macbeth.
Macbeth is given another prophecy by the witches as he prepares for Malcolm's assault. His throne is safe until Birnam Wood comes to Dunsinane, and he will not die by the hand of any man born of a woman. Macbeth feels confident in his chances for victory at this pronouncement. Lady Macbeth, on the other hand, has been slowly driven mad by her dreams in the wake of killing Duncan. She sleepwalks, wringing her hands together, and inadvertently reveals her part in the murder. As the English armies approach, Macbeth learns that many of his lords are deserting him, and that Lady Macbeth has died. On top of this, a messenger brings news that Malcolm's army is approaching under the cover of boughs, which they have cut from the trees of Birnam Wood. Resigned now to his fate, Macbeth grimly sets to battle.
None, however, can bring Macbeth down. Finally, Macduff meets him on the field of battle. Macbeth laughs hollowly, telling him of the witches' prophecy: no man born of a woman may slay him. As Macduff retorts, he was "from my mother's womb untimely ripp'd," meaning he was delivered by a Caesarian section (and hence, not technically born of a woman). Grimly, Macbeth presses on. The play ends with the death of Macbeth; Macduff greets the others bearing Macbeth's head. Malcolm is crowned King of Scotland, restoring his father's bloodline to the throne. -
Originally posted by KittynMeow:
i kanna stuck at this post for minutes...
Those of us who have studied shakespeare will know what his plays are about... but let me try to bring a simpler summary of his plays to everyone... kekeke
Let me start with a lesser-known title:
[b]Titus Andronicus
(an Early Tragedy and possibly one of the most gruesome he has written)
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Damn violent leh, got rape scene, "ren ruo char shao bao" but in pie form then slaughter here and there...might make a good movie. -
There is already a movie. Pretty good one too.Originally posted by Bochupi:i kanna stuck at this post for minutes... Damn violent leh, got rape scene, "ren ruo char shao bao" but in pie form then slaughter here and there...might make a good movie.
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can't remember how many versions there are... i know there's one starring anthony hopkins and Jessica LangeOriginally posted by choco B:There is already a movie. Pretty good one too. -
erm..who is this Macduff?? suddenly pop out of nowhere. read till blur. Thought Fleance will be king instead due to the prophecy? The witches also damn kpo one.
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really?? guess I miss it..Originally posted by choco B:There is already a movie. Pretty good one too. -
Macduff was one of the nobles who was threathened by Macbeth's murderous rise to power. Suspecting foul play, he escaped before Macbeth can murder him like the rest of the nobles....Originally posted by Bochupi:erm..who is this Macduff?? suddenly pop out of nowhere. read till blur. Thought Fleance will be king instead due to the prophecy? The witches also damn kpo one. -
oh..okie..clear liao.Originally posted by KittynMeow:Macduff was one of the nobles who was threathened by Macbeth's murderous rise to power. Suspecting foul play, he escaped before Macbeth can murder him like the rest of the nobles.... -
after all that bloodletting, let's have a comedy. Here's a story I'm sure most guys would wish their gf/wives can learn from...the story had even been adapted in a modern-day movie, 10 Things I Hate about You.
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The Taming of the Shrew
Christopher Sly, a drunken tinker is taken in by a lord who wishes to make sport of him. Sly is dressed and placed in the lord's bedroom, then told that he is a nobleman who had been struck by insanity for some 15 years (from which he has just recovered). For his entertainment, a group of players will present a play entitled "The Taming of the Shrew." (Note: these scenes are commonly omitted from stage productions, as Sly and the rest of the bunch from the Inductions never return to complete the "framework.")
Baptista, a wealthy merchant of Padua, has two daughters: Katherina and Bianca. Because of Katherina's shrewish disposition, her father has declared that no one shall wed Bianca until such time as Katherina has been married. Lucentio of Pisa, one of many suitors to the younger and kinder Bianca, devises a scheme in which he and Tranio (his servant) will switch clothes, and thus disguised, Lucentio will offer his services as a tutor for Bianca in order to get closer to her. At his point, enter Petruchio of Verona, in Padua to visit his friend Hortensio (another suitor to Bianca). Attracted by Katherina's large dowry, Petruchio resolves to woo her.
To the surprise of everyone, Petruchio claims that he finds Katherina charming and pleasant. A marriage is arranged, and Petruchio immediately sets out to tame Katherina through a series of increasingly worse tricks. This involves everything from showing up late to his own wedding to constant contradictions to whatever she says, even to the point of claiming that the sun is in fact the moon. After many trying days and nights, an exhausted Katherina is indeed "tamed" into docility.
By the end of the play, Lucentio has won Bianca's heart and Hortensio settles for a rich widow in Padua. During an evening feast for Bianca and Lucentio, Petruchio makes and wins a wager in which he proposes that he has the most obedient wife of all the men there, at which point Katherina gives Bianca a lecture on how to be a good and loving wife herself. -
one of those really funny romantic plays....
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Lysander loves Hermia, and Hermia loves Lysander. Helena loves Demetrius; Demetrius used to love Helena but now loves Hermia. Egeus, Hermia's father, prefers Demetrius as a suitor, and enlists the aid of Theseus, the Duke of Athens, to enforce his wishes upon his daughter. According to Athenian law, Hermia is given four days to choose between Demetrius, life in a nunnery, or a death sentence. Hermia, ever defiant, chooses to escape with Lysander into the surrounding forest.
Complications arise in the forest. Oberon and Titania, King and Queen of Fairies, are locked in a dispute over a boy whom Titania has adopted. Oberon instructs his servant Puck to bring him magic love drops, which Oberon will sprinkle in the Queen's eyes as she sleeps, whereupon Titania will fall in love with the first creature she sees upon awakening. Meanwhile, Helena and Demetrius have also fled into the woods after Lysander and Hermia. Oberon, overhearing Demetrius's denouncement of Helena, takes pity upon her and tells Puck to place the magic drops on the eyes of Demetrius as well, so that Demetrius may fall in love with Helena. Puck, however, makes the mistake of putting the drops in the eyes of Lysander instead. Helena stumbles over Lysander in the forest, and the spell is cast; Lysander now desires Helena and renounces a stunned Hermia.
In the midst of this chaos, a group of craftsmen are rehearsing for a production of "Pyramus and Thisbe," to be played for the Duke at his wedding. Puck impishly casts a spell on Bottom to give him the head of a donkey. Bottom, as luck would have it, is the first thing Titania sees when she awakens; hence, Bottom ends up being lavishly kept by the Queen. Oberon enjoys this sport, but is less amused when it becomes apparent that Puck has botched up the attempt to unite Demetrius and Helena. Oberon himself anoints Demetrius with the love potion and ensures that Helena is the first person he sees; however, Helena understandably feels that she is now being mocked by both Demetrius and Lysander (who is still magically enamored of her).
Finally, Oberon decides that all good sports must come to an end. He puts the four lovers to sleep and gives Lysander the antidote for the love potion so that he will love Hermia again when they all wake up. Next, Oberon gives Titania the antidote, and the King and Queen reconcile. Theseus and Hippolyta then discover Lysander, Hermia, Helena, and Demetrius asleep in the forest. All return to Athens to make sense of what they think is a strange dream. Likewise, Bottom returns to his players, and they perform "Pyramus and Thisbe" at the wedding feast (which has since become a wedding of three couples). As everyone retires, fairies perform their blessings and Puck delivers a tender epilogue soliloquy. -
Originally posted by KittynMeow:
i like this story a lots saw a play before when it was shown on arts central long long ago i think and it was quite nice yah
after all that bloodletting, let's have a comedy. Here's a story I'm sure most guys would wish their gf/wives can learn from...the story had even been adapted in a modern-day movie, 10 Things I Hate about You.
**********************************************************
[b]The Taming of the Shrew
Christopher Sly, a drunken tinker is taken in by a lord who wishes to make sport of him. Sly is dressed and placed in the lord's bedroom, then told that he is a nobleman who had been struck by insanity for some 15 years (from which he has just recovered). For his entertainment, a group of players will present a play entitled "The Taming of the Shrew." (Note: these scenes are commonly omitted from stage productions, as Sly and the rest of the bunch from the Inductions never return to complete the "framework.")
Baptista, a wealthy merchant of Padua, has two daughters: Katherina and Bianca. Because of Katherina's shrewish disposition, her father has declared that no one shall wed Bianca until such time as Katherina has been married. Lucentio of Pisa, one of many suitors to the younger and kinder Bianca, devises a scheme in which he and Tranio (his servant) will switch clothes, and thus disguised, Lucentio will offer his services as a tutor for Bianca in order to get closer to her. At his point, enter Petruchio of Verona, in Padua to visit his friend Hortensio (another suitor to Bianca). Attracted by Katherina's large dowry, Petruchio resolves to woo her.
To the surprise of everyone, Petruchio claims that he finds Katherina charming and pleasant. A marriage is arranged, and Petruchio immediately sets out to tame Katherina through a series of increasingly worse tricks. This involves everything from showing up late to his own wedding to constant contradictions to whatever she says, even to the point of claiming that the sun is in fact the moon. After many trying days and nights, an exhausted Katherina is indeed "tamed" into docility.
By the end of the play, Lucentio has won Bianca's heart and Hortensio settles for a rich widow in Padua. During an evening feast for Bianca and Lucentio, Petruchio makes and wins a wager in which he proposes that he has the most obedient wife of all the men there, at which point Katherina gives Bianca a lecture on how to be a good and loving wife herself.
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This one was wonderfully made into a movie starring Kenneth Branagh and Emma Thompson... kekeke
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Much Ado About Nothing
Don Pedro, Prince of Arragon, pays a visit to Leonata, the governor of Messina, while returning from a victorious campaign against his rebellious brother, Don John. Accompanying him are two of his officers, Benedick and Claudio. While in Messina, Claudio falls for Leonato's daughter, Hero; Benedick verbally spars with Beatrice, the governor's niece. The budding love between Claudio and Hero prompts Don Pedro to arrange with Leonato for the marriage.
Meanwhile, the trickery begins as Don Pedro (with the help of Leonato and Claudio) attempts to sport with Benedick and Beatrice in an effort to make the two of them fall in love. Likewise, Hero and her waiting woman help to set up Beatrice. Both Benedick and Beatrice will think that the other has professed a great love for them.
The marriage of Claudio to Hero is set to go. Don John—ostensibly reconciled with his brother—despises Claudio, however, and plots against him. First, he tells Claudio that Pedro wants Hero for himself; next, he enlists the aid of his henchman Borachio and one of Hero's gentlewomen disguised as Hero to stage an encounter that will bring Hero's virtue into question. Claudio falls for the ruse and denounces Hero at the altar. Friar Francis helps her, hiding her away and enlisting the aid of Leonata, who announces that his daughter has died of grief from the proceeding.
Fortunately for Hero, Borachio is arrested while drunkenly boasting of his part in the plan (and the 1,000 ducats paid him). With Borachio's confession, Hero is to be exonerated. Leonato demands a public apology from Claudio, then tells him that he will allow Claudio to marry one of his nieces in Hero's place—a niece that turns out to be none other than Hero herself. Claudio and Hero are reunited, Benedick and Beatrice will wed alongside them, and they receive the news that the bastard Don John has been apprehended. -
ok here it is... everyone's favourite romantic tragedy... *sobs*
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Romeo & Juliet
Verona is home to two feuding noble houses, the Montagues and the Capulets. In response to the constant brawling between members of these families, the Prince of Verona has issued an edict that will impose a death sentence on anyone caught dueling. Against this backdrop, young Romeo of the house of Montague has been infatuated with Rosaline, a niece of Capulet. In order to catch some time with her, Romeo and his friends slip into a masque ball at Capulet's house; as a masque affair, they can easily disguise themselves. There, Romeo catches his first glimpse of Juliet, Capulet's daughter. In one of Shakespeare's most memorable scenes, Romeo steals into the garden and professes his love to Juliet, who stands above on her balcony. With the aid of Friar Laurence, Romeo makes plans with Juliet to be married in secret.
Tybalt, Juliet's cousin, discovers that Romeo has attended the ball, and he sets out to teach the young Montague a lesson at the point of his sword. Romeo, when challenged by Tybalt, tries to avoid a duel between them as he is now married to Juliet (and hence a relation to Tybalt by this marriage). Mercutio, Romeo's best friend, takes up Tybalt's challenge and is slain in the ensuing fight. Enraged, Romeo slays Tybalt in turn. As a result of the bloodshed—and Romeo's act of vengeance, however provoked—the Prince of Verona proclaims that Romeo is to be banished for his actions. Romeo has time to consummate the marriage and bid farewell to Juliet, though he hopes to be reunited with her soon once the Capulets are aware that Juliet has married him.
The elder Capulets, meanwhile, are pressing for Juliet to marry Paris, a cousin to the Prince. Juliet, again with Friar Laurence's help, takes up a desperate plan to avoid her parent's wishes. She obtains a drug that will make her seem dead for forty-two hours; while she is in this state, Friar Laurence will send word to Romeo of the situation so that he can meet and rescue her in her tomb. Unfortunately, fate will not be so kind; the letter from Friar Laurence is severely delayed. Romeo instead hears news second-hand that Juliet has died. A grief-stricken Romeo purchases poison and hastens to Juliet's tomb to commit suicide at her side. Meanwhile, Friar Laurence has discovered to his horror that his letter did not arrive, and the friar hastens to Juliet's tomb as well to take Juliet away until he can set things aright.
At Juliet's tomb, Romeo encounters Paris, who is mourning for his lost fiancée-to-be. Romeo slays Paris, then enters the tomb and downs the poison. As Friar Laurence comes upon the scene, Juliet awakens only to find the body of her beloved Romeo laying beside her. Juliet takes the dagger from Romeo's belt and plunges it into her heart. The Prince arrives at this point—along with the Montague and Capulet parents—demanding to know what has happened. Friar Laurence relates the tragic tale of Romeo and Juliet's secret marriage; the Montagues and Capulets, when faced with the terrible price that their feud has exacted, vow to put an end to the enmity between the two houses. -
PUCK RULES!!!