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Shakespeare Language Guide

Bust at Shakespeare's Birthplace

Our Shakespeare language guide helps you get to grips with the Bard's use of language and explains the techniques and conventions he used.

Shakespeare's Language
Shakespeare Spotlight10

Measure for Measure: Square Peg in a Round Hole!

Friday May 31, 2013

Measure for Measure is impossible to classify. It doesn't fit neatly into the Tragedy, Comedy and History lists that entire Shakespeare pages of About.com have been built around!

Officially, it is classified as a comedy - but this is hardly fitting! Some critics have described it as a problem play; and now I understand why!

Already we've covered the first four acts. Here they are for your delectation:

  • Act One (Scenes 1-2, 3-4)
  • Act Two (Scenes 1-2, 3-4)
  • Act Three (Parts 1 and 2)
  • Act Four (Scenes 1, 2, 3-6)

Enjoy!

A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Student Resources

Tuesday April 30, 2013

With summer just around the corner, I thought it prudent to bring together some resources on A Midsummer Night's Dream.

In the quick-growing Midsummer student guide there are all sorts of new goodies from character analysis on Lysander, Hermia, Helena and Demetrius, Theseus and Hippolyta, Oberon and Titania.

There is also a plot overview and detailed scene analysis of Act 5 (parts 1 and 2)

Happy Easter!

Saturday March 30, 2013

Easter is once again upon us - which means that the Shakespeare birthday celebrations will soon follow.

Shakespeare was born and died on 23 April - and over 400 years on, we are still celebrating his birthday with lavish events around the world. Start preparing for the day over Easter by dipping into our Top 5 Ways to Celebrate Shakespeare's Birthday.

Also, the original text to Act 4 of King Lear is now online, including Scenes 3, 4, 5, 6 (parts 1, 2, 3 and 4) and 7.

Happy Easter!

Visual: Midsummer Night’s Dream

Thursday February 28, 2013

If there is one Shakespeare play that sticks in my mind, it's A Midsummer Night's Dream ... I think because it is so visual.

Fairies in the wood and the head of an ass stuck on a poor fool - no other play can match this in terms of iconic visuals.

Perhaps the infamous eye gouging scene from King Lear, or Juliet on the balcony are the only close contenders?

So, this month I have turned my attention to building the study guide for A Midsummer Night's Dream, as follows:

  • Act 1 Summaries (scenes 1, 2)
  • Act 2 Summaries (scene 1, 2)
  • Act 3 Summaries (scene 1, 2, 3)
  • Act 4 Summaries (scene 1, 2)

Discuss in my forum

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