Amanda's Shakespeare Blog March 2006 Archive

Could it be the tyrannical, morally vacuous Richard III? Or perhaps the greedy and exceptionally cruel Cornwall? What do you think? Cast your vote here.

Celebrated for the radiance of its lyric poetry, "Romeo and Juliet" was tremendously popular from its first performance. The sweet whispers shared by young Tudor lovers throughout the realm were ... Read More

Is whispering nothing? Is leaning cheek to cheek? is meeting noses? Kissing with inside lip? stopping the career Of laughing with a sigh?--a note infallible Of breaking honesty--horsing foot on foot? Skulking in corners? ... Read More

The plays printed originally in quarto format were branded fraudulent by the editors of the First Folio, Heminge and Condell, who wrote in the Preface to their collection that fans ... Read More

The Chandos portrait of Shakespeare is named after its owners, the Dukes of Chandos. Some believe that Shakespeare's friend and fellow actor Richard Burbage painted it and gave it to ... Read More

My grief lies all within, And these external manners of lament Are merely shadows to the unseen grief That swells with silence in the tortured soul. "Richard II" (4.1.294-7)

Shakespeare wrote more about birds than any other poet in western literature. Here are some of the Bard's many references to his favorite bird, the glorious swan.

In the ancient Roman calendar the "ides" was the fifteenth day of March, May, July, and October, and the thirteenth day of the other months. On March 15, 44 BC, ... Read More

Hung be the heavens with black, yield day to night! Comets, importing change of times and states, Brandish your crystal tresses in the sky, And with them scourge the bad revolting ... Read More

Shakespeare's acting troupe, the Chamberlain's Men, were commissioned by the Earl of Essex to stage "Richard II" at the Globe. Essex's rebellion against Queen Elizabeth occurred on the following day, ... Read More

Doubt thou the stars are fire; Doubt that the sun doth move; Doubt truth to be a liar; But never doubt I love. ("Hamlet", 2.2.123-6) Are Hamlet and Ophelia Shakespeare's best couple? Take our ... Read More

And thus I clothe my naked villany With odd old ends stol’n forth of Holy Writ, And seem a saint when most I play the devil. "Richard III" (1.3.345-7)

Which character uttered the dying phrase, "Thus with a kiss I die"? Take our quiz and see if your guess is right. To the quiz...