About Shakespeare

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See also the Shakespeare Handbooks series.

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9780521700351

‘Think on My Words’

You speak a language that I understand not. Hermione's words from The Winters Tale will ring true with many students studying Shakespeare's plays today. For decades, people have been studying Shakespeare's life and times, but in recent years there has been a renewed interest in aspects of his language. How did he manipulate language to produce such an unrivalled body of work, which has enthralled generations both as theatre and as literature? David Crystal addresses these questions in this lively introduction to Shakespeare's language. In this book which covers the writing system, pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary, and conversational style — he shows how examining these linguistic nuts and bolts can help us achieve a greater appreciation of Shakespeares linguistic creativity.
Level: Libary/Depot/Background for Shakespeare teachers/SRP

Contents: 1. You speak a language that I understand not: myths and realities; 2. Now, sir, what is your text?: knowing the sources; 3. In print I found it: Shakespeare graphology; 4. Know my stops: Shakespearean punctuation; 5. Speak the speech: Shakespearean phonology; 6. Trippingly upon the tongue: Shakespearean pronunciation; 7. Think on my words: Shakespearean vocabulary; 8. Talk of a noun and a verb: Shakespearean grammar; 9. Hear sweet discourse: Shakespearean conversation; Epilogue: Your daring tongue: Shakespearean creativity; Appendix: an A-to-Z of Shakespeares false friends.

0751348821

Essential Shakespeare Handbook

A highly readable, magazine-style introduction to the whole range of Shakespeare's plays and poetry, with two-columned pages packed with pictures of famous productions in true Dorling Kindersley style. Readability and accessibility are key words for this book.
  • The book starts with background essays on the man, his writing and his times: The Life of William Shakespeare, Shakespeare in his Time, Elizabethan and Jacobean Theatre, Shakespeare's Canon, Shakespeare's Language.
  • The plays are divided into theatrical genres and then chronologically. There are informative introductions to each genre.
  • The analyses of individual plays are simple and very readable: They include background on what inspired Shakespeare to write on that particular subject (Behind the Play); a capsule biography of each character; an act by act plot summary containing many quotes; advice on Reading the Play and on Seeing the Play; and in some cases, Beyond the Play about the production history of the play.
Level: Library/Depot
BBCDVD1299

In Search of Shakespeare (2 discs) DVD

A magnificent BBC production unravelling the story of Shakespeare's time, his politics, his youth, his loves, his ‘lost years’, his career, his plays and his theatre.
  • Directed: Gregory Doran
  • Starring: Michael Wood and the Royal Shakespeare Company
  • Widescreen
  • Running Time: 235 mins
    • B407DVD

    Macbeth: The Tragic Pair DVD

    Shakespeare scholars present a literary and dramatic analysis of the key elements in the dark tragedy of Macbeth:
    Historical, literary and dramatic analysis of the essence of Macbeth showing how the significant parts of the drama tie together with scenes from the play. Rebecca Flynn and Gary Taylor introduce Macbeth using scenes shot in the Scottish Highlands to lift the veil covering the language, plot, themes, and geographical and historical background.  Each DVD Chapter is a short unified video clip, allowing teacher and student instant and intelligent interaction.

    • Extras: Gary Taylor discusses the soliloquy, general text challenges, the authenticity issue etc.
    • Running time: 60 minutes
    B408DVD

    Romeo and Juliet: The Tragic Lovers DVD

    Shakespeare scholars present a literary and dramatic analysis of the key elements in Shakespeare's romantic tragedy:
    Insight, commentary and staged performances of Shakespeare’s tragedy. Dramatic scenes filmed in Verona, Italy are used as Shakespeare had intended in his original play. James Bride introduces factual information about the play. Gary Taylor offers a dialogue about the historical background of exotic Verona, use of boy actors, staging challenges and 16th Century sacred and secular attitudes that influenced the writing of the play. Judith Annozine covers the humor in this play providing insight into the characters and role of the Nurse and Mercutio.
    • Extras: Gary Taylor discusses the soliloquy, general text challenges, the authenticity issue etc.
    • Running time: 60 minutes
    9781858284439

    Rough Guide to Shakespeare

    The ultimate one-volume guide to the life and works of William Shakespeare:
    It provides full coverage of the 39 plays. For each play there is a synopsis, full character list, stage history, an interpretative essay and reviews of film and audio adaptions. It is both a quick reference and in-depth background guide for students.
    It also explores Shakespeare's sonnets and the narrative poems:
    Finally it provides accounts of Shakespeare's life, language and theatre, exploring in detail each play's original performances. “Shakespeare for kids” recommends Manga editions etc. for young people. There are also book reviews and website reviews. Author: Andrew Dickson. Click on “Flere oplysninger” to see the Table of Contents. (592 pages)
    Level: Gymnasium/Library/Depot/Teacher's resource

    “... masser af inspirerende læsestof, der vil gøre det lettere og sjovere at begive sig ind i Shakespeares verden.” VTJ AngloFiles

    9781408114285

    RSC Shakespeare Toolkit for Teachers (with CD-Rom)

    This resource, produced by The Royal Shakespeare Company, offers teachers a practical drama-based approach to teaching and appreciating three of Shakespeare's most popular plays: Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, and A Midsummer Night's Dream. This resource brings the plays alive as pupils undertake drama-based explorations  that take them through much of the play. There are photocopiable worksheets and teachers' notes that create a lesson by lesson teaching route through each of the three plays. The schemes of work offer teachers a route that has been designed to be flexible and to bolt on to what they already teach ... teachers can always dip in and take what they need. Authors: RSC Education team. A4 format. (304 pages)

    • A bank of accessible drama activities with an explanation of how each works.
    • Accompanying CD-ROM contains all worksheets as both PDF and Word files which can be adapted for different contexts.

    “Det kan gøre arbejdet med Shakespeare til en sjov og anderledes oplevelse, så hverken elever eller lærere behøver at frygte Shakespearegennemgang længere.” CAN AngloFiles

    ACAMED2013

    Shakespeare — A Concise Biography DVD (Famous Authors)

    Biographical overview of William Shakespeare (1564-1616). Born in Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare went to London in 1588 to work in theatre. This study looks at the life, background and works of arguably the world's finest playwright.
    • Running time: approx. 30 mins
    9780007197903

    Shakespeare (Bill Bryson)

    This is an exceptionally accessible, sensible life of Shakespeare by Bill Bryson. It is full of the author's wit and intelligence. Shakespeare's life is still a thicket of myths and traditions, some preposterous, some conflicting, arranged around the few scant facts known about the Bard — from his birth in Stratford to the bequest of his second best bed to his wife when he died. Bill Bryson guides us through the morass. He sets down all the important bits of evidence, and assesses them in a measured commonsense way. He is great at picking out the small details that paint a bigger picture — and amuse. This is the best short tour available around the world of Shakespeare. (200 pages)
    Level: Library/Depot/Inspiration for any English teacher

    RD20001

    Shakespeare (Classic Literature) DVD

    This documentary profiles the greatest figure of British literature — master playwright William Shakespeare, exploring the man behind the myths and the context in which his work was written.
  • Director: Liam Dale
  • Running time: 55 mins
    • 9780743288507

    Shakespeare Set Free

    “Teaching Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth and A Midsummer Night's Dream”
    Excellent American study book with lots of creative and in-depth teaching strategies for all 3 plays — and not least “teaching through performance”. Immerse your students in the language and drama of the plays. Created by scholars, actors and teachers at the Folger Library's Teaching Shakespeare Institute.
    Level: A
    9781842850510

    Shakespeare: The barriers removed

    This book aims to make Shakespeare accessible to a new generation of students. It makes no assumptions about prior knowledge of the plays and poems and places them in their historical context, thus making it easier for the reader to understand what the Bard meant in his works. This book is particularly aimed at foreign readers of Shakespeare. It provides chapters on characterisation, genre, setting, structure, performance and history; information that will help them untangle his works. It explains the implications of Shakespeare's writing and performance techniques as well as describing how criticism has treated him, from liberalism to feminism, from psycho-analysts to materialists. This book explains: how to deal with genre, sub-plots, the different types of character, analysing the text, performing the plays etc. Author: Paul Innes. (169 pages)
    Level: Library/Depot/Student papers/Shakespeare projects
    B403DVD

    Shakespeare's Globe Theatre Restored DVD

    Visit the fully operational, restored Globe Theatre on the Bankside of the river Thames, near its original site. Experience how the reconstructed Elizabethan Theatre provides a venue for performing, teaching and studying Shakespeare's plays on the stage for which they were originally written. This film documents the restoration process and has footage of the production of Much Ado About Nothing, the first Elizabethan production on the newly rebuilt stage.
  • Running time: 30 mins
  • Subtitle options: none
  • Extras: Viewers Guide