Shakespeare help?

[Izzie]

Hi guys!

As much as I love Shakespeare, analyzing his plays just does not come easy for me. Give me almost any other type of literature and I'm golden.

Does anyone mind me picking their brain about some essay topics/help in general?

I'll be your slave for a month! And send you cookies every week!

[kiki-do]

Hi Izzie, I am bumping this up to the top to see if someone can help you. I had to read Hamlet for my college literature class and really liked it. Took some getting use to, but I actually enjoyed it overall.
Sorry I can't be more help. I love cookies, too!

[ronaldhanko]

What kind of help are you looking for?

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

1. What kind of help are you looking for (as stated above)?

2. Which play are you reading?

3. Where lies the difficulty?

Shakespeare's works are not easy to understand nor easy to dissect. There aren't many Shakespearian actors out there for a reason. And out of those in the Shakespearian theater, a few are actually pretty good and know what they're reading, so you're not alone!

[catwalker808]

In selecting your essay topic bear in mind with your essay topics that whatever else you discuss, the play’s the thing.

Search for universal themes in the plays, for all life’s a stage. Discuss universal themes, but don’t leave out the important details which support your theses. Remember the details. For want of a shoe, a horse was lost. For want of a horse, a rider was lost. For want of a rider, a battle was lost. For want of a battle, a kingdom was lost … and all for the want of a shoe. Slave for a month. Cookies for a week. An essay topic ... an essay topic ... my cookies for an essay topic. A horse ... a horse ... my kingdom for a horse. You sound a wee bit dramatic.

But just persevere in the knowledge that despite your trials and tribulations in your research and writing, there is a light at the end of the tunnel … for all’s well that ends well.

You can seek the help of others, but don’t rely too heavily on them or promise too much in return … for you should neither a lender nor a borrower be.

All in all, if you truly love Shakespeare, finding an essay topic shouldn't be too difficult. Me thinks you protesteth too much.

Based on your age, you're probably a Junior in college. What about comparing literal interpretations of significant speeches by selected characters in different plays, versus probable or possible alternate meanings of their words, based upon their roles and personalities in the plays. This is an important type of character analysis for Shakespeare's works. Or maybe analyses of character development (of several characters) based on their words & actions during early, then subsequent Acts & Scenes. And go to the library & look up critical works on Shakespeare for ideas. There should be shelves upon shelves.

[kiki-do]

Originally Posted by catwalker808

In selecting your essay topic bear in mind with your essay topics that whatever else you discuss, the play’s the thing.

Search for universal themes in the plays, for all life’s a stage. Discuss universal themes, but don’t leave out the important details which support your theses. Remember the details. For want of a shoe, a horse was lost. For want of a horse, a rider was lost. For want of a rider, a battle was lost. For want of a battle, a kingdom was lost … and all for the want of a shoe. Slave for a month. Cookies for a week. An essay topic ... an essay topic ... my cookies for an essay topic. A horse ... a horse ... my kingdom for a horse. You sound a wee bit dramatic.

But just persevere in the knowledge that despite your trials and tribulations in your research and writing, there is a light at the end of the tunnel … for all’s well that ends well.

You can seek the help of others, but don’t rely too heavily on them or promise too much in return … for you should neither a lender nor a borrower be.

All in all, if you truly love Shakespeare, finding an essay topic shouldn't be too difficult. Me thinks you protesteth too much.

Based on your age, you're probably a Junior in college. What about comparing literal interpretations of significant speeches by selected characters in different plays, versus probable or possible alternate meanings of their words, based upon their roles and personalities in the plays. This is an important type of character analysis for Shakespeare's works. Or maybe analyses of character development (of several characters) based on their words & actions during early, then subsequent Acts & Scenes. And go to the library & look up critical works on Shakespeare for ideas. There should be shelves upon shelves.

Bravo Bravo!!!! I enjoyed that immensely!

[Izzie]

Thank you everyone, particularly catwalker.
Here's my details.
-deep breath-
1. The hardest thing about this paper is that it has to be 5-6 pages. Dear. lord.
2. Focuses on an issue (idea, subject, topic) that emerges from a minimum of three of the plays we've read.
3. Must include materials found in secondary sources

Plays we have read:
Comedy of Errors
Richard II
The Merchant of Venice
Twelfth Night

[Izzie]

My ideas so far:

1. Something along the lines of comparing/contrasting the complimentary (need to find a different word...) female characters in 3 of the plays.

2. Something....about the female characters.

As far as analyzing/connecting, I understand the female characters best- so I figure that's the best place to start.


I just have no idea how to make this into a 5-6 page paper.
Aside from using really huge quotes in each paragraph.

I. No idea what my thesis should be.
II. Just...not understanding what is 'special' about all the pairs of females- I know I like them, but not what I can write/analyze about them

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by catwalker808

In selecting your essay topic bear in mind with your essay topics that whatever else you discuss, the play’s the thing.

Search for universal themes in the plays, for all life’s a stage. Discuss universal themes, but don’t leave out the important details which support your theses. Remember the details. For want of a shoe, a horse was lost. For want of a horse, a rider was lost. For want of a rider, a battle was lost. For want of a battle, a kingdom was lost … and all for the want of a shoe. Slave for a month. Cookies for a week. An essay topic ... an essay topic ... my cookies for an essay topic. A horse ... a horse ... my kingdom for a horse. You sound a wee bit dramatic.

But just persevere in the knowledge that despite your trials and tribulations in your research and writing, there is a light at the end of the tunnel … for all’s well that ends well.

You can seek the help of others, but don’t rely too heavily on them or promise too much in return … for you should neither a lender nor a borrower be.

All in all, if you truly love Shakespeare, finding an essay topic shouldn't be too difficult. Me thinks you protesteth too much.

Based on your age, you're probably a Junior in college. What about comparing literal interpretations of significant speeches by selected characters in different plays, versus probable or possible alternate meanings of their words, based upon their roles and personalities in the plays. This is an important type of character analysis for Shakespeare's works. Or maybe analyses of character development (of several characters) based on their words & actions during early, then subsequent Acts & Scenes. And go to the library & look up critical works on Shakespeare for ideas. There should be shelves upon shelves.

Good show!

I agree.

Character analysis is a good way to start. There are plenty of characters to choose from and many of them are pretty deep.

Pick a theme in the play and compare to real life, that's another one. There're plots and subplots abound with Shakespeare.

Don't get too caught up in the archaic language, that's probably what's tripping you up. Remember that this is the closest archaic language to modern English. You gotta think about things a bit.

There are a bazillion metaphors, soliloquies, and monologues. Don't be jarred by these either. In fact this is the best way to start! The soliloquies are the best insight into each character's heart and mind! Pick one!

Good luck.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by Izzie

My ideas so far:

1. Something along the lines of comparing/contrasting the complimentary (need to find a different word...) female characters in 3 of the plays.

2. Something....about the female characters.

As far as analyzing/connecting, I understand the female characters best- so I figure that's the best place to start.


I just have no idea how to make this into a 5-6 page paper.
Aside from using really huge quotes in each paragraph.

I. No idea what my thesis should be.
II. Just...not understanding what is 'special' about all the pairs of females- I know I like them, but not what I can write/analyze about them

???

Izzie, I think catwalker is right...

Don't be afraid of this at all!

I understand how 5 - 6 pages sounds like a lot at first.

But trust me, 5 - 6 pages is very short for a paper about Shakespeare!

If you quoted one soliloquy of one of his works alone, that'd probably take about 1/2 the page!