Romeo and Juliet - William Shakespeare

Advantages: great story
Disadvantages: none

...Romeo and Juliet was written in 1595 by William Shakespeare as a play. It is classed as a tragic play, therefore involves a protagonist that has a peak in his or her life involving good fortune, but then on after good fortune turns quickly into bad, ending up in sadness and misfortune for the protagonist. All tragedies follow the same pattern, only changing the peak point and the speed of good fortune going bad. When mentioned, Shakespeare is often thought to be associated with romance and beautiful imagery, which in some cases is true, but this romance is a needle in a haystack amongst the violent, sexual, crude and malicious imagery. This is a trick that is used to make the romance stand out more, Romeo and Juliet is a very famous piece of Shakespeare's work, but is often thought to be extremely romantic and 'lovey-dovey', however...

pixels91 23.04.2009 · Read review
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Review of Romeo and Juliet - William Shakespeare

Hamlet by William Shakespeare:Wonderful Pyschological Analysis

Advantages: Brillant insight of the human mind!! Easily transposed in modern context
Disadvantages: Might be difficult to read

...Hamlet remains the major psychological work of Shakespeare. In fact, a psychoanalyst Shakespearian fan will rejoice over the marvelous display of Freudian and Lacan theories, as well as the deep insights into the dark thoughts and contemplations which secretly arise even within the best of us. I personally believe that the character of Hamlet is the perfect depiction of a brilliantly troubled mind: ?To Be or Not to Be? have become legendary words. In fact, this dilemma portrayed by Shakespeare is not only found all throughout, but readers/audiences of the play will be marveled as they transpose these words into their everyday lives. The historical To Be or Not to Be within the context of murder does echo the dilemma of the modern housewife: Spaghetti or not for dinner tonight? That?s only one petty example but avid readers will soon...

diamond_sparkles 11.06.2009 (15.07.2009) · Read review
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Review of Hamlet - William Shakespeare

Help, more Shakespeare

Advantages: Lots to write about
Disadvantages: Very long

...Hi everyone, its good to be back!! Been away a while studying, but im back for a bit to get your valued opinion on my last peice of English Literature corsework, i struggle with Shakespeare and I would greatly appretiate your honest opinion, which i know you will do otherwise you would not be a ciaoer!!!! thanks. #################################### How would a modern day audience respond to the presentation of women in Hamlet? William Shakespeare wrote Hamlet in 1603. Hamlet is a play of its time in the presentation of female characters. There are only two women in Hamlet. Gertrude, Hamlets mother, and Ophelia, Hamlets lover, the daughter of Polonius. Hamlet was written in the Elizabethan period, in this time many women were confined to the domestic sphere, they were often unhappy, oppressed, and commonly abused by...

loz989 02.04.2004 · Read review
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Review of Hamlet - William Shakespeare

Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare

Advantages: Comical to some degree
Disadvantages: I'm not sure

...The play Much Ado About Nothing was written between 1598-1599. It is a comical play and the title basically implies "All this drama? and no good came from it." Shakespear cleverly creates very different couples and entwines them and their story's thoughout the play creating comedy. Throughout the play Much Ado About Nothing, love is a continuous theme but depending on which character, the views on love and marriage change. Hero and Claudio are lovers at first sight. Their love is a shallow because it was based on physical attraction and possibly wealth. Beatrice and Benedick, on the other hand were enemies at first sight. They both were head-strong and quick witted people but secretly enjoyed their sharp banter. Both couples at the end of the play finally show their true feelings in one way or another. Other characters include...

AmyA123 26.06.2008 · Read review
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Review of Much Ado About Nothing - William Shakespeare

MACBETH ONE OF SHAKESPEARES SIMPLER PLAYS

Advantages: A simple play
Disadvantages: Quite long and bits are confusing

...'Macbeth' is a real twisted story of a young man who is forced to kill his own king through ambition. The play is like another of 'shakespeare's'~ Romeo and Juliet. The whole plot is based on ambition and is a very gruesome tale. THE PLOT~ Macbeth the main character is a nobleman and fights for his country. One day on the way back from winning a battle with his best friend Banquo 3 witches appear in front of them and tell the couple their futures. Banquo's is unfortunate, his children will get the luck but young Macbeth is told that he will recieve 3 titles. He will become the Thane of Cawdor, the thane of Glamis and become king of his country, Scotland! WHAT HAPPENS~ I really wouldn't like to spoil and spill the story to you all so let's just say that Macbeth recieves the first two titles but awaits to become king! So basically...

emu128 10.03.2001 · Read review
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Review of Macbeth - William Shakespeare

Whip up a Storm

Advantages: Superb characters
Disadvantages: Possibly a little difficult to read

...The Tempest by William Shakespeare is another piece of literature that I have had to read as part of my degree and I must admit one of the pieces I was most looking forward to. In general I must admit that I am quite a lover of plays and really enjoy both reading and watching plays by Shakespeare, Webster and Marlowe. Because of this I hit this play running so to speak and threw myself whole-heartedly into devouring it and must admit that I am so pleased that I did. The Tempest tells the story of Prospero who after loosing his dukedom because of his love of books and the power they gave up ended up washed up on an island with his daughter Miranda. Upon this island he came across Caliban a savage who he taught to speak English. It is here that he also conjured up spirits. Prospero as you may have now gathered has some degree...

MI9to5 30.04.2009 · Read review
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Review of The Tempest - William Shakespeare

Shakespeares most exciting and powerful play

Advantages: it is unpredictable and the characters are very interesting and original
Disadvantages: Some people might find boring because it is written in shakespearean language

...I am currently at college and i have been very lucky to study English Literature because through this exciting subject, i was introduced to one of Shakespeares most powerful and engaging plays. Shakespeare's play 'King Lear' has been described by critics as a play about 'man, man and society'. this is true to some extent as the central character in the play is King lear, who's foolish rejection of his daughter (Cordelia) who loves him. strips him of his power and strands him in a wasteland of anguish and insanity. THE HISTORY OF KING LEAR when the globe was built in 1599, London was a city with growing pains. It's population had doubled in the previous fifty years to about 200 inhabitantsand was to double in the next fifty years making it the biggest city in Europe. The society was dominated by patriotic men who took control...

Saja.J 30.05.2008 · Read review
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Review of King Lear - William Shakespeare

To be or not to be? Not to be personally!

Advantages: The last production had David Tennant as Hamlet!
Disadvantages: Reading and analysing can be painful and lengthy!

...and Juliet, I will try to bring you a little bit of history, some facts about the play and a few little things my English trained brain has noticed about this play.. If anyone else is doing this exam soon, then I hope this might give you a hint or two too.. This Will Contain Spoilers About The Play So Please Do Not Rate Me Because Of This Fact Because I Have Warned You Who was Hamlet written by? Hamlet is a play written by the master of plays, William Shakespeare, a playwright spanning numerous monarchies. Born in 1564 in Stratford - Upon - Avon, to fairly wealthy parents, this well educated man, married a lady somewhat older than him and began a family. William's wife Anne Hathaway bore him three children even whilst he remained away in London travelling back to his wife and family occasionally - well he must have...

ChemicalRomance 19.01.2009 · Read review
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Review of Hamlet - William Shakespeare

Shakespeare weaves his magic

Advantages: A beautiful play, showing that Shakespeare was before his time
Disadvantages: None

...Romeo and Juliet is a touching yet tragic tale which Shakespeare weaves beautifully using his tremendous language skills. PLOT SYNOPSIS. Set in Verona, Italy, the story is about two feuding families, the Capulets and the Montagues. These two families are very rich and influential and when the feud erupts on to the streets in a street brawl, they are informed that anyone who is caught fighting will be sentenced to death. The Capulets have a daughter called Juliet, her mother is trying to persuade her to marry Count Paris, a wealthy and eligible bachelor. Romeo is the son of the Montagues, and he and his friends sneak into a masked ball at the Capulets. Here he meets Juliet for the first time and is besotted with her, however he does not yet realise that she is a Capulet. When he discovers that she is a Capulet, he realises...

VerySpecialOne 11.03.2003 (14.03.2006) · Read review
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Review of Romeo and Juliet - William Shakespeare

Shakespeare's use of the word honest in Othello

Advantages: The plot keeps you hooked
Disadvantages: There are a few irregularities

...'Othello' by William Shakespeare is often described as on of his 'problem plays', a 'domestic tragedy' that does not rank in the same league as the likes of 'Macbeth' or 'Hamlet'. I beg to differ. 'Othello' offers audiences the most interesting of all Shakespeare's creations - Iago, the epitome of all malcontents. Iago is singularly responsible for Othello's downfall and Desdemona's death. Granted, there are times when Will conveniently uses coinincidence to aid Iago's manipulative plot, but whoever said life wasn't made up of fascinating coincidences? The key to Iago's success in the play is directly linked to Shakespeare's use of one word - HONEST. At the time Shakespeare was writing the meaning of the word honest was shifting. In its original context, honest meant something along the lines of 'the art of taking advantage...

Medusa 04.03.2001 · Read review
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Review of Othello - William Shakespeare