Thursday, April 16, 2020

Much To Do To Do Shakespeare: Strategies for Exploration and Interpretation

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           Without readers and theatergoers, there is no Shakespeare.  His work is like a musical score, and we are the musicians who embody and bring it life.  Throughout this blog, there are many strategies are offered for joining Shakespeare’s orchestra. This post offers a list of this range, referencing the Index number (46) for posts for how to bring Shakespeare’s works to life.  You can access the Index @ https://www.blogger.com/u/2/blogger.g?blogID=4711406005322167702#allposts

I.                Poetry (36)

a.      Imagery (six senses) (66)
b.     Vowel Sound Frequencies (94)
c.      Rhyme
d.     Alliteration
e.      Consonances
f.      Speech mouth and face metaphors (94)
g.     Rhythm
h.     Diction
i.       Etymologies
j.       Puns
k.     Contrast to prose
l.       Numbers (69, 70, 71, 95)
m.   Sonnets (103)

II.              Theme (43)

a.      Titles
b.     Binary Oppositions (20)
c.      Content Analysis
d.     Critical Approaches (90)
e.      Paper Clip (29)
f.      Story not Plod (55)
g.     First words (19)
h.     Last words
i.       Genres (99)
j.       Parallels to current events


III.            Character:

a.      Typecasting (92)
b.     First words (19)
c.      Names (93)
d.     Role reversals (96)
e.      Deconstruction (96)
f.      Shadow selves
g.     Shifting alliances
h.     Practices
i.       Projection
j.       Development (97)
k.     Seven deadly sins
l.       Speech Acts

IV.            Staging (23)

a.      Rhetorical devices
b.     Dramatic Irony
c.      Setting
d.     Props (42)
e.      Stage directions
f.      Lighting
g.     Sound
h.     Metatheatre
i.       Where’s Iago?

V.              Plot (55)

a.      Why summaries don’t work (6)
b.     Character as plot
c.      Setting as plot
d.     Staging as plot
e.      Subplots

VI.            Writing strategies:

a.      Land the Helicopter (5)
b.     Banish summary and paraphrase (6)
c.      Paginate (25, 61)
d.     Punctuate (26, 27)
e.      Be honest (28)
f.      Paper Clip (29)
g.     Caress the Literature (33)
h.     Digest quotes (39)
i.       Start where it starts (40)
j.       Be original (43)
k.     Avoid the intentional fallacy (48)
l.       Story not Plod (55)
m.   Avoid clichés (59)
n.     Titles (79, 81)
o.     Use/mention (91)
p.     Genealogies (100)
q.     Enjoy (50, 71)

Works Cited:

Cover Art:


Text:

Because I Can Teach: becauseicanteach.blogspot.com

2 comments:

  1. reading has shown me that Shakespeare and any other body of work can be interpreted and understood on a far deeper and cerebral level by actually examining the text. Its less on what the text is saying and more like how its used and the why leading to all sort of interpretations that can breath new life and meaning in any author works. Shakespeare is rich with text that allows the reader to form their own interpretations as they use these ideas to caresses and truly relates the Author's story.

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  2. Dr. Rich,

    For my last and final blog post, I felt that this one was a great finale. I like that this gives a summary of key points that we have addressed in class. I even came to this blog post in order to get an idea on what I wanted to write about for my Henry V paper. These strategies are unique to this class because of your teaching style; however, I have incorporated some in my other writing assignments. Things like how to write an interesting title, or focusing heavily on a section of a book, or even working out sounds and meanings from words. This class was definitely an eye opener in regards to how repetitive and boring writing general assignments can be. I appreciated stepping out my comfort zone because I do not do that very often. I understand more now how interpretation is key and how we can not assume what a writer meant, but we can create an interpretation for ourselves. This interpretation can give the entire story a new light or even if it is just a “paperclip” of the story.

    -Janaya

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