The Adventures of Puppet Shakespeare: Utah
pedagogy
A Midsummer Night’s Dream Graphic Novel
- Name: A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare. Adapted by Nel Yomtov (Adaptor), and Berenice Muniz (illustrator)
- Media: Graphic Novel compilation, with accompanying website https://www.mangashakespeare.com/titles/midsummer.html
- Ages: Pre Teen- teen. The story is highly condensed so older readers might want a more in-depth adaptation to understand the themes and ideas of the plot.
- Premise: This graphic novel is a good introduction to “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” It tells the bare minimum of the story with very little dialogue and almost none of the original text. Most of the story is conveyed through the visual medium.
ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATORS (Reprinted from the graphic novel)
https://www.behance.net/berelince?locale=en_US
Berenice Muniz is a graphic designer and illustrator
from Monterrey, Mexico. In the past, she has done
work for publicity agencies, art exhibitions, and
she’s even created her own webcomic. These days,
Berenice is devoted to illustrating comics as part of
the CGraphikslava crew. In her spare time, “Bere”
loves to draw, read manga, watch animated movies,
play videogames, and kill zombies
Fares Maese is a graphic designer and illustrator. He
has worked as a colorist for Marvel Comics and as a
concept artist for the card and role-playing games
Pathfinder and Warhammer. Fares loves spending
time playing video games with his Graphikslava
comrades, and he’s an awesome drum player: https://faresmaese.artstation.com/
About the Retelling Author
The career path of Nel Yomtov has taken him from
the halls of Marvel Comics, as an editor, writer,
and colorist, to the world of toy development. He
then became editorial and art director at a children’s
nonfiction book publisher, and now Nel is a writer and
editor of books, websites, and comics for children. A
harmonica-honking blues enthusiast, Nel lives in
New York with his wife, Nancy. They have a son. Jess.
mY rEACTION
tECHNICAL eXECUTION
Character Design. It’s interesting to see the difference in style between this version, and the Manga Shakespeare version I previously read. That one was very much inspired by the Shoujo manga style, which emphasizes drama and relationships. This version’s drawings are softer, more cartoonish, and the expressions are less stiff, (except for Oberon, who is drawn very austerely). I particularly like the design for Puck with his big mischievous eyes and squat, childlike shape. I would argue however that the lovers and Mechanicals aren’t distinct enough, which is a problem since they are the most important characters.
The Adaptation
Like I said, this is a bare minimum adaptation of the play. None of Shakespeare’s text is used and the lines and speeches are cut liberally. The entire book is only 77 pages which of course means, that there are a lot of cuts. There’s no mention of the Indian boy, Titania’s tiff with Oberon, Philostrate, the other fairies, and all the great speeches are cut. This version is focused entirely on the plot, and it cuts it quite efficiently. To demonstrate this, below on the left is a panel that shows how Lysander and Hermia express their frustration with not being allowed to marry. On the right is the original text of the scene.
Ay me! for aught that I could ever read,
Could ever hear by tale or history,
The course of true love never did run smooth;
But, either it was different in blood,
Lysander. Or else misgraffed in respect of years,
Lysander. Or else it stood upon the choice of friends,
Or, if there were a sympathy in choice,
War, death, or sickness did lay siege to it,
Making it momentany as a sound,
Swift as a shadow, short as any dream;
Brief as the lightning in the collied night,
That, in a spleen, unfolds both heaven and earth,
And ere a man hath power to say ‘Behold!’
The jaws of darkness do devour it up: So quick bright things come to confusion.
The Colors
The colors are very beautiful. Other manga stories have colorful title pages but no color in the panels. This comic is alive with color and the colors help tell the story. Athens represents the world of the daytime, so the colors are very warm and vibrant. In the nighttime, the colors are cool and the characters are drawn with very sharp lines to make sure they don’t fade into the background.
IN Conclusion
This version tells l the story quickly and entertainingly with a vibrant and colorful style that was lacking in the Manga version. Granted, the Manga Shakespeare did allow me to focus on the text more, but I think I actually prefer this version, simply because of its beautiful artwork. Check it out if you get a chance!.
Shakespeare in the time of Bridgerton
Period Overview
Georgian England
Shakespeare and the Regency Era
The popular Netflix show “Bridgerton”, takes place in England during the reign of King George III (reigned 1760-1820). This was a time of enormous cultural and political upheaval- less than one century after the monarchy was restored, with the American and French Revolutions taking place across the pond. This was an era of power and privilege for the aristocracy, but a time of great uncertainty for nearly everyone else.
Shakespeare in this period was considered a bit old hat and too vulgar for the refined age of the 18th century. During the Regency, Sentimental Comedies were all the rage. These comedies and tragedies were designed to instill audiences with Catharsis or empathy with the characters, rather than get people to think or use their reason. Gone were the days of laughing at people’s humorous behaviors and more along the lines of pitying the poor fates of middle-class rustics. These poor characters remained good-natured at the cruelty of powerful aristocrats. This explains the popularity of such plays as Beaumarchais‘ The marriage of Figaro, or Mozart’s opera Don Giovanni, in which an evil aristocrat is ruining the lives of common people like the naive peasant Zerlina with his insatiable sex drive.
After the religious wars of the 16th century and the civil wars of the 17th century, early 19th century people were more disillusioned about the monarchy, especially after the seismic shifts of the French revolution and the American Revolution. This was the beginning of the end of the aristocracy, and even though we don’t see it in Bridgerton for comedy reasons, you can sense that the eponymous family is preserving their family and houses, rather than crown and country, which is one reason why the show still resonates with young people.
The Bridgertons might be aristocratic but they have no illusions about their own self-importance. They’re rich, yes but, like modern rich people, they don’t believe that they deserve their riches because of God- they merely fight to preserve their riches for their children, to find their daughters good love matches, and to survive the complex social Laviathon of eighteenth Century and Nineteenth Century England.
Popular Productions Of the Georgian Era
Georgian Shakespeareans
The Georgian Era was the first time in history that Shakespeare started to have a Global audience. French and German writers like Goethe, Schiller and Voltaire helped to kick off the practice of Shakespeare being translated and performed in non English speaking countries in the 18th century. In addition, Empress Catherine the Great brought Shakespeare as far as Russia with her 1786 production of The Merry Wives of Windsor. By the end of the 19th century, Shakespeare had been translated into French, German, Hindi, Hungarian, Italian, Spanish, and Danish (Downer, 468).
In England, however, with the trend towards sentimentality and accessibility, (as the video above mentions), the idea of adapting and modernizing Shakespeare became more common in this type period. What’s interesting is that, just when Shakespeare seemed to be on the way out culturally, people like David Garrick began to rehabilitate Shakespeare (McDonald 358).
English writers of the 18th century were trying their best to use Shakespeare as a tool of moral instruction.
Not only did Garrick create popular adaptations of Shakespeare, he also successfully made Shakespeare a cultural icon. Garrick’s famous jubilee of enthroned Shakespeare as the perfect example of english writing and the common man (even though most of his characters are aristocrats), the fact that Shakespeare was a common writer a not an aristocrat or a University educated man, actually benefited his reputation in the 18th century.
Famous Shakespeareans
Shakespeare and Bridgerton: Balls vs Breeches
Even though Bridgerton prides itself on its colorblind casting and the black & white characters haven’t a shred of racial discrimination (except in the spin-off), this society is still plagued with sexism. What I find the most interesting about Bridgerton is that, like a Shakespearean comedy, the show’s conflicts center around how women navigate sexist patriarchal systems.
In Bridgerton, the London season and the annual balls are more than just a chance to to socialize and meet handsome young man, dance, and wear pretty dresses; they are the only hope that upper class women had for the future security of their houses. These systems were put in place because women were denied the ability to determine their own destinies. Though Queen Charlotte runs the social season, she is enforcing a patriarchal system; one that places a woman’s value entirely on her ability to charm and retain the affections of men.
the bridgerton ladies are extremely aware of this and you can see their anxiety every time they attend a ball. They know that their future depends on this and the show isn’t shy about that. So so like a Shakespearean heroine, the comedy and the central conflict is how these women will navigate this socio-economic gender-based political mindfield.
What Shakespeare frequently does in his comedies is have women deliberately challenge or abandon this strict social structure. Young Shakespearean heroines frequently omen disguise themselves as men and/ or go traveling abroad so that they can find husbands and determine their own destinies. Shakespeare won’t Go So Far as to abandon the notions of marriage and childbearing, but he does create a sort of Female Fantasy: “wouldn’t it be nice to determine a one’s Future for oneself?”
In As You Like It, Rosalind, in disguise as a man, is able to dictate for herself the way that she marries and courts Orlando, which must have been shocking and hilarious for Elizabethans. Viola again disguised as a Man is able to criticize his outdated notions of women to his face, and disdains his repeated attempts to woo a woman who does not share his affections. Meanwhile Juliet, a woman whose arranged is dramatically portrayed from start to finish, abandons her father’s choice and marries for love. All these women have the same conflict as the bit bridgerton women they just confront them in more extreme way
References
Bedford
Brockett
Leslie Dunton-Downer
Worthen
Hamlets of the Theater
How to Throw a Bridgerton Themed Party
Greetings Dear Gentle Readers,
With the new season just released on Netflix, I’m sure a lot of us literary nerds will rejoice and be happy to have an excuse to play dress up, eat some scrumptious food, and converse on the sweet little confection that is Bridgerton. What follows is by no means a comprehensive list of ideas, I just wanted to share some of my research that went into my own party in the hopes that it gives you ideas. Please feel free to respond to this post by commenting or by hitting me up on Twitter at @Shakestud and share your own Bridgerton Party Pics!
On A Personal Note:
“I seek you out at every social assembly because I know you will lift my spirits and make me see the world in ways I could not have imagined.”
Colin Bridgerton.
I need to give a special thank you to my wife in this post. She’s the one who introduced me to Bridgerton, did a lot of research into Regency etiquette and dining, and bought all the ingredients for the party. More than that, she is an extremely talented writer and educator who inspires me in ways even Penelope Featherington couldn’t enumerate. Watching Bridgerton has become a kind of nightly tradition for us and I am very grateful
Background: Bridgerton and the Gorgeous Georgian Era
Bridgerton is a period comedy on Netflix based on the popular novel series. It is set in an idealized version of the late 18th and early 19th century; a time when England was wealthy, cosmopolitan, and when one’s social standing was everything. The shows writers pay homage to great literary figures like Jane Austin, George Brimsley Sheridan’s The School For Scandal, Shakespeare (of course), and real-life scandal writers of the time; rags like Town and Country, The Spectator, and Courtesans.
My Personal Opinion on the SHow
Some people have criticized the show for not being historically accurate. Others claim that the show’s plots and characters are highly derivative from other comedies like Gossip Girl and others. I would argue that THAT’S THE POINT. Bridgerton is not trying to do anything original- it is nostalgia bait for literature nerds like me who know that shows like Gossip Girl are ripped off from classical sources. What Bridgerton does, is take these classic tropes, put them back into the period where they became popular, and then update the setting to make it more accessible to a modern audience. Much like the party ideas I’ll give you later, this show is like a sweet confection- comforting, unassuming, with an air of nostalgia and romance like a cup of tea and a crumpet.
https://www.vulture.com/article/bridgerton-characters-ranked-netflix.html
The show focuses on the hopes, dreams, and above all, loves of the Bridgeton family; a noble family in Georgian England. Viola, the matriarch of the house, seeks to find love matches for all her children and to avoid scandalous gossip. She does so through her own intelligence and through the help of her network of female friends, all while avoiding the watchful eye of Queen Charlotte (the powerful wife of King George III), and the mysterious scandal monger Lady Whistledown
Like its dazzling costumes, the show is very much fluff and feathers. Bridgerton’s use of color blind casting is extremely refreshing to me and it signals loudly and clearly that Bridgerton doesn’t want to be painstakingly historically accurate. This is an candy-coated and show that concocts an idealized version of Georgian society- one where painful racial problems are thrown out, there are few economic or political problems to sour one’s pallate, but everybody is rich and pretty and looking to fall in love with a wealthy eligible young man or lady. So, with a concept this delicious, I knew I had to throw a party based on it!
Part One: The Invitations
There’s a ton of fancy invitations templates online. Below is an invitation I created for free with an app called Canva and a parchment background picture I found online.
You probably also know that I am a huge fan of the website Immortal Longings because of their excellent Shakespearean art and they sell cards too. You can buy the cards or download the pictures on their website.
Part Two: Decorations
The Georgian Era was firmly in the Baroque era- a time known for opulence, excess, and as many frills as possible. Deck your home with as much gold, crystal lace as possible! Use electric candles liberally. Also, use curtains and fancy throw pillows to fancy up your dining room! Here are some more ideas from Chateau Challain:
Part Three: The Feast
As you can see, since the Georgian era was known as a time of wealth and excess, you could very easily break your wallet or your back trying to replicate an authentic Georgian dinner party, (especially if you lack an entire household staff to bring it to life). What we tried to do was distill some of my favorite foods from the Georgian era down and come up with an easy plan so that a plebian cooking-impaired soul like myself could make them at a reasonable price. I did not want my wife to have to cook for this, though she did wind up trying out a very interesting Georgian recipe:
Salmagundi
Thought I honestly doubt that the upper crust Bridgertons would ever eat this, it is an authentic Georgian recipe and it was common among middle class people, American Revolutionary War soldiers, and even pirates! It’s a savory salad that uses eggs, pickles, mixed greens and anchovies. The name is French for “hodge-podge” and it honestly can be swapped out with any number of ingredients. Here’s a recipe that’s pretty close to what my wife used:
https://ancestorsinaprons.com/tag/salmagundi/
1. dinner course- pie 🥧, 🥗 , cheese, grapes, wine 🍷
Just like decor, a party or ball amongst the nobility was a sign of wealth and status. If you wanted to impress foreign dignitaries or net a wealthy spouse, you had to show off the wealth and sophistication of your household. We served duck as the main dish since it’s the sort of game the Bridgertons would have on their land. My wife and I also served a meat pie as an homage to the one Daphne eats excitedly in Season 1. Meat pies were very popular in the British isles due to the lack of refrigeration in the Georgian era. For our party, my wife bought the Steak and Stout pie from Trader Joes, which I realize not everyone likes, but it does have a good hearty feel to it. Accompanying the pie, we served cheese, grapes, and some good red wine!
Dessert
High tea is a real ritual in England to this day, and if you don’t have a lot of time or money on your hand it can be a bit daunting. Again, we relied on Trader Joes to help fill in the gaps of my cooking skills (since again, I wanted my wife to enjoy the party, not cook). I leaned heavily on ice cream, macarons, and of course, tea since they are all foods featured on the show. In fact, there’s a whole scene at the house where the family fight over the last chocolate macaron.
In case you don’t know, macarons are delicious French sandwich cookies made by sifting dry ingredients, combining them with egg whites, piping them onto a baking sheet, and baking them into light, flaky little half circles. From there you can add any kind of filling you like. Now, these cookies are notoriously temperamental, so I just bought some, but for the brave souls with a little more time on their hands, here’s a recipe from NYT:
Other Dessert ideas: You could incorporate scones petit fours, or jam/ cucumber sandwiches. I find a dessert tower is really nice for this kind of “take what you like” dessert atmosphere. Also, don’t forget the ice cream!
Tea-
I’m sure I don’t need to tell you that tea has great cultural significance to the British and I labored over what kind of tea to serve during the party. I personally love Indian Chai and that would be appropriate since it’s mentioned in Season 2. I also enjoy Earl Grey (though that one might be too bitter for most people). However, I decided on Harney and Sons Paris Tea, which is my wife’s favorite, and in my humble opinion, is one of the best teas readily available. It’s a black tea that has been withered, rolled, and baked to make it more flavorful and aromatic, though easy to mass produce. I LOVE THIS TEA. Here’s a link if you want to learn more:
https://www.harney.com/pages/this-is-tea
Now, I should mention that there is a lot of officially branded Bridgerton tea, coffee, and tea snacks (of course), but this post isn’t an ad. If you’re interested in the branded stuff, here’s a few links below:
Music
Bridgerton is famous for featuring classical music covers of pop songs, which I really enjoy- it is a nice way of retelling the story of the characters by connecting them with something contemporary. Most of these covers were done by a group called the Vitamin String Quartet and there are playlists on Youtube, Spotify, and others.
During the Regency, music by Mozart and Hayden were all the rage, so if you want to intercut the covers with real classical music from the time period, you can also use them. I would recommend using waltzes or minuets if you want to get people on the dance floor:
Games
1. Charades
2. Blind Man’s Bluff
3. Bridgerton official Games! There’s an official branded Bridgerton game where you write love notes as Lady Whistledown, while everyone else tries to guess who she is. Here’s a link to the Amazon site:https://www.amazon.com/Bridgerton-High-Society-Board-Game/dp/B0CC6SNRWV
Costumes:
Again, for people on a budget, you might want to forgo full Georgian outfits, but this was a time of ball gowns and elaborate wigs for ladies, and men with waistcoats, knickerbockers, and breeches. For more information on the period, here’s a link to Fashion History Timeline:
https://fashionhistory.fitnyc.edu/category/18th-century/
Well, that’s my advice, happy Midsummer everyone!
And to conclude, I want to dedicate this post to my wife who introduced me to the wonderful, sweet, and heartfelt world of Bridgerton. I hope this post helps you bring a fun, fancy-but laid back evening into your home. I hope also that it helps you become closer to and appreciate your loved ones, just as I wish to keep enjoying the show with my wonderful wife.
Great Classes for the Month of June!
Great online classes in Shakespeare and science are available for students all this month at Outschool.com.
Special Promo: LIMITED TIME ONLY!
From now until June 1st, you can get a $20 discount with referral code PAULHT20. Share the joy with other curious minds in the family too! Spread the word and let’s ignite the passion for learning together!
Class Descriptions
Live Classes
For these classes you meet with me live over Zoom:
Introduction to Shakespeare- Tuesdays 9-9:30AM (EST)
This is my 30 minute short and sweet intro to Shakespeare’s life, his plays, and why his work still matters to us today!
Intro To STage Combat (With SwordS)- Tuesdays 9:30-10AM (EST)-
Like the Intro to Shakespeare class above, this is an intro to the basic footwork, attacks, and defensive parries of swordplays for someone just begeinning to learn about swords.
An Immersive Guide To “Romeo and Juliet- Tuesdays from 10-11AM (EST)
This multi-week course delves into the plot, characters and themes of “Romeo and Juliet,” while also providing interactive activities, virtual tours, and webquests.
Stage Combat Course (Multi Week Course) Saturdays 3-4PM (EST)
Shakespeare’s History Plays- SaturdAYs 8:30 AM IST
This is a new course I’m working on to cover all of Shakespeare’s History plays including Henry V, Richard II, and Richard III. More info as it becomes available.
Asynchronous Classes
These classes are Flex Schedule, which means the teacher prepares the activities in advance and allows you to do them at your own pace without direct consultation.
- An Interactive Guide To: “Macbeth”
2. An Immersive Guide to Shakespeare’s London: A virtual tour of Shakespeare’s London will get kids to interact with the culture of Elizabethan England. https://outschool.com/classes/an-interactive-guide-to-shakespeares-london-E6KqeBQQ?usid=MaRDyJ13&signup=true&utm_campaign=share_activity_link
3. The Violent Rhetoric of “Julius Caesar”
Delve into the passionate speeches of Brutus and Antony in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, which led a whole country to revolution.
4. Gravity Falls: Defeat the Cypher
5. Romeo and Juliet Murder Mystery
A flexible schedule class that teaches kids the plot and characters of “Romeo and Juliet,” in the context of a detective story where you solve the mystery of the young lovers’ deaths.
6. Shakespeare and Star Wars:
Did you know that Star Wars is based on the ideas and writings of William Shakespeare? This class will teach you about writing and characters though games, interactive activities and dramatic readings of both Star Wars and Shakespeare!
BUT WAIT! There’s MORE
Get $10 off my multi-week classes, including “An Interactive Guide to Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” ” with coupon code HTHES3HDTO10 until Aug 4, 2024. Get started at https://outschool.com/classes/an-interactive-guide-to-shakespeares-macbeth-jp7TIh9B and enter the coupon code at checkout.
Click the link below to get started:
New Class: Shakespeare and Star Wars!
Using self-paced online activities, your child(ren) will compare the plot and characters of Star Wars to Shakespeare’s plays. We will also discuss Shakespeare writing by looking at “William Shakespeare’s Star Wars” by Ian Doescher.
Course Description
- Concept: To compare and contrast the plot, characters, themes, and language of Shakespeare’s plays with Star Wars
- Student Description:
- Epic battles, quests for revenge, pirates, funny characters, powerful warriors swinging swords. Star Wars has something for everyone. But did you know that in many ways, Star Wars is based on the ideas and writings of William Shakespeare? In this course we’ll peer beneath the veil of Shakespeare and Star Wars to find the universal stories of love, revenge, power, and growing up, using games, artwork, and dramatic readings by professional actors!
- Did you know that Star Wars is based on the ideas and writings of William Shakespeare? This class will teach you about writing and characters though games, interactive activities and dramatic readings of both Star Wars and Shakespeare!
- Course organization (the class is divided into 6 parts that students can complete at their own pace over a week-long period.
Outline
Unit 1: How Is Shakespeare Like Star Wars?
Class I- Setting the Scene
- That is the Question:
- What is Star Wars about?
- What parts of the Star Wars story are like Shakespeare’s plays?
- Are Shakespeare and the Star Wars movies saying anything similar about war? Families? Growing up?
- Lesson Objectives
- To teach about the characters and plot of Star Wars by comparing them to Star Wars
- To introduce the concept of archetypes, tropes,
- Set the Scene
- Star Wars is about an evil empire trying to take over the galaxy. They have more ships, more soldiers, and a fearsome weapon that can blow up planets. The rebels on the other hand, though fewer in number, are faster, smarter, and have the advantage of fighting for a good cause.
- In addition, the story is about growing up- Luke becomes a Jedi Knight. He takes revenge on the man who destroyed his father.
- The Players (slides)
- Luke
- Obi Wan/ Yoda
- Vader
- Leia
- Han
- R2D2 and C3PO
- The Emperor
- Words Words Words
- Epic
- Parody
- Theme
- Plot
- Archetype
- Character
- Trope
- Theme
Class 2: The Journey of Han and Leia
- Han and Leia vs. Beatrice and Benedick
- Show videos of Han before Leia
- Plot summary of Much Ado
- Clips of the bickering of Benedick and Beatrice
- Read blog and look at the writing.
- Activity- how would you write a love letter to Han or Leia?
- Play the scene from Jedi
Unit 2- The Prequels and Shakespeare’s Histories
- A Crash Course in Shakespeare’s Histories
- The Rise of Palpatine/ Richard III
- Emperor Palpatine in Star Wars rises to power through a combination of manipulation, intimidation, and by killing his opponents.
- Bio of Richard III
- Slide- Richard’s rise to power
- Slide- Palpatine’s rise to power
- Quizlet
Unit 3- The Verse of William Shakespeare’s Star Wars by Ian Doescher
- What is William Shakespeare’s Star Wars
- Introduce the plays
- Explain how Shakespeare’s verse works
- Look at the common verse elements
- Sonnets
- Show the chorus of “Verily a New Hope”
- It is a period of civil war. The spaceships of the rebels, striking swift From base unseen, have gain’d a vict’ry o’er The cruel Galactic Empire, now adrift. Amidst the battle, rebel spies prevail’d And stole the plans to a space station vast,Whose pow’rful beams will later be unveil’d And crush a planet: ’tis the DEATH STAR blast. Pursu’d by agents sinister and cold,Now Princess Leia to her home doth flee, Deliv’ring plans and a new hope they hold:Of bringing freedom to the galaxy .In time so long ago begins our play,In star-crossed galaxy far, far away
- Stychomichia
- Half lines
- Enjambment
- Title Crawl (make a gif via Canva)
- Show the chorus of “Verily a New Hope”
- Sonnets
- Side By Side Comparisons
- Read/ watch segments of the play
- To Be Or Not To Be
- All the World’s a Stage
- St. Crispin’s Day Speech
- Try to turn a Star Wars line into verse, and then look at the reveal.
- Read/ watch segments of the play
Unit 4- Literary Devices of William Shakespeare’s Star Wars
- Using the educational guide, we’ll learn about the following literary devices:
- Extended Metaphors (Luke’s green lightsaber)
- Anaphora (Luke’s call to action in Jedi)
- Premonatory Dreams (Calpurnia)
- Stichomythia Richard III vs. Han and Leia
Unit5- The Hero’s Journey of Luke Skywalker
Class 1: What is a Hero’s Journey (Slides)
- Learn a little about Joseph Campbell’s monomyth. using the Percy Jackson post, Crash course video about monomyth
- Chart Luke’s monomyth journey
- Activity- Mad libs- write a star wars movie!
- Quiz on plot elements from the monomyth (Quizzes or Quizlet)
Class 2 : Hamlet and Luke Skywalker
- Plot comparison
- (use infographic)
- Quote from Doescher:
- Hamlet The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark is Shakespeare’s most famous play. It’s also the play I make the most references to in William Shakespeare’s Star Wars.
- To Be Or Not to Be
- Use my video about the speech to explain the structure
- Note how Doescher repurpuses every line in the Star Wars Trilogy:
- Sometimes it expresses fear:
- Sometimes concern:
- Frustration: “The whips and scorns of time”
- Hope: “The undiscovered galaxy” “Tis a consummation devoutly to be wished.”
- Activity: write your own paraphrase of Hamlet’s speech, using the 6 beats I provided.
Unit 6- Become a Bard Warrior (Slides and Sites)
- Number Lock (door)
- Color Lock to start the engine (control panel)-
- Light speed
- Asteroid Iambic
- https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/60286856/
- Scratch Game with a quote at the end https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/221876944/
- Short video at the end.
Notes
Resources:
Web: https://americanshakespearecenter.com/2011/05/in-the-force-of-his-will-shakespeare-and-star-wars/
Close Reading: Shakespeare’s Star Wars (Empire Scene) https://shakespeareanstudent.com/2024/04/17/close-reading-william-shakespeares-star-wars/
The Journey of Han and Leia: https://shakespeareanstudent.com/2023/06/16/new-podcast-william-shakespeares-star-wars-part-ii-the-journey-of-han-and-leia/
Review of Jedi:
Video
- William Shakespeare’s Star Wars and the Power of Iambic Pentameter – Summer of Shakespeare the First
- The Wampa From “William Shakespeare’s Star Wars”
- Han Solo Does Shakespeare
- Emperor Shakespeare
- Darth Vader does Shakespeare
- Dagobah Cave Vision: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0otvBA0iAA0
- Duel between Luke and Vader: William Shakespeare’s Star Wars excerpt: the Duel from “The Empire Striketh Back.”
- Comparison:
- 1st 10 minutes of Jedi: Star Wars Episode VI Return Of The Jedi Opening Scene HD720p
- Doescher’s version: Darth Vader Reads Star Wars Shakespear The Jedi Doth Return Vader Reviews
Podcast:
- https://open.spotify.com/episode/5BJ6TuhFO699OxWRLZNL2U?si=_cRGo7FzQjakUuZuPT0KwA
- https://open.spotify.com/episode/1E3Eh9OpcR7lpMHI8edU4o?si=p-PrlRzQStqwGnoz4Y88pA
- https://open.spotify.com/episode/5SFDcMAfF14ANVIki6xxr8?si=0YWtFyWoQE2CtG8fAEK22A
Review: “Star Wars- the Jedi Doth Return .” by Ian Doescher
Introduction
What Is William Shakespeare’s Star Wars?
William Shakespeare’s Star Wars is a series of parody plays written by Ian Doescher that takes the prose screenplays of the Star Wars story and transforms them into Elizabethan verse. Last time I mentioned how much I loved the cheeky references to Shakespeare and Star Wars, and how Doescher adapts the cinematic quality into Elizabethan drama very well. In my podcast, I also emphasized the way Doescher gives each character verbose Shakespearean language that works very well for radio and theater:
I must confess, Return of the Jedi is my favorite Star Wars movie. I’ve seen all 9 films and it’s still my favorite. I adore the effects, the tight storytelling, the emotional farewells, and the dramatic victories. What I want to do with this post, (and the accompanying podcast), is to see whether this edition captures what I love about Jedi. The short answer is- no. It doesn’t capture it, IT EXPANDS IT! In many ways this play is Doescher’s triumph- he manages to capture the tone and characters of Star Wars perfectly, and makes the Shakespearean style his own!
Notes about the play
- The first play in the series, “Verily, A New Hope,” took plot and structure inspiration from Henry V; it tells the story as an epic heroic story of Luke’s heroic deeds, much like how Henry V is about a king who grows from boy to man.
- The second play “The Empire Striketh Back,” takes inspiration from Hamlet and Macbeth to explore Luke’s temptation by the Dark Side of the Force. It also uses Much Ado About Nothing as an inspiration for the burgeoning relationship between Han and Leia
- I would argue that “Jedi Doth Return” is a mixture of all the other plays Doescher took inspiration from. Unlike the previous plays, this feels less like a parody, and more like an adaptation. I feel that Doescher has finally become so comfortable writing in the Shakespearean style, that he rarely needs to flat out parody lines and speeches, and simply uses Shakespearean dialogue to tell the story.
Moments to Watch for:
The Language
I’ll discuss the language of Jedi in greater detail in my podcast, but I’d like to highlight one or two here.
Extended metaphors:
Vader: It is the role I play, my destiny—
The grand performance for which I am made.
Come, author of the dark side of the Force,
Make me the servant of thy quill and write
The tale wherein my son and I are seal’d As one.
Come, take mine ev’ry doubt from me,
And fashion from my heart of flesh and wires
A perfect actor: callous, cold, and harsh.
Let this, the second Death Star, be the stage,
And all the galaxy be setting to
The greatest moment of my narrative:
The scene in which the Empire’s fight is won
Whilst I decide the Fate of mine own son - The Jedi Doth Return Act I, Scene i
3. Parody Lines
The biggest appeal of William Shakespeare’s Star Wars is the fact that it is a parody, and I’ve said for many years that parody and gentle riffing on Shakespeare is a great way to get students to overcome their fear of Shakespeare and engage with him. Students who know Star Wars but don’t know Shakespeare will recognize the familiar characters and plots of the movies and then see how Shakespeare’s language tells the story anew. Similarly, people who know Shakespeare will recognize the way Doescher re-tools famous Shakespeare quotes to give to characters in the Star Wars Universe, like here, where he spoofs the famous “All the World’s A Stage” speech:
In the Educator’s guide, which I’ve attached below, Doescher tells you exactly which lines he has parodied and the plots of the original plays so the students can learn about Shakespeare through these famous speeches. Orson Wells once said: “We sit through Shakespeare to recognize the quotations,” and this edition gives us thrilling space battle, wonderful characters, and witty dialogue to keep us entertained while we wait.
Characterizations
What I love the most about the movie and the play is that it’s a very character-driven story. Instead of long trench runs with pilots we’ve never met, we get duels to the death between characters we’ve known for years. At its heart, Jedi is the story of the Skywalker family reuniting after Darth Vader ripped it apart. It’s also the culmination of Luke growing from a boy to a man. Doescher does an incredible job voicing these characters through the verse, and his use of the language helps highlight each character’s struggle and journey.
Luke/ Vader
Luke has more of a duality in this story- sometimes his speeches are hopeful, positive, and full of decisive language, while other times he is bitter, angry, and mournful. This is a perfect characterization for a young man whom the Emperor hopes to turn to the Dark Side, and these speeches excellently bring out his character. Sometimes Luke even repeats lines spoken by Vader and the Emperor just to drive this point home.
Emperor
As for Emperor Palpatine, his speech is similar to Claudius in Hamlet in the sense that he has many run-on lines that only get to the point at the very end. This man knows he has the ea of the entire galaxy, so he can afford to make people wait for him to finish talking. As Luke himself says: “Your overconfidence is your weakness,” and Doescher does a great job conveying that weakness through the language.
Leia/ Han
My favorite part of The Empire Striketh Back was how Doescher conveys the love between Han and Leia. In that play/ movie, it was done through irritating each other in public, and soliloquizing in private. In Jedi, Han and Leia are more of a couple, supporting each other in their fights and the language has more of a romantic tone.
My Criticism
To sum up, Jedi is a milestone in the William Shakespeare’s Star Wars Series where Ian Doescher learned how to make the language his own, rather than borrowing lines and phrases from Shakespeare. It’s a pity there aren’t more books in this series…. right?
The Education Guide
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Close Reading: William Shakespeare’s Star Wars
For my Shakespeare club, my actors and I are reading William Shakespeare’s Star Wars: The Empire Striketh Back. We started staging the scene today and I’d like to publish some of our work and our discoveries going through the text.
The Scene In Context
The scene is the first moment where Han Solo and Princess Leia display their repressed feelings for each other. Han wants to stay with Leia, but he has a bounty hunter trying to hunt him down. Also, Leia has not directly given him any sign of affection, (though Han suspects that she does have feelings for him). He wants her to ask him to stay, not because of his service to the rebellion, but because she loves him back.
Ian Doescher’s Version
Leia And Han, Act I, Scene ii
[Enter Han SL, Leia enters after. stops.
L: Han, halt!
H:[Turn to her, bows] What is thy pleasure, Highness?
L: I did believe that thou had chos’n to stay.
H: [Center Stage turn out] The bounty hunter we did meet on Ord
Mantell hath chang’d my mind
L: -We need thee Han.
H: [Turn to her] What “we?” Why speakest thou of “we?”
(circling her) Dost thou in royal terms speak her of “we?”
(Hands on shoulders) Hast thou a rodent in thy pocket such
That thou and he are “we? (holding her hands)” What meanest thou?
What need is there that thou dost share with all? [moving her center stage]
[Turning to audience] Speak not of “we,” but “I.” O princess, what
Dost thou most need? Not “we,” not “they,” but thou?
L: [Turning to him] I know not what thou speakest of.
H: [pointing at her] - ‘Tis true.
Most probably thou dost not know thyself.
L: Thy vanity [takes his pointer finger and points it to the sky]
Hath puffed up thine imagination.
H: -Aye?
(Smiling) Then why doest thou yet follow me? Wert thou
Afraid I would depart without a kiss? [He stands behind her, looking at her as if he's about to kiss her cheek. She steps on his foot]
L: I would as eagerly kiss Wookie lips.
H: That can arran`ed be. [He turns SR, starts to leave, then turns back to her.] By heaven’s breath,
A kiss would suit thee well! [Exits SR}
Like Han in the original script, Doescher latches on to the fact that Leia says “We need you Han,” instead of “I need you,” (which would confirm Han’s suspicions that she has feelings for him). Doescher’s Han has a mocking speech where he tries to coax Leia into saying what she truly wants from him. In both versions Leia, (annoyed with Han’s childish behavior), retorts by saying that she would rather kiss a Wookie, but in Doescher’s version, she also has a soliloquy where, like Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing, she laments that she would admit her affections if Han could put his ego aside and woo her gently, instead of his accustomed taunts and mockery.
The Verse
If you read my review of the first Shakespeare’s Star Wars play, you know that Doescher put almost every line in iambic pentameter- the standard verse for Shakespeare that has 10 beats per line. I like to call verse the heartbeat of a character and iambic pentameter is sort of a baseline for a character who is calm or in control of their emotions. What’s great about this scene is that Doescher intentionally breaks from the norm of iambic pentameter, which is appropriate because these characters are bubbling with emotions; anger, jealousy, fear, and of course, love.
Leia’s Verse
Leia only has two regular verse lines- right after she enters and right before she leaves:
L: I did believe that thou had chos’n to stay.
Leia is a princess, used to giving orders and being obeyed. Accordingly her first line is a simple two word command "Han halt." Then Leia clearly. simply, and in standard iambic pentameter, asks Han to explain why he is going. From that point on, none of her lines are 10 syllables long- they either complete his or his lines complete hers. This kind of rapid-fire call and response is called Stichomythia, and it indicates how intelligent these characters are, how passionate they are, and how impatient they are with each other. It's not unlike some of Shakespeare's other great lovers like Beatrice and Benedick, or characters who dispise each other like Richard III and Lady Anne:
Notice that in this “keen encounter of wits,” the characters talk on top of each other. The verse lines indicate that Han and Leia need to keep topping each other and pick up the tempo. This helps convey how frustrated Leia is with Han and is trying to get him to get to the point! The only other regular verse line is her coup-de-gras at the end where she says “I would as soon kiss Wookie lips!” At that point, she’s done talking to Han and just wants him to go, and the verse reflects her decisive choice.
However, as you can hear in the podcast, alone in soliloquy, Leia reveals to the audience that she is still conflicted with her feelings for Han- listing all his best qualities like his hands, his face, his eyes, etc. This rhetorical technique is called anaphora, and it helps Leia build in excitement getting lost in Han’s attractive qualities. For my staging of the scene, Leia puts her hand on her cheek while standing under a balcony to emulate Juliet’s famous musings on Romeo:
- Juliet. ‘Tis but thy name that is my enemy;
Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.
What’s Montague? it is nor hand, nor foot,
Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part
Belonging to a man. O, be some other name!
What’s in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet;
So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call’d,
Retain that dear perfection which he owes
Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name,
And for that name which is no part of thee
Take all myself. – Romeo and Juliet, Act II, Scene ii.
Han’s Verse
While Leia’s verse is quick and direct, Han’s is slower and longer. His sentences spill over from one verse line to another because he’s taking his time. Again, his objective is to basically “neg” Leia into admitting that she loves him, so he’s enjoying goading her. He’s sort of like Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing, though Han speaks verse and Benedick speaks prose:
Han’s Extended Metaphor
Again, Han’s goal is to tease Leia into admitting that she loves him, so when she says: “We need thee Han,” he feigns ignorance and asks her to clarify her phrasing- going through all the permutations of “we” (including the colloquial, “Do you have a mouse in your pocket?”) to get her to specify what she means by “we.” If you look at Doescher’s official education guide for the William Shakespeare’s Star Wars series, you can see how Shakespearean characters often go into lengthy metaphors or comparisons to explore an idea or theme:
Characterization
As I was writing William Shakespeare’s The Empire Striketh Back, I was surprised to realize I had made more references to Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing than any other play. Much Ado is a comedy—probably my favorite of Shakespeare’s comedies—so it was strange that lines from it kept popping up in the darkest of the original Star Wars® trilogy. –
Both of my actors are female and obviously, they aren’t Carrie Fisher or Harrison Ford. Since this play is a parody of the original Star Wars, I wanted to incorporate some physicality and vocal elements, without telling them to impersonate the Star Wars actors.
Han
Harrison Ford is much taller than Carrie Fisher and he uses his height to mock and irritate her. He also crosses his arms and points his index finger at her frequently in this movie, so I used that in the blocking. He also has a “cowboy stance”- legs apart, slight bend in the knees, slow, deliberate gait. Ironically, another man who has this kind of walk is David Tennant in his performance as Benedick in “Much Ado About Nothing.”
As for Carrie Fisher, she has a faster pace and keeps her arms close to her body. She looks like a ball of stress and anxiety, which is appropriate. After all, not only is she going to lose the man she loves, she’s under attack from an empire and living on a cold, dark planet made of ice! I told my actor to put these characterizations into her performance to not imitate Carrie Fisher, but to get the essence of how her emotions affect how the character moves and speaks. That’s the difference between acting this scene, and just doing impressions of the original actors.
I’m excited to see how my actors bring these techniques to life, and I hope you have enjoyed this little insight into how Doescher’s writing once again pulls back the curtain on how Shakespeare used his verse to show the hearts of his characters!
-More Star Wars coming soon!
New Class: The Violent Rhetoric Of “Julius Caesar” (Flex Schedule Edition)
Course Description
- Concept: To explore the plot, characters, and themes of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar while also gaining an insight into Ancient Roman history and culture.
- Student Description: Delve into the passionate speeches of Brutus and Antony in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, which led a whole country to revolution.
- Parent Description Using self-paced online activities, and a helpful handout, your child(ren) will analyze the rhetoric and persuasive power in two speeches from Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar.” The course will also cover the culture of Ancient Rome, and the circumstances that led to Julius Caesar’s assasination, which inadvertently led to the birth of the Roman Empire.
- Course Organizaiton (the class is divided into 4 parts that students can complete at their own pace over a week-long period
- Each lesson will have:
- “That Is the Question” (Essential Question)
- Lesson Objectives
- Set the Scene (Background and context)- 1-3 slides
- The Players (biography) 1-3 slides
- Go Deeper (Webquest)
- Explore military life and the lives of women in Rome using my blog and other websites as a guide.
- Post 3 things you learned to the Outschool page or send a photo of your completed handout.
- Words, Words Words (Vocabulary, famous lines)
- A Taste of Your Quality (Independant Project)
- Show us your mettle (Test)
- So each class should be 14-15 slides long.
- Each lesson will have:
Outline
Class I- Background on Caesar and Roman Culture
- That is the Question:
Why did Brutus feel Julius Caesar had to die?What was the aftermath?Can one person’s speech effect an entire nation?
- Lesson Objectives
To provide historical and political context to explain why Julius Caesar was assassinated, and how his death inadvertantly created the Roman Empire.To explain the Rhetorical Triangle, the building blocks of persuasive speech.To go through the story of Julius Caesar focusing on the effect of the speeches.To study the famous “Friends, Romans Countrymen” speech.To contrast this speech with some more recent political speeches and you think critically about:What does the speaker want?What tactics does he use?How effective is it?
- Set the Scene
- History
- Government
- Horrible History
- Military
- Government
- Culture
- Fashion: https://shakespeareanstudent.com/2022/03/11/the-fashion-is-the-fashion-ancient-roman-fashion-and-beauty/
- Role of Women: https://shakespeareanstudent.com/2021/03/29/i-lift-the-veil-on-shakespeares-celebrated-roman-female-characters-and-discuss-the-social-norms-they-embodied-and-challenged/
- The Lupercal- https://wordpress.com/post/shakespeareanstudent.com/4545
- History
- The Players (slides)
- Julius Caesar Julius Caesar – Greatest Conqueror Ever?
- Cassius Longinus
- Marcus Brutus
- Marc Antony
- Go Deeper-
- Go to Google Arts and Culture and find 3 facts and 3 pictures of Caesar
- Answer the following Questions:
- Name 3 jobs Caesar had in the Roman Republic
- Was Caesar Deaf? Was he epileptic?
- Name 3 things Caesar accomplished during his career.
Go to opensourceshakespeare.com and look at Caesar’s lines- how does Caesar view himself? Write 3 examples.
- Words Words Words
- Republic
- Dictator
- Lupercal
- Assassinate
- Senate
- A Taste Of Your Quality
- Make a news headline about Caesar’s triumph. How would you report on it? Would you be allowed to say anything bad about Caesar?
- Show Us Your Mettle
- Quizlet for the terms
Class 2- Cassius Manipulates Brutus
That Is the Question-
How does Cassius convince his brother-in-law Brutus to betray and assassinate Caesar, his friend and colleague?
Learning Objectives-
- To give historical context as to why the Senate in general, (and Cassius in particular), feared and hated Caesar.
- To examine Brutus’ character
- To demonstrate how Cassius uses persuasive speech
Setting the Scene- The Plot
The Players-
Cassius- slide/ https://www.rsc.org.uk/shakespeare-learning-zone/julius-caesar/character/whos-who
Write 3 facts we learn about Cassius at the start of the play:
Brutus:
https://www.rsc.org.uk/shakespeare-learning-zone/julius-caesar/character/whos-who
Go Deeper-
Brutus- Podcast episode. I posit in this episode that Brutus is
Words, Words, Words-
- Traitor
- Republic
- Dictator
- Revolution
- Ethos
- Pathos
- Logos
- Rhetoric
- Colossus
- Aeneus
A Taste Of Your Quality:
(Independent work): We’ll examine a painting of Brutus’ ancestor Lucius and learn why Brutus values Rome more than even family.
Show Us Your Mettle:
Quizzes on Brutus
Class 3- Antony and Brutus’ Dueling Speeches
That Is the Question
- After Caesar’s Death, his friend Marc Antony held a funeral for him where he gives the famous “Friends, Romans, Countrymen” speech. How did Antony’s speech affect the crowd?
- Brutus has a speech where he explains why he killed Caesar. What does he say, and how effectively does he say it?
- Antony was secretly plotting to take power for himself, and get Brutus and Cassius killed. How did he do it?
- Do speeches have the power to change a nation?
Learning Objectives
- To explain the Rhetorical Triangle, the building blocks of persuasive speech.
- To study the famous “Friends, Romans Countrymen” speech, as well
- To look at these speeches and get you to think critically about:
- What does the speaker want?
- What tactics does he use?
- How effective is it?
Setting the Scene
RSC Learning Zone- Act III, Scene 2 https://www.rsc.org.uk/shakespeare-learning-zone/julius-caesar/story/scene-by-scene
The Players (use the videos from the RSC)
Brutus- Man of Honour VS Man of Action | Julius Caesar | Royal Shakespeare Company
Antony Julius Caesar, Act 3 Scene 2 | 2012 | Royal Shakespeare Company
Go Deeper
- Go to my blog post and learn about the terms for rhetorical devices:
- https://shakespeareanstudent.com/2018/04/21/close-reading-friends-romans-countrymen/
Words, Words, Words
- Irony
- Antimetabole
- Rhetoric
- Countrymen
- Lend
- Interred
- Noble
- Hath
- Grievous
- Coffer
- Honorable
- Lupercal
- Cause
- Mourn
A Taste Of Your Quality
- Watch the video of Antony’s speech:
- fill out the handout:
- Write 2-3 sentences about Marc Antony’s speech about what he was trying to
- get the crowd to do and how he used rhetoric to do it.
- Use at least 2 quotes and identify whether they use Ethos, Pathos, or Logos
- https://myshakespeare.com/julius-caesar/act-3-scene-2
- https://www.bardweb.net/content/readings/caesar/lines.html
Quizzes
Class 4- After Caesar-
We’ll talk about the consequences of violent revolutions and how Julius Caesar has inspired some of the greatest speeches in political history.
-Patrick Henry
– Gettysburg Address
– Mean Girls
That Is the Question
- How have people interpreted the play “Julius Caesar” in America?
- Does this play promote violence?
- What kind of violent speech do we deal with in politics today?
Learning Objectives
- To show the link between American History and Julius Caesar
- To address the controversy and the misconception that the play promotes violent assassination.
- To end on a cautionary note people must think critically about what they hear in politics and not make rash decisions based on appeals to fear.
Setting the Scene- US History
- America was founded using the principles of republican government that Ancient Rome used- with a senate, and a series of checks and balances to ensure no one has too much power.
- America was founded in a violent revolution, and some of our country’s early leaders used Brutus as an inspiration- to overcome a tyrannical king.
- In later years, however, some people have forgotten what happened to Brutus
- Today, we are often bombarded with speech that encourages fear and anger and we must think critically when we hear such speech in whatever forum- Roman, or Reddit.
The Players (use my JC lecture?)
- Patrick Henry
- Abraham Lincoln
- John Wilkes Booth
- Donald Trump
Go Deeper
-Watch the Caesar Video
– How does the play promote nonviolence?
– How did Brutus’ assassination fail to save the Roman Republic?
Words, Words, Words
Four-score
Dedicate
proposition
Civil War
Endure
Consecrate
Devotion
A Taste Of Your Quality (Night Cafe)
- Use AI to create your own image for Julius Caesar
- What time and place would you set the play in?
- how do you see him- is he a hero, or a tyrant?
The Shakespearean Student 